Mullaney signs as Notts wait on Hussey

By Dave Bracegirdle

Steven Mullaney has signed an extension to his Nottinghamshire contract which will keep him at Trent Bridge until the end of the 2015 season.

The 25-year-old moved to Nottingham three years ago, after beginning his career with Lancashire. He scored a century on his first class debut for Notts and played a prominent role in the 2010 LV= County Championship success.

His powerful middle-order batting and gentle medium-pacers have come to the fore in white ball cricket but he made only six Championship appearances in 2012. Nevertheless, he totalled 391 runs at an average of 43.44, passed fifty on four occasions and finished the season with a score of 94 against Warwickshire.

“Steven did very well when he came into the four-day team and his average is testament to that,” said Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell. “He has always been a key part of our limited-overs plans but there is every chance that he could firmly establish himself in all formats for years to come if he can bat consistently in the Championship.”

Mullaney is currently in Australia, where he’ll spend the winter playing grade cricket. “Coming to Nottinghamshire was a great move for me and there is the potential for this team to become consistently successful,” he said.

“We just need to be more clinical when it comes to the crunch in one-day games and find the runs that will put teams under pressure in the Championship. We have got the players to do that and I’m hopeful that we’ll have something to celebrate in 2013.”

Meanwhile, Notts are still hoping to bolster their fast-bowling ranks, despite missing out on securing the signature of either James Harris or Jack Brooks, who have moved to Middlesex and Yorkshire respectively..

It is thought unlikely that Darren Pattinson will return to the county next summer and the out-of-contract trio of Ajmal Shahzad, Sajid Mahmood and Chris Jordan have all been identified as potential targets.

Newell will also wait before confirming his overseas signing for 2013. Australians Adam Voges and David Hussey have tended to share the role in recent seasons, although Hussey’s IPL and international commitments rendered him unavailable to the county for the whole of last summer.

Sensibly, Newell intends to wait for the release of the domestic calendar before being able to assess Hussey’s availability this time around.




Date: 08/10/2012 13:43:36 by Dave Bracegirdle
In: Today | Nottinghamshire |