Middlesex Ashes Captains - Mike Brearley Part One
Top Man
By Seaxe Man
November 28 2010
Continuing Seaxe Man's epic set of essays on Middlesex Ashes captains, MTWD proudly presents the first part of Seaxe Man's essay on Mike Brearley. This part is a preamble, Seaxe Man settting out his stall as it were. Lots in here about Mike's Middlesex career as well as outlining his massive Ashes contributions. The rest of the essay will be published in installments over the coming weeks. Think of this part as just an hors d'oeuvre. As ever, many thanks to Seaxe Man.
The fourth in the series of Middlesex Ashes Captains brings us to the modern era in the person of John Michael Brearley known as ‘Mike’.
Brearley was born in Harrow, Middlesex on 28th April 1942.
He was the second Middlesex player born in the ancient and famous Middlesex Town of Harrow, to become a Test cricketer.
He played in 39 Tests, 31 as captain. His Test record was 1442 runs @ 22.89, with a top score of 91 in Bombay.
He made 9 50’s and a useful 52 catches, pretty well exclusively in the slips.
He took over the England Captaincy from A W Greig in 1977, after Greig had joined The Packer circus.
His county record was: 292 matches, 15,940 runs@38.22 with 29 hundreds.
The first Harrow born Test player,was J.S.E. (Sport) Price who until recent times remained a resident, and in addition is a follower of London Wasps Rugby.
Price, played 15 Tests accruing 40 wickets @ 35.02. His career however did not overlap Brearley’s.
A third (current ) player from Harrow, though born in Bushey is a certain M.R.Ramprakash who played 42 Tests while wearing the Blue Seaxe’s of The Middle.
To return to the subject. Mike was an opening batsman by trade, and occasional wicketkeeper, Though I once saw him bowl some donkey drops in a Sunday League match against Warwickshire.
He even managed a wicket which created great mirth, not least to the Warwickshire non striker.
He also appeared for Cambridge University in the days when talented first class cricketers started their careers at Oxbridge.
His Middlesex debut was circa 1961, when as a Cambridge Freshman he appeared for Middlesex (in those days with a dark mane of flowing locks), in the latter part of the season.
He dropped out of Middlesex cricket for a spell in the mid-sixties, while he pursued a career as a ‘psychologist’ in The US of A.
This career break probably had a lot to do with his later struggles at top level, batting wise IMHO.
He was later persuaded by the then Middlesex Committee to return to the fold in the early seventies.
Then as now, we were in the doldrums, our last outright championship win being in 1947.
Brearley for his part, demanded and got, full control of all cricketing matters pertaining to Middlesex Cricket as regards player recruitment and started rebuilding the side.
A shrewd signing in 1976 was Allan Arthur Jones from Somerset. Latterly a first class umpire.
Jonesey in tandem with Mike Selvey, who had rejoined the county a year or two previously, took as I recall, something like 70 wickets apiece, in our first outright championship win for 29 years.
I was indeed fortunate on taking a flex half day from work at British Airways. To head down to the Oval and watch Clive Radley cut down through the slips to third man, to secure the batting point which secured the championship.
The Brearley era had arrived and was to continue until 1982. The previous year (1975) we had reached both knockout finals, the first county to do so, and although losing both. The signs were there.
A couple of shrewd signings during Mike’s era, were those of Phil Edmonds and John Emburey, the spin twins, who served both the County and England extremely well.
He was a little fortunate that at that time, the Second Eleven won their Championship in 1974. This team included players of the calibre of Graham Barlow and Roland Butcher who formed the backbone of the 1st XI for the next 15 years.
Brearley’s final triumph at county level, was the 1982 County Championship.
I still have in my possession, the artist Alan Fearnley’s pencil sketch of the players appearing from the Uxbridge Pavilion in the penultimate match versus Hampshire.
Well drawn, with the player’s faces quite recognisable.
Then it was a trip up to Worcester, where I recall Wayne Daniel, another shrewd signing, pouching a catch at wide long-off to secure the fourth bowling point and the Championship.
Anyway, to turn back to the Test Arena.
Mike Brearley captained England on 31 occasions, 18 of those against Australia. Winning 11 and drawing 3.
He featured in 4 series, but one, ( a mini series), was not an Ashes contest.
This did not go down well with the Australians when they won the series 3-0. However, this was agreed by both parties prior to the matches being played.
Brearley said correctly. Ashes contests had to be five match contests, though a couple have been of six., and one of four in the World Cup year of 1975.
The series were:
1977 in England, 1978/79 in Australia, 1979/80 in Australia, (the mini series), and 1981 in England.
Brearley with his modest Test Record was never a great favourite of the cricket media., and I imagine his intellect bugged them a trifle.
