Tom Moores: I would love to get in the Lions squad again

Tom Moores, despite his precocious talent, is not beyond self-criticism or pre-match nerves.

And the place where he finds release from it all is out in
the middle.

Nottinghamshire wicket-keeper/batsman Moores, 22, was always
a promising age-group cricketer, and his senior breakthrough arrived last year
as he ably stepped in to succeed county stalwart Chris Read.

The challenge now for him in 2019 is to recreate – and then
better – the kind of form that saw him earn his maiden England Lions call-up
last winter.

“I’m always looking to get better. I’m never satisfied. You
always want to look for more to be a better player, so that’s what I’ve been
trying to do,” said Moores.

“You have to assess yourself harshly but you need to take
the rough with the smooth.

“You don’t want to carry disappointment with you to the next
game because they come thick and fast but also, every time I step out on the
field, I get quite nervous beforehand.

“But there is almost a release when I’m out there with the bat. It’s the place I like to be and I just like to go out and show people what I can do, and I want to entertain if I can. You are not going to do well all the time and it’s a high-pressure environment, so you need to be able to deal with that and relax in a way that you still care but be able to put it behind you.

“I don’t necessarily set specific goals but I’m just looking
to be the match-winner for the team as many times as I can. If I’m not too far
from that, then I know I’m in a decent spot.

“I understand sometimes it won’t always work but I want to
put those performances in – that’s the goal I set myself rather than anything
specific.”

Notts opened up their 2019 campaign with a draw against Yorkshire
at Trent Bridge and were due to get under way at home to Somerset on Thursday.

Having only just survived in Division One last season, those
at Trent Bridge will be striving to be in the conversation at the top end of
the table this time around.

Moores has been joined by more young English talent in the
form of Joe Clarke, Ben Slater, Ben Duckett and Zak Chappell, and has high
hopes for this rejuvenated, new-look Notts side.

“It’s an exciting season with an exciting new squad, so it
should be really good,” said Moores, the son of head coach Peter.

“I’m definitely keen to push on and I want to try and top
last season if I can.

“We have some great players, some talented players, with
some great numbers as well, so we’ll be looking to really push for the treble
and get right up there.

“We want to challenge for the County Championship and also
the white ball.

“We’ve always been strong at that at this club, so we’ll be
looking to push forward with that and see where we get to.

“We have a lot of depth in the bowling and batting. We’ve
got a lot of coverage in the red ball and white ball, so we’ve got a great
balance to mix both attacking and the long formats.

“It should be a great year and I can’t wait to see what we can do.”

And what of Moores’ personal ambitions?

Not only did he tour India with the Lions but the Notts
gloveman also kept himself in fine fettle by playing for the Multan Sultans in
the Pakistan Super League – he looks primed to scale more new heights in 2019.

“I learned a lot from a lot of star quality players and I
just tried to be a bit of a sponge,” he added.

“It was a great experience to go there and work with the
Lions coaches on that tour and I learned a lot about myself with the franchise
stuff.

“I’d love to get in the Lions again and I’d love to
represent them, so it would be great to do that and to show the selectors what
I can do and put in performances for Notts. The rest, hopefully, will take care
of itself.

“I try to stay in the moment and deal with whatever or
whoever I’m facing – I’m just thinking about it being me against them and doing
the best I can do.

“It’s a great time to be a young player.”

DAN BARNES / Photo: Getty Images