Nottinghamshire’s 2026 cricket season delivered contrasting fortunes for the county’s men’s and women’s teams. While the men came close to clinching their first County Championship title since 2010 and reached the semi-finals in both white-ball competitions, they ultimately finished the season without any trophies. In stark contrast, the women’s side, competing as The Blaze, completed a historic domestic treble by winning the Vitality Blast, T20 County Cup, and One-Day Cup.
The men’s County Championship campaign showed early promise as Nottinghamshire held the top spot in Division One during August following a decisive victory over Surrey at The Oval. They recorded five wins, six draws, and three losses across 14 matches but faded in the closing stages. Although they secured points through draws against Warwickshire and Leicestershire and prevailed over Hampshire, defeats to Sussex and a dramatic one-wicket loss against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge derailed their title bid.
Joe Clarke was the standout batsman, accumulating 1,288 runs at an average of 56.00, including four centuries. Clarke finished as the leading run-scorer in the Championship and was named the club’s Player of the Year after scoring more than 2,000 runs across all formats. Jack Haynes also had a breakthrough season, making 975 runs at 46.42 with three centuries, while Ben Duckett impressed in limited appearances, scoring 503 runs at an average above 83. Captain Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater provided solid middle-order contributions but fell short of expectations.
Bowling highlights included fast bowler Olly Stone, who enjoyed his best season to date. Stone took 50 wickets at 19.48, including five five-wicket hauls, and was pivotal in the win over Surrey with a ten-wicket match haul. Spinner Liam Patterson-White supported well with 42 wickets and a valuable century with the bat. Brett Hutton offered dependability but was limited to nine games due to injuries and team changes.
In the shorter formats, Nottinghamshire reached the semi-finals of both the Vitality Blast and the One-Day Cup. Scotland international George Munsey was instrumental in the Blast, scoring 500 runs at a strike rate nearing 140 and helping the Outlaws reach Finals Day for the first time since 2020. However, they fell short in the semi-final against Hampshire, who chased down a competitive total of 187 with ease.
In the One-Day Cup, South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne shone with 591 runs at an average over 84, including a crucial century in the quarter-final against Yorkshire. Alongside Haynes, who scored an unbeaten 116, Verreynne’s partnership was key to overturning an early collapse to secure victory. Nottinghamshire’s run ended in the semi-final against Leicestershire, who posted 303-7, with Hamza Shaikh’s century proving decisive.
The Blaze’s women’s team celebrated an exceptional season. Securing the County Cup against Surrey, they then claimed the Vitality Blast title with a dominant win over Durham. The team’s success was built on balanced contributions from multiple match-winners, including spinner Kirstie Gordon, left-arm seamer Grace Ballinger, and Charley Phillips. Ballinger took 48 wickets across formats, including 20 in the Blast at an average of just 11.20, earning her The Blaze’s Player of the Year honor.
The One-Day Cup final against Hampshire provided a thrilling conclusion as Emma Jones struck the winning boundary off the last delivery to complete the treble with a three-wicket win. The team benefited from the experience of established batters Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Bryce, Kathryn Bryce, and Georgia Elwiss.
Off the field, Nottinghamshire secured Olly Stone’s services with a contract extension through 2028, reinforcing their bowling strength. Additionally, The Blaze are expected to be rebranded as Notts Women from the next season, signaling closer alignment with the county’s cricket structure moving forward.