There were oft calls for his replacement, by somebody else, who it was thought could justify their place runwise.
If judged solely on his playing record at Test level, they probably would have got their way.
But the selectors had a conundrum.
His brilliant captaincy record , and his ability to inspire others (notably Botham) meant that it was not a open and shut case and he prevailed.
Wisely, as it panned out.
I often thought personally, that had he continued playing during his formative years in the mid-sixties, his batting technique against the very best opening bowlers would have been better.
The opening bowlers during his time, numbered the great West Indians and Australian fast bowlers, so, maybe his record in those times was to a degree, not unexpected.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:05:13:34:07 by Ged.
A list of occasions when he kept wicket can be found here. I made a few posts about his wicket-keeping on the PCA best 1 day team of the last 30 years thread, although it would take up too much room if I reproduced them here. The second- and third-last matches on the list of occasions when he kept wicket have Brearley down as wicket-keeper and Ian Gould as captain, but my guess is that Cricket Archive have got it the wrong way round.
A list of occasions when he bowled can be found here and a list of batsmen who he dismissed can be found here. It seemed that he mostly came on to bowl when either his team were on the brink of defeat or his team were on the brink of a comfortable win. The Warwickshire batsman who he dismissed was David Hopkins, who fell lbw in an 82 run win for Middlesex in the John Player League at Lord's in 1979.
When we won the County Championship in 1976, Allan Jones took 69 wickets and Mike Selvey took 61. The following season, Selvey, Phil Edmonds and Wayne Daniel all broke the 70 wicket barrier.
It is a sad state of affairs when it is demanded that captains, wicket-keepers (yes, this is a coded "Ben Scott in and John Simpson out sentence") and bowlers have to score runs, but I am glad to see that the temptation for England to drop Brearley was resisted.
I wish that I was around when Brearley was captain as it would have been brilliant!
Quote:Vic Demain
Did for a cricket team, on his own, what it now takes a staff of ten coaches
Lower Mound is also not a fan of employing lots of backroom staff, and he would prefer the money to be spent on recruiting players, although as I am from a different generation, I can understand the importance of lots of backroom staff.
Brearley is my all time Middlesex hero.
The man is a true Middlesex legend. In my opinion The Greatest Middlesex and England Captain of them all.
And when Mike captained England in India and Horace spotted one of us with a radio under the desk, rather than confiscate it he merely asked the score.
It was worth going to watch Middx then just to watch Brearley catain the side!
Curiously enough, another Middlesex legend got a Warwickshire wicket in the same fashion, bowling the last over ina match easily won. This was Clive Radlet trapping Anton Ferreira, who was being urged by a couple of his supporters in the Tavern to put the ball amongst them, tried, missed and was given out lbw by an umpire who might or might not have been ebntering into the spirit of things!
It was rather easier for me to slip across the river for The Great Day in Kennington. My recollection is that it was an edge rather than a cut that secured the vital point. Also that it had been chilly and cloudy up to that point, but the gods were so pleased that it then became a gloriously sunny afternoon. That could have been weather observation by association, I suppose. How nice it was to celebrate in front of the pavilion at the tea interval as the always jovial Sorry team looked on. Apart from Robin Jackman, that team always seemed to look miserable!
Talking of JPL matches and the Tavern, I wonder who it was who (always in the second better oiled half of the match) used to shout "Come on, Peter baby" to Peter Parfitt or "Come on, Fred - wicket!" to Titmus, F J?
Adelaide
Would have made a bit of a splash and a crash methinks.
Needless to say, he was well oiled.
Another bloke, still around I am glad to say, was prone to shout 'C'mon Graham' whenever his hero GD Barlow appeared from the Pav.
That Tavern Bar facing the play is still much missed.
Also, the fact I was yet to be born means I have no recollection of some of the characters from the crowd who are mentioned on this thread.
Quote:Jonathan Winsky
The Warwickshire batsman who he [Mike Brearley] dismissed was David Hopkins, who fell lbw in an 82 run win for Middlesex in the John Player League at Lord's in 1979
Clive Radley also bowled in this match (according to Cricket Archive, it was the only time he is on record as bowling v Warwickshire) and Anton Ferreira scored 36 not out, but unfortunately it seems that Radley didn't take a wicket. However, he did take eight first-class wickets and one List A wicket.
Quote:Haringey Racer
As I have mentioned previously, I was taught A-Level applied maths by Mike's father Horace (previously of Yorkshire and the Middle). The start of Mike's first Test innings coincided with one of our lessons which was hastily switched to the TV room and, to be frank, didn't include much in the way of tuition.
