16 November, 2011
Sussex batsman Chris Nash is dreaming of further England honours after signing a new deal with his boyhood club.
Nash had a superb season in 2011, making 1,912 runs for Sussex – including 649 in the CB40 competition, for which he won the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s CB40 Player of the Year award.
Nash also earned higher honours with England Lions, playing in three 50-over matches against Sri Lanka A late in the summer.
Despite a disappointing time against the Sri Lanka tourists though, where he made just 48 runs, Nash’s sights are firmly set on furthering his claims for an England place.
“You ask anyone and they will tell you they want to play for England,” said the 28-year-old.
“I was probably a bit disappointed that I didn’t get a few more runs [against Sri Lanka] but if I keep performing for Sussex then hopefully I’ll get another chance.
“If you don’t see yourself moving up to the next level then there’s no point in playing really. I know I’ve got a lot to offer any team I play for, whether it’s Sussex, England Lions or anyone really.”
Consistency
Nash’s consistency in the longer format over the past three seasons (he made over 1,000 runs in 2009 and 2010 and 928 last summer) makes him one of the best performing English batsmen on the county circuit.
It was his efforts in the limited overs matches which really caught the eye in 2011 though, something Nash attributes to a shift in approach.
“I realised I needed to step my game up in the one-day format,” he added.
“I changed my mentality a bit. I probably used to take a few too many risks after getting 20 or 30. But as soon as you get a bit more senior in the team you resalise you’ve got to score a few more runs.
“I took that on and once you’ve changed that mentality you can adapt your technique to it.”
Despite his pleasing efforts in CB40 and Twenty20 cricket though, Nash won’t be resting on his laurels: "In terms of volume of runs 2011 was pleasing but I was a bit disappointed not to have scored more, which is a nice place to be really.
“It’s going the right way but I want to always have that desire to not be happy with the number of runs I’m getting.
“I want to make sure that I get over that 2,000 run barrier next season and be performing consistently in all forms of the game.”
Dilley's protege
Nash was born less than 15 miles from the County Ground in Hove and has no intention to leave the club he has been involved with for more than 20 years.
He did though spend three years at Loughborough University, graduating in 2004.
The right-hander played under the stewardship of the late England fast bowler Graham Dilley, who died in October this year.
Nash is one of a number of successful cricketers who attended Loughborough under Dilley – including his Sussex teammate Monty Panesar – and he was full of praise for the scheme - and Dilley in particular.
Nash said: “It was a very special three years for me. I met a group of good people and really got myself ready to play as a professional cricketer. It was completely beneficial.
“At 18 I wasn’t good enough to play county cricket and Graham turned me into a player who could handle playing at the top level.
“He was a guy who I’d heard about and had seen on clips of 1981 and then when you spoke to him and he was a great, normal guy who wanted the best for you.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him and everyone at Loughborough. He took me in and helped turn me from an average cricketer to someone who was capable of playing first-class cricket.”
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