A lunch to remember

Keeping the memory of our Championshio win alive Darren gives us a vividly detailed report of the end of season awards lunch. We get to hear about speeches, competitions on the day, a hatful of awards, what happened after the Tavern celebrations and much more beside. A great reliving of a special day.

A room full of Middlesex supporters and players past and present in buoyant mood were welcomed by Director of Cricket Angus Fraser, who then handed over to former Kent batsman (and now Sky TV presenter) Dave Fulton (Fults) who performed the role of MC for the occasion.

The backdrop to the stage saw a large screen showing the champagne soaked players celebrating lifting the title in front of the pavilion just a week ago. Various smaller screens were also scattered around the room as highlights from the season were played at various points throughout the afternoon.

The first footage shown was from the final day of the Yorkshire match. Kev enthusiastically cheered every Yorkshire wicket to fall as if it were live! As Toby completed his hat-trick the room erupted in celebration once more.

Fults told us he was with the Somerset players as events unfolded and said the Lords finale didn’t go down quite as well of course.

Fults explained that there were a lot of awards to give out, so many in fact that if you haven’t got one you can count yourself unlucky, first award up....

The Geoff Norris Batting Performance Award
For his club record breaking 337 runs in a match (231 & 106) v Warwickshire, Sam Robson stepped up to receive his award from Geoff and Gatt looking a little worse for wear it had to be said (and it was!). Sam said it had been a long week of partying with the Cricket Writers Awards night and PCA Awards night following quite a session last Friday. Sam’s blurred recollections included Gatt drinking out of a shoe and the boys going clubbing still dressed in their whites adding “we must have stunk like polecats” (an Australian expression no doubt).

T20 spotlight

T20 skipper Dawid Malan was then interviewed to speak of our improved performances in T20 cricket along with his own call up to the England T20 team. Fults asked Dawid what it was like to be called up for a one off T20 only to be left out! He then added “you may want to speak to that man over there” (pointing at Eoin Morgan). Dawid neatly side-stepped that one.

Dawid said his big target for the season had been that Middlesex play with more intensity and close games out when in a commanding position, which by and large he felt we had achieved. He also added he hoped we would continue to improve next season and go further than the quarter finals in which he conceded had been a disappointing performance to end the campaign.

Higher of Lower Quiz

Everyone in the room was then invited to take part in a higher or lower quiz which tested everyone’s statistical knowledge on our 1993 Championship winning team versus the 2016 winning team.
All you had to do was put your hands on your head if you thought the answer was higher or on your behind for lower. Questions were along the lines of Gubbo v Gatt highest run scorer, followed by who had the higher average. Similar with bowlers Embers v Ollie etc. I blew out with saying John Carr’s highest score of the season had been higher than Gubbo’s (195 v 201 if you were wondering).

Anyway an entertaining quiz none the less with the winner picking up a signed Jack Russell piece of artwork of the Lords Pavilion.

Brooks McDonald Player of the Month for September

For his 17 wickets in the last 3 games of the Championship season this award was presented to

Toby Roland-Jones.

Second XI Review of the Season
Coach Richard Johnson took to the stage along with seconds skipper Steve Eskinazi and Ryan Higgins. Johnno spoke with pride at what a strong second XI we had at Middlesex with the team reaching the second XI Championship Final for the second year running plus becoming the first county to ever retain the second XI T20 trophy. Esky was then presented with the Second XI T20 Trophy by chairman Mike O’Farrell.

Johnno also said how pleasing it had been to see guys like “Esky” and “Higgo” make the step up to the first XI and hit the ground running. Higgo was presented with framed scorecards of his recent unbeaten triple century in the seconds v Worcestershire (303 not out form 293 balls 36 x 4 and 6 x 6) plus his first XI record equaling T20 bowling figures of 5-13 v Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl. Esky was also presented with a framed scorecard of his maiden first class ton v Lancashire at Lords.

Nick Gubbins was also called up to collect framed scorecards of his maiden century v Somerset and maiden (unbeaten) double ton v Lancashire.

Table Draw – Signed Min Bat

This was decided by the diner on each table whose birthday was closest to red ball skipper James Franklin, 28th November. John on our table picking up the bat with 12th November. If only it had been our white ball skipper Dawid Malan (3rd Sep) I would surely have won (6th Sep) - oh well

First XI Review of the Season

James Franklin, Toby and Gus then took to the stage to review the 2016 season. Gus paid tribute to Franco’s calm leadership and said he was never fazed when taking the reins sometimes at short notice with the absence of overseas players and others due to international call ups. Franco said how proud he was of our success and stressed it had been a real squad effort with those not necessarily featuring regularly having a big impact in the matches when they were called into action. To much cheering Franco also said how pleased he was for Ollie Rayner in achieving 50 wickets in the Championship.

Fults then chipped in by saying what a master-stroke it had been by Ollie (as 12th man) to hit Adam Voges on the head with the ball to engineer his recall to the starting line-up. Franco joked it also worked out for him too as neither were in the side at the Ageas Bowl that day but neither missed a match thereafter. Finally Toby explained just how surreal the events on the last day had been culminating in flattening Sidebottom’s leg stump to bring the title home after 23 years.

The John Bugden Bowling Performance Award
For his match & title winning figures of 10-127 v Yorkshire Toby Roland-Jones stepped up to receive his award from John Emburey.

Special Award

Gus then announced a special award breaking from tradition and thanking the Board for allowing him to do so. Gus invited Richard Scott to the stage to collect his Middlesex county cap from President Harry Latchman for all his magnificent work with the first XI over the last seven seasons.

Women’s Youth Player of the Year
This was won by Maia Bouchier who collected her award from first XI skipper James Franklin.

Youth Player of the Year
Was won by young Sri Lankan leg-spinner Thilan Wallawita and presented by James Franklin.

Emerging Player of the Year
Was won by Stevie Eskinazi and presented by Richard Johnson.

Player’s Player of the Year
Won with over 50% of the votes by Nick Gubbins and presented by coach Richard Scott.

Disability Squad Player of the Year
Won by Matthew Jones and presented by club President Harry Latchman.

Women’s Player of the Year
Won by left arm spinner Alex Hartley who was away with England on tour in the Caribbean. Teammate Tasha Miles collected the award on Alex’s behalf from Harry Latchman.

Player of the Year

Introduced as the first player to arrive at the ground for training and matches, first in the nets and always striving to better himself. Over 1,400 Championship runs in his first full season in the first XI including maiden ton and double tons, Nick Gubbins proved a worthy winner and stepped up to the stage to a standing ovation from all those in the room.

That pretty much brought the afternoon’s events to a conclusion, just time to have my pic taken with the Championship Trophy - though I should probably have asked Kev to take my pic before he had been at the red wine!

Trophy and wine - what better!