Assistant Head Coach Paul Franks has described Nottinghamshire Academy graduate Liam Patterson-White’s maiden Test call-up as “fantastic news.”
Franks spent 18 years in a similar playing role to Patterson-White, with both also having represented Farnsfield CC during their careers.
Having moved into coaching following his retirement as a player, he has also been part of the Trent Bridge coaching staff during the whole time Patterson-White has played for the first XI.
“I’m really excited for him to see what he can do at the next level, and the impact he can make,” said Franks. “It’s a great way for his career to move on from where he’s been.
“He’s been performing so well for us over an extended period of time, so it’s fantastic news, for Liam and for the club.”
Nottinghamshire fans will view Patterson-White’s selection as a long time coming after the consistency he has displayed in recent years, a viewpoint shared by Franks.
“I think if we look really closely at his game in the last couple of years, he’s managed to find a way to a new level, both with the bat and with the ball,” said Franks.
“He’s done such a good job for us in clutch situations with both skills, really, and he’s got the ability to turn a game in the latter stages as well.
“It’s a skill set that we really like, and obviously the England selectors do as well, so they’ll be keen to see what he’s got.”
Franks is also especially enthused by the effect that he sees Patterson-White’s selection having on the current local cohort, and on others in the squad also pushing for higher honours.
“Hopefully, it’s really motivational for the guys that are in our system, both the young ones and the slightly older ones, to see one of our homegrown boys come through,” he said.
“It certainly sharpens the focus, doesn’t it? I think if you’re in that space and you know that there’s been a lot of chat around, he’s on the radar and he’s been awarded his development contract, you know you’re not a million miles away.”
While recognising the scale of the task that now lies before Patterson-White, Franks is fully expecting his fellow left-handed all-rounder to rise to it.
“At Test level, it’s the ultimate challenge for him, and one that I’m looking forward to seeing him take,” he affirmed.
“Lots of other very, very good Notts players have had that opportunity in the past, and he joins a long line that he certainly deserves to be in.
“He’s got the opportunity now, in the lead-up to this South Africa series, to really hone his skills and get himself as ready as he can to perform in that.
“I’m really, really pleased that he’s hopefully going to get this chance, and he’s just got to make sure that, as and when his opportunity comes, he’ll be ready to take it.”