And when Mike captained England in India and Horace spotted one of us with a radio under the desk, rather than confiscate it he merely asked the score.
Nice one Seaxe , like Harringay I have a teaching connection with the Brearley family having been taught French by his younger (and better looking) sister.
Adelaide
Quote:Jonathan Winsky
I was unable to join the many Middlesex supporters there as I was yet to be born.
Adelaidw
Plus under(the cellar), in the now disappeared ABC Bakery at Ealing Broadway (now an estate agent I think), The Who London 1965, which suggests it was about then.
The noise in that enclosed space was deafening.
The fact that all of us are still here (well I think we are, tho some days you wonder), is a tribute to our longevity.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:30:11:12:59 by Seaxe_Man.
Quote:adelaide
Are you sure it wasn't Jimmy Saville at the Hendrix Theatre?
Adelaidw
There were a lot of hallucinatory influences about at that time ,so there is a chance you could be spot on...
btw I think I saw Mike Brearley there(he said,getting thread back on track)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:30:11:06:23 by beeamazed.
I don't think JMB was at either.
Those Sunday concerts at the Saville were the place to be in those days.
It wasn't the volume so much as their very trebly tone. Supported by the Only Ones, I think.
Geoff Boycott was there, claiming in the bar that his granny could have plated better guitar with her hands tied behind her back. Well, maybe he wasn't (see reference above to substances) but wouldn;t it be nice if he was?
Adelaide de Milo
What were we talking about? Oh yeah Mike Brearley. As a kid I started watching Middx on early 70's. Witnessed his expert captaincy and was fascinated about his attention to detail, although didn't always understand what was going on. A masterstroke I remember home to Sorry lost 2 days due to weather of 3 day game. Day 3 bowled Sorry out cheaply 1st knock. Couldn't forfeit innings so faced 1 ball for 4. Declared, bowled Sorry out cheaply again and chased down total. All in one day. JW to help me get this more on topic, please can you dig out this scorecard for me.
I was there 76 at Hoval , not the streaker, and invaded the pitch when Radley scored championship winning run. Happy days.
In those days they were a miserable lot. Graham Roope once told me to f off when I asked for his autograph.
The first cricket book I ever read was Mike Brearley's Art of Captaincy a fascinating read which help my perception of tactical nous involved in game.
No doubt the man's a legend. Cheers Seaxe Man for bringing this to our attention.
Anyone here have other views,memories of Brears or closely associated topics. Unless our aging rockers would rather talk about other matters?
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:30:19:27:41 by BarmierKev.
card
Adelaide
Secret Gig Of Plant 1981
So I wasn't there that year when Brearley won the Ashes.
But I was at the Secret Gig of Plant in 1981, man. (Have I said that before?).
My first gig was ELO, New Theatre, Oxford, Face the Music tour '74, hardly rock & roll but did see The Tubes same venue frightened the life out of a simple Country boy.
.
I saw them at Wembley Arena ,marvelled at the spaceship taking off to start the show and left after 25 mins to adjourn to the Green Man.
They were complete toilet.
I think I might have spied MB in the public bar...
Mike on spotting the 49 year old spinner, and believing the pitch would take spin, included him in the team.
Eventually on the third afternoon (3 day match), Middle set the oppo a generous 161 in 135 mins.
The pitch now vindicated Brears, taking copious spin, when Edmonds withdrew with a dodgy back, after taking three wickets, Fred stepped in.
He removed Dave Thomas top score with 35, and two others, and the Gasworks Boys were bowled out for 102 and a win by 58 runs put us on our way to the CC Title.
This was Mike's final Lord's appearance for the Middle, though his final appearance in the hallowed county was at UXB's Park Road (Gatting Way not forgetting of course Brearley Close) Ground vs Hampshire, where the title was all but clinched with a 106 run win.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:01:15:40:53 by Seaxe_Man.
Anyway, Good essay there Seaxe Man. I have always been quite mesmorised by the enigma that is Mike Brearley. Perhaps it was his impact in the 1981 Ashes, one of the first Ashes series I was old enough to take notice of?
For someone who was clearly no where near the standard of a test opening batsman, his mere presence in the side, seemed to bring the best out of his team. Is this not the aim of the Leader?
That sagely wise man, Lao Tzu is credited with writing of the leader, that 'when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say we did it ourselves.'
This is certainly true of Brearley.
Later on Sunday I was informed that if I continue writing negatively of Simpson and continue putting people off MTWD then I will be suspended, so I have tried to stop writing that no-one likes me.
Hopefully Middlesex and England will give me lots of positive things to write about and put me in a good mood on many occasions over the coming years.
Versus West Indies in 1976. Played first two Tests, then dropped.