Bores draw nore criticism

The ever cheerful Harvey finds some positives in the days play but many shortcomings,including his railway timekeeping. Thanks for the report Harvey.

Middlesex v Warwickshire (Day 4) Uxbridge 2012

Middlesex's positive batting display yesterday afternoon had left the game in a situation where any result was possible. However a not exactly brilliant weather forecast combined with Warwickshire's negative tactics employed from very early on in the game suggested a result would be difficult to force. It was therefore with modest expectations that I set off from Bristol. Leaving the house too late to get the train, my only option was to drive.

I passed through some really horrible weather en route from Bristol, but despite the fact it was raining heavily just half a mile away, all was dry at the ground itself. I took my place at Vermin Corner 20 minutes before the scheduled start, and 5 minutes later my friend Tom arrived. I had arranged to meet up with him at the cricket a couple of times this season, but on both occasions the weather had ruined our plans. Right on cue the rain started and we retreated to the clubhouse.

The rain was enough to wash out the first session, but after some more excellent work by the groundstaff, play was able to commence at 1345, leaving 63 overs to be played. Middlesex began on 104/3 (a lead of 182), with Dex on 45 and  Morgan on 7. Yesterday's positive approach continued, but lost wickets meant the ferocious assault that would have been necessary to really put Warwickshire under presssure wasn't able to get going. Morgan fell, caught behind by Ambrose off Wright without adding to his overnight score.

After Dex completed a fine half century, Simmo (18) departed in the quest for quick runs, caught by Rankin off Wright at deep square leg.

Dex greeted Patel's introduction into the attack with a 6 over cow corner, but that was as good as it got for the day. The Ice Man (1) tried something similar but could only sky one to Rankin at mid wicket.

The declaration finally came on 178/6 with Dex undefeated on 84 and Ollie on 14. This left Warwickshire a target of 260 off 40 overs. A very big ask, certainly, but we did fleetingly wonder whether something might have been contrived between the captains.

We should have known better. The Warwickshire Bores made it very obvious that they had no intention whatsoever of even making a fleeting effort to go for the win. One unnamed source suggested that maybe Warwickshire were looking for a sponsorship deal with Nytol.

In 40 overs it was never going to be possible on that pitch to dismiss a team intent only on self-preservation, and Porterfield (23) was the only wicket to fall, top-edging an attempted cut off Ollie, with The Ice Man taking the catch. After a tedious final session, the captains put us out of our misery by shaking hands with Warwickshire on 78/1 with 13 overs still remaining.

It's a fact of life that bore draws happen from time to time in four day cricket. Sometimes it's down to the weather, sometimes a flat pitch. Sadly in this instance it was down to a visiting team that from the time they came out to bat in their 1^st innings on Day 2 (after having won the toss don't forget) made no visible attempt to play for anything other than a draw. If this is in any way indicative of their usual approach, then it's to be hoped that their stay at the top of the County Championship table will be a short one.