Forum Fury

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:11:14:11:18 by BarmierKev.

Thanks for very quick update for the few, like me, who couldn`t make it.

Were any assurances given that approach/tactics in one day cricket will be different next year?

You know- every single twopenny halfpenny sales force in the land has 'Do what you've always done, and you'll get what you've always got' pinned up in the office.

Or Shane Warne's comment that Monty Panesar hadn't played 30 tests- he'd played the same test 30 times?

Well, it feels like we play the same T20 every game- too cautious every time- so anything positive said about a fresh approach next year?

Thanks Kev
Be interesting to see what the winter months bring...

Thanks Kev, no surprises there - sounds like the big waste of time I expected. The top table have my vote of no confidence and for once I am not even excited by the wait for the fixtures so convinced am I that we will go down next season...
I'll carry on dreaming that Langer will replace Scott as head coach and get the best out of a Sangakarra led batting unit zzzz zzzz zzzz

It was enjoyable to hear the panel and the members' thoughts on Middlesex's season, although I don't think I learnt a great deal other than it seems our County Championship captain will be our overseas player (maybe it will be Kumar Sangakkara) and that Executive Board member Andrew Strauss will have some involvement in our planning for next season. There was no confirmation there will be signings, let alone names mentioned.

On the subject of us performing better in limited-overs cricket in 2015, I don't think any assurances were made, although the club seem to think we are better at 50-over than Twenty20 cricket, especially as we tend not to be far off qualifying from our group in List A cricket. However, they admitted they were disappointed about our limited-overs performances in 2014.

On the subject of travelling by coach, a member suggested this would help team unity, but the panel said there are various complications of doing this, such as disagreements over when exactly the team wish to arrive (surely this would not be an issue if the team travel the day before a match, and would only be an issue when travelling on the day) and where exactly the pick-up should be (Lord's would be difficult due to players not being allowed to leave their cars there, while anywhere else may be inconvenient for certain players due to our squad living all over London and the surrounding area). However, a coach was hired when they had a four-day period in July when they played at Lord's, Taunton, Cardiff and Lord's again.

On the subject of the schedule, the problem is that a balance needs to be found between what England's management would like and what the public would like, and let's not forget about the players. I am sure that whatever suggestions people have about what would help attract supporters could be countered by England's management saying it would not be in England's interests. For example, Vinny Codrington as well as a few others suggest it would be a good idea for the Royal London Cup to be played at start of the season like the Benson & Hedges Cup, but I imagine it would be argued that playing 50-over matches in April/May would bear little resemblance to ODIs, which are often played in warmer conditions, whether that be in England or overseas. Personally, I was fairly happy with Championship matches starting on Sundays and the schedule of Twenty20 matches, although perhaps it would have been nice had the RLC been spread around to allow more Championship cricket to be played in August (in 2014, there was one round of Championship cricket in August, but we were not allocated a match).

Someone mentioned comments Tim Murtagh made on All Out Cricket's website about James Harris's hopes of gaining extra pace. It sounds like it is another case of England's coaches making suggestions to a player which turns out not to be in the player’s interest.

It was generous of the club to make the party free. I did not intend to stay for it, but I decided I might as well do so since it was free. I took a piece of chicken and a couple of crisps, but I didn't have the confidence to take any more.

Thanks for the report - I'm another that wasn't able to make it and the update on proceedings is greatly appreciated.

Glad to hear that there will be no T20 double header next year.

I've added a few more details and tidied up picture. The MCC relationship part really bothered me.

Let's hope this time next year, we won't have an excuse to allow free entry to the party.

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Thanks for the report Kev. Any comments on the people who have left, Rossington in particular?

I am just back from the forum

As usual it was good to meet up with so many people once again. However, my view for what it is worth, was that I found the actual content of the forum to be rather disappointing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:07:00:05:10 by lower pavilion.

I thought it was dignified and decent debate. I honestly believe Middlesex are closer than some think to being the best county in England. Under performing, given the players and club infrastructure.

No comments re Rossington or other departees

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Quote:

BarmierKev
No comments re Rossington or other departees

...other than Murts saying what a loss Berg's bowling had been this season. Nothing about Rossington, either from the floor or the top table.

For what it's worth, I think the headline Forum Fury is rather exaggerrated. There was some heated discussion about the MCC, but debate on the team's performance was mostly quite polite and understated. Overall, I found it a bit underwhelming, to be honest, but maybe that's because there were no new announcements of substance. The most interesting point (as already noted by Jonathan) was that they are looking for the new overseas player to be the LVCC captain.

