Starting XI Prediction Competition
Either of These Two?
By Ged
January 23 2008
See if you can predict Middlesex’s starting XI for its first County Championship match of 2008. Who will take the field at Grace Road on 16 April? And what will the Middlesex batting line up be? The person who gets closest wins one of our famous small prizes.
See if you can predict Middlesex’s starting XI for its first County Championship match of 2008 at least two months in advance.
Who will take the field on Wednesday 16 April 2008 at Grace Road? And what will the Middlesex batting line up be for the first innings of that match?
The person who gets closest wins one of our famous small prizes. “Closest” is firstly determined by “correct number of players in the team”. If that “score” is equal, the correct choice of captain and wicketkeeper comes into play. If the “score” is still equal, the tie breaker is based on position in the batting order, with one unwanted point allocated for each error in placement in the batting order. Twelfth man counts for nothing in this game.
It’s easy peasy - all you need to do is come up your chosen XI and e-mail that predicted team to: mtwdadmin@googlemail.com
Please use the subject line “2008 Starting XI”.
Stumps for this competition will be drawn at 23:59:59 GMT on 15 February 2008.
Those seeking inspiration might wish to discuss this matter on the accompanying thread, or look at other threads that discussed this matter earlier in the closed season, but remember that things move on.
Also to help inspire people – here is Ged Ladd’s prediction.
Strauss
Godleman
Shah
Smith (Capt)
Joyce
Nash (Wkt)
MurtaghKartik
SilverwoodRichardson
Finn
You can change your entry at any point up until the deadline, but only your last entry will qualify for the competition. So put in your joke entry before you put in your serious one!
The best and worst entries will be praised/vilified on MTWD very early in the new season. And of course the winning entry will win one of those famous miniscule MTWD prizes.
My X1 was identical apart from Morgan at 6 instead of Finn, purely to bolster middle order batting.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
I guess this idea of allowing people to change their minds before the deadline encourages the "rapid response, then monitor" strategy.
This could be quite interesting once it closes, with several very similar yet all subtly different entries so far.
Here's my revised team, based on the intervening news:
Strauss
Godleman
Shah
Smith (Capt)
Joyce
Nash (Wkt)
Noffke
Murtagh
Silverwood
Richardson
Finn

HERE WE GO THEN -
1 COMPTON
2 GODLEMAN
3 SHAH
4 SMITH (Captain)
5 JOYCE
6 NASH (Wk.Kpr.)
7 BERG
8 MURTAGH
9 NOFFKE
10 de WET
11 SILVERWOOD
12 UDAL
Maybe Udal for Berg!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:13:01:09:18 by TOP TIER PAVILION.
Better that people e-mail their entries, please, but in any case postings on the Board, if edited after closing time, will be disqualified.
It's hard work being a game lord - tough love and all that.

THIS IS MY FINAL ENTRY - SORRY!
HERE WE GO THEN -
1 COMPTON
2 GODLEMAN
3 SHAH
4 SMITH (Captain)
5 JOYCE
6 NASH (Wk.Kpr.)
7 UDAL
8 MURTAGH
9 NOFFKE
10 de WET
11 SILVERWOOD
12 BERG
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:13:12:13:24 by TOP TIER PAVILION.
I'll collate all the entries and provide news on the runners and riders as soon as I can find the time.
Those of you who e-mailed your entries should all have received an e-mail acknowledgement from me.
