The 40 over game is always considered a bit of a lottery, but the 1997 competition was so badly interrupted by adverse weather, that the Trophy was always in the hands of Fame Fortune.

No less than seven of 17 Notts fixtures were rain affected. Three, including the much heralded floodlit game with Surrey, were entirely washed away and four were left in the machinations of Vera Duckworth.

The system was in operation for the first time in 1997 and there can be no doubt as to its mathematical soundness, it is however a moot point whether players and spectators really want obtuse arithmetical calculations to decide what were initially arranged as more light hearted attractions to persuade half interested possible spectators to come and try cricket as an entertainment on Sunday afternoon.

Be that as it may Notts 1997 season was one of a victory followed by a defeat followed by the rain.

His unbeaten century against Derbyshire enabled Archer to top the batting table; Johnson, while not repeating his phenomenal form of the previous campaign, attained the best aggregate.

The bowling was headed by Tolley. Both he and Astle were the most consistent of all rounder’s Bowen and Oram were two other bowlers who were reliably successful.

Notts finished 12th with 7 wins, 7 losses, 3 no results.