Rock Bottom at DisGraced Road

Seaxe Man gives a comprehensive report on another humliating day for Middlesex. A true perspective of a bitterly disappointing day. Read on if you can bear it.

Weather

There was an uncertain forecast which turned out to be a little back-to-front. Typically, drizzle commenced as I left home for St Pancras. £7.90 e/w being a lot cheaper than the petrol bill. On arrival at Leics Stn, followed the instructions from the Leics website and walked to the ground. About 3+miles and took about 40 mins. The drizzle had naturally followed me up the track, so dropped anchor in the restaurant, where there were affordable snacks. Fortunately SKY was on, and a goodish number of the punters passed the time watching the test, awaiting a start. Long way to go to watch Sky. Echoes of Barf.

1st session.

Start delayed. Cloud started to break up about 11.15 and the groundstaff starting clearing/moving covers with the umpires supervising. 12'o'clock start announced. with usual weather proviso. Lunch at 1.30. 8 overs lost for the day. Play to continue to 6.30. Sun was trying to breakthrough, as umpires called play. Still damp in the air as The Middle took the field. Interestingly. Martin Bodenham, the former footie referee was one of the umpires. David Lloyds was the other.

Cobb/Walker resumed for the home side at the o/n score of 137 for 6. A smattering of spectators around the ground. Murts opened the bowling to Cobb from the Pavilion end. The 4th ball to Walker, Murts, produced a short rising delivery and an edge from Walker taken by Morgan in the slips. 138 for 7. As later events were to prove, this was the high-point of the day for us. Murts did not appear in any way incommoded as he ran in. Steve Finn came in from the score box end. After one ball, the rain returned and the players left the field, covers back on. Time 12.20. Lunch returned to 1.00pm from 1.30. Lunch Leics 145 for 7. Umpires reappeared at 1.20. Resumption announced as 2.00pm. After this time the rain stayed away.

2nd Session 

2nd session - post lunch.
 
Eventual resumption at 2.00pm. Cobb/O'Brien resumed for Leics. Finn to complete the 5 balls of the 4th over to O'Brien. Completed, with irritating drip continuing. Murts resumed but was greeted by a straight driven 4 by Cobb. Two LB shouts turned down. Edge over slips for 4 by O'Brien off Finn. Lead gained in Murts next over. Bill G called up to short-leg. Sun threatening to come out. Last ball well stopped by Berg at cover point. Compo unlucky not to prevent a 4 at 3rd man. Catch taken at sq leg by Morgan, deemed pad only. Short ball from Murts hooked for 6 over fine leg by Cobb. An on-drive by O'Brien brought up the fifty stand with Cobb. (188 for 7).  This ended in same over with O'Brien LB to Murts for 20. 188 for 8.

Slip cordon Morgs, Kartik, Ace. Usual inner ring plus 3rd man. Edge off Finn did not carry. A slog by Cobb over mid-on for 4, led to another which this time was straighter and Billy Godleman took a fine tumbling catch at straightish mid-on. Leics 195 for 9. Cobb 95. One presumed that with the event of the tail, Cobb became rash in trying to reach what would have been a well deserved century.  A single brought up their 200 and a batting point. 

After a great spell by Finny unfortunately for him, without wkt addition. Kartik was brought on at SBE. A snick off Kartik, fortuitously evaded Shah at slip by inches and went for 3 down to 3rd man.  Udal came on at PE to complete an all spin attack. Both Murts/Finn had worked hard. Shaggy was greeted with a straight driven 6. Kartik bowled a maiden featuring a full length dive by Berg in an attempt at a low catch at short cover. At this point, an attempted run-out, hit Nashy on his right upper arm and he had to leave the field for treatment. Burts came on as sub fielder and Morgan took over behind the stumps. Unlucky again for Nashy. The sun was at last blazing down but not on The Middle. Berg replaced Kartik at SBE. His extra pace brought a maiden and deservedly bowled Harris taking out his middle stump in his next over, to end an irritating 10th  wk stand of 49. It was not without some good fortune, the ball twice, once at each end, evading everything, including the stumps, before ending on the boundary ropes. Leics 244ao.

The start of the Middlesex innings was enlivened by O'Brien mimicking Billy's batting stance face-to-face. Billy stoically ignored this. WUM sprang to mind. Difference of 85 on 1st innings in low scoring match, extremely significant. This was garnered largely by Cobb, with eventual support from their tail. 1st ball thumped into Billy's pads for a concerted appeal, including gully. Compton had two stumps comprehensively removed by O'Brien, O'Brien's 4th delivery, and I think the first Compo had faced. 5 for 1. Tea taken at 4.20.

3rd Session 

Godleman went for 14 lbw to Harris. Middx 24 for 2. Gurney (any relation to Uncle Tom Cobley) was wided by umpire Bodenham, unusual, but welcome. Morgan went down on one knee and drove to cover. Morgan 1. Middle 32 for 3. Morgs has not had a happy time since his return from England duties mostly bench warming. Which opens the old argument, of whether playing for your county is more productive use of time.

Bowler Harris.  Strong LB shout against Ace turned down. Missing leg. Ace brought up the 50, which for The Middle had been a struggle, in this session. Confidence at a premium. Ace nicks behind. 50 for 4. New looks a worthy successor to Nixon for the oppo. Ace 18.

Not a great match for our batters. Confidence is all. David Nash returning to bat after retiring hurt was a welcome sight. He did not seem incommoded. 3 consecutive 4's by Nashy moved the score along. Next ball, Malan LBW for 13, 64 for 5 and the end is nigh, still 21 in arrears.

Some stoic defence followed, before Berg eventually sq cut a 4. Next ball, a yorker, he kept out with difficulty. Nash then out, ct from a lifting ball from Allenby by Dippenaar at slip, for 14. Midd-x 76 for 6. LB shout against Udal. Umpire Bodenham does'nt seem to be a LBW man. Light offered at 6.20. Off we went 76 for 6. Berg 7. Udal 0.

Summation
 
After Barf, Bristol and now Leicester. The lack of runs is demoralising to all concerned. The bowlers worked hard (Murts/Finn deserved their 4fers) but had nothing to bowl at. For the home side, Cobb's knock of 95 was crucial, giving the innings a bit of ballast, and was the matchwinning factor. He was backed up by their bowlers. Like Chelmers, Bristol. The Leicester wicket was juicier than than the ones we play on. On all three wickets our seamers have had good matches: the results as Bristol and now Leics, being decided by the oppos' batters.

The regression of the young batters since 2006 is a worry: the fielding this year, has also regressed. The bowling has been more beset by injuries. Finn is making progress in CC matches, notably at oppos' ground, where pitch conditions have been more favourable. Would like to see him with a consistent good yorker and slower ball in his armoury: especially for his 'at the death' role. His work in the winter on his batting is starting to show some reward as a lower order bat. For 6'8", not our worst fielder either. Billy's fielding prowess is also making progress. A nucleus of a smart fielding side is there. To reach Hampshire's standard though, we have a bit to go.