I thought Gus was good last night - he's always honest and to the point, but at previous forums he's seemed rather prickly at criticism. That didn't seem to be the case yesterday; perhaps whereas in the past he's felt it's been unwarranted this year he considered it was fully justified. The only time he appeared to get exasperated was when Murts made a jokey comment in response to a question about slow over rates.

A few thoughts:

I suspect the "Forum Fury" headline was intended to be tongue in cheek ...

"Gus said although prioritising County Championship, we do try at 20 20." Wow, there's a declaration of intent.

The Cricket Strategy Paper is doubtless a very dynamic document.

Few assurances about anything, no rocking of boats, all in all a bland affair, pretty much par for the course.

Quote:

Jonathan Winsky
I took a piece of chicken and a couple of crisps, but I didn't have the confidence to take any more.

I know people who would say lack of confidence is why they ate half a dozen chicken legs and an entire bowl of crisps!


Adelaide

Quote:

BarmierKev
No comments re Rossington or other departees

Thanks for that Kev. I'm not surprised, merely resigned.

Headline was me thinking on my feet as wanted to conclude report to allow me to join party. It is buzzy headline and accurate from where I was sat in relation to MCC matters and poor response to question about our ex part time batting coach.

There was a comment by I.Lovit regarding the county table.Saying that apart from Yorkshire being the best county and Northants the worse, the other counties were fairly level.
That got a few loud commets of 'Rubbish' when mentioned.
Murts was good on his comments, he did look a bit surprised with the amount of people there and the comments made.
The comments by one member regarding the Middlesex Room,200th sign and lack of 150yr celebrations were well received.

We are, still, sadly far to cosy with the MCC and the top table showed with comments during the time, not wanting to upset the landlords.

I think the top table were more honest than in the past about their frustration with the MCC. Gus pointed out that Middlesex is rarely on their agenda, in contrast Vinny said that MCC is discussed constantly by Middlesex. The question is how strong is Middlesex's negotiating position? As the chairman said the only option is to take our games elsewhere and no one wants this. We can't finish a game at Uxbridge and we can't even get one started at Merchant Taylor's. The MCC know we are in a weak position and so choose to exploit it to the full. The chairman said things will get better, but I can remember being told by the Middlesex office staff that members saw themselves as second class citizens 40 years ago, so I'd be surprised if there was any change.

I thought it quite revealing that Angus did not choose to answer when asked to evaluate the appointment of the batting coach. Read into that what you will and although there was talk of a strategy, it was not revealed to us; not even the very general principles. Was the question about young players a plant? The answer seemed a bit too full and detailed to me. Most interesting and honest answer from Tim Murtagh who said early on that the team were not built for 20/20. Kevin Hand has said we are two big hitters short, but the executive did not seem to think there was a worry here.

Morale is apparently high and the team able, so where does the problem lie? The myth that some of our losses were close games was mentioned yet again, but don't most one day games finish within a few overs from the end, it doesn't mean that they are close?

It would have been good to hear about the enquiry, who is involved, where will they look, how long will they take and what are the aims and parameters, but again it was not thought that we needed to know any of this. At least with Strauss now involved there is a relative outsider, but shouldn't it be carried out by people who have nothing to gain or lose by the outcome?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:07:13:56:37 by longroomman.

Well they should feel cosy after the bacon and eggs boys collected circa 1million quid in booze sales from our 3 T20 dates + Tourist match.

From that we collected %wise a big fat zero. It will be interesting when the size of the loss for 2014 is declared, to compare that with the figure above.

Surrey (the reformed Mexicans) gave us a % of the booze sales for our T20 v Somerset. This enabled us get in the black column for once..

longroomman

We can't finish a game at Uxbridge and we can't even get one started at Merchant Taylor's.

---

A little more analysis is required. At Uxb we are frequently pitted against one of the stronger sides, Somerset at that juncture being one.

No one is going to rollover for us anywhere. There was also 40 overs lost to the weather making forcing a result difficult against a strong batting side.

Not to be overlooked, the Lord's fixture against Northants lost a session (32 overs) and we were unable to force a result there either, against as menshed in the forum by the chairman, the weakest team by a country mile.

Their 7,8,9 could'nt be dislodged as I recall.

Merchant Taylor's: not a lot you can do about the weather.

Though as Mick Hunt said: 3/4 sessions might have been possible at Lord's.

I will also throw in the heresy, that a couple of sessions may have been possible at Uxbridge, which for a club ground has good drainage.

Obviously there are a number of factors to consider.If we played our Uxbridge match in April it would probably finish, However, I think the point is that it is hard to take wickets and to force a win at Uxbridge, for our strong opponents too.

There are many reasons why it is not as good there as at Lord's, The view, the food, the transport etc., but most of all the feeling that nothing is going to happen and it will take 4 days.

As for the weather at Merchant Taylor's it was also pointed out that the wicket was in the damp part of the ground when other parts were dry. At Lord's they choose to play early season at the dry end and later on down the hill. This seems like a lack of planning at the school that nearly cost us dear.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:07:22:20:47 by longroomman.

I am not sure what Middlesex's exact view on playing at Uxbridge is, as whenever the ground is mentioned at the forums, the club make it sound like playing there is a chore. Personally, I don't mind the ground too much, as it is not hard to reach from Wembley and I usually get a decent view of play. However, the fact is that the facilities are miles away from the quality of Lord's, the ground doesn't have the tradition of outgrounds such as Cheltenham, Scarborough and Tunbridge Wells, and the only Championship match we have won there since 1992 is by one run v Leicestershire in 1995 (although this period includes a 10-year gap without a match).

I know the club aim to play seven Championship matches each season at Lord's, so if Merchant Taylors' School is guaranteed a match in 2015, it would require us once again playing six matches at Lord's for Uxbridge to get match.

Despite the introduction of MTS as well as Radlett (where the club have said they intend to stage 1st XI cricket in the future) to our fixturelist, I have not heard any rumours about the club ceasing to play at Uxbridge, so I assume there must be some contract in place between Middlesex and Uxbridge.

Middlesex evidently enjoy a good relationship with MTS, as the school brand themselves 'the home of Middlesex youth cricket', so I am not surprised it is intended there will be a Championship match in 2015.

The article about the relationship between Middlesex and MCC which appeared in the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2014 and has been republished on Wisden India's website is compulsive reading for anyone interested in the subject.

longroomman: well comparing a Test Ground with a Club Ground is going to lead to those kind of conclusions.

Not exactly like for like. As JW opines, Park Road/Gatting Way is not a bad as it is made out to be by some. Usually it is either a problem with their postcode versus UB8 or maybe a touch of snobbery or both.

Have also noticed that a significant number of the moaners are NOT Middlesex members and put nothing into the club cashwise. Having their cake and moaning about it.

The wicket this year had pace and bounce on days 1 and 2. The heavy roller did for that on days 3 and 4 as it does everywhere including Lord's. This is a draconian ECB requirement for county wickets.

When the heavy roller was banned briefly: this led to the batsman complaining about divets on the wicket, assisting the bowlers too much. So that was knocked on the head pdq.

Understand that the lack of raised seating is a moot point.

If you get around outgrounds at other counties as I have done over the years: Bath: Ilford: Garons Park Southend: Colchester: Tring: Milton Keynes: Wardown Park Luton: to name a few.

Let me assure you that the outgrounds we use compare favourably with any of them.

The best two outgrounds in my experience are Cheltenham and Scarborough. I prefer both to going to either Bristol or Headingley.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:11:19:11:31 by Seaxe_Man.

Forgot the marvelous Chesterfield on that list SM.

Everyone.

Am I missing something?.

Thanks to Kev we had a report re the forum posted on this site within hours of it taking place.

I have searched our official site and I can not find a report of the forum. Is this a deliberate policy to keep it private or an oversight.

As most of our members, for a variety of reasons, did not attend, I assume some at least would like to know what actually happened.

One further thought. I do find getting around the official site sometimes difficult, so perhaps I have missed it, as I come from a generation where modern technology, as I hard as I try, still tends to be somewhat of a mystery to me..

LP,you are correct mate the official site has been rather silent on the forum.
Would of made sense for minutes to be taken of the meeting and put on the website for all to see by the next afternoon.

Far more preferable to my seconds

Where MTWD leads, the official site follows. Or not, in this case.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I am glad I was not mistaken, because I thought the report may have been hidden away somewhere on the official site.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:12:20:16:40 by lower pavilion.

longroomman (IP Logged)
07 October, 2014 20:32
Obviously there are a number of factors to consider.If we played our Uxbridge match in April it would probably finish, However, I think the point is that it is hard to take wickets and to force a win at Uxbridge, for our strong opponents too.

---

Further analysis is required of this statement too.

When you say lrm 'its hard to take wickets at Uxbridge' that is true only of the home Middlesex bowlers, though they have not always been well supported in the field with the chances created. eg Chopra 228no in 2013 was grassed three times on 0. This was unsurprisingly, the matchwinning knock.

A decent number of the oppo's bowlers have had a field day at Park Road:
to whit

2008: beaten by Warwickshire by an innings with a young Chris Woakes and Darren Maddy doing rather well.

2008 Northants: rain in the second session on day 4 meant a draw. But a certain tasty Kolpaker by the name of Johann van der Wath filled his boots with 12 wickets.

2009: Kent win by 10 wickets with Tredwell finding purchase and filling his boots. Derbyshire nearly followed suit with 19 wickets, Graham Wagg doing well and Adam London saving the day in a 10th wicket stand.

2012: bowled out for 98 by Notts. Andre Adams featuring. Got Straussey with a peach on 50.
This game was heavily weather affected and finished with Strauss on his final Middlesex innings of 127no.

2013: lost again to Warwickshire with Barker and Rankin getting lift to dislodge our top order. Voges made a debut 150 and the game went into the last session on day 4. For an aficiando of 4day cricket, which many on here claim to be: an excellent game of cricket.

I would also add that the 11 points garnered at the much maligned Uxb and the washout 5pts from MTS were a big slab of the 19 point lead which we took to OT.

longroomman
There are many reasons why it is not as good there as at Lord's, The view, the food, the transport etc., but most of all the feeling that nothing is going to happen and it will take 4 days.

---

Well the opposition have won three games recently, so they did not share your feeling that nothing was going to happen. 4day cricket watching requires patience if nothing else: there will and are, slow periods of play in 4day cricket as there are in 5day Tests.

I take it that you have been there. The food is at least affordable. The 35 quid lunches in the Warner Stand, for most are not.

The transport: rubbish: Met/Picc, plenty of buses plus West Ruislip Central Line get you there. Car parking no prob either.

JW: re the chore: you have to remember that none of the top table are UXB members and in fact only one is a Middlesex member: sez it all.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:15:19:28:59 by Seaxe_Man.

In response to a question about whether the club will produce a report of the forum, Middlesex have written on Facebook "There will be sometime this week".

If you get around outgrounds at other counties as I have done over the years: Bath: Ilford: Garons Park Southend: Colchester: Tring: Milton Keynes: Wardown Park Luton: to name a few.

Let me assure you that the outgrounds we use compare favourably with any of them.

The best two outgrounds in my experience are Cheltenham and Scarborough. I prefer both to going to either Bristol or Headingley.[/quote]

Ah, outgrounds we have known. I remember Clive Radkey missing the last ball at Byfleet. The cows in the next field interupted the field placements. and the wicket was poor, but it produced a tight Sunday league match. We sat on planks between oil drums. Then there was Dartford where Roland Butcher got his comeback century after having his face rearranged by Ferris of Leicesteshire. The kent crowd received it very warmly. Some outgrounds have a seaside atmosphere like Dene Park in Bournemouth or the Saffrons in Eastbourne. May's Bounty in Basingstoke could get a bit windy in the afternoon at the top end and then of course there's Jesmond, snug but a nice view from all parts.

My one trip to Bournemouth was so long ago that two British women were playing the Wimbledon final while we were in Dorset. We were staying in Swanage and the journey to Bournemouth was by bus and chain ferry across Poole Harbour!

From memory (possibly faulty), Hampshire's opening batsmen also opened the bowling, which must be unusual.

Since then Bournemouth has moved from Hampshire, first transferring into Dorset, then subsequently becoming a unitary authority in its own right, though still part of the ceremonial county of Dorset. I wonder if Bournemouth folk care as much about this as people evidently do about other changes.


Adelaide

Here's the official version.

[www.middlesexccc.com]

Well,the official version tells us not much at all.
Leaving a few questions un-answered and i think its time to have a members only section to the official website,accessible by using membership number and password.
On this section,a complete forum report should be put.Minutes can be taken from the forum by recording,or surely someone can do shorthand to do the full report.
It can then be put in full,so those unable to make forums can see it.
I wouldnt have a messageboard,as there is one here,but be able to reply to the forum via e-mail to the club,with a reply given as well.
Its time for the club to wake up,and try and get into the 21st Century!

Good points, Beefy. Despite taking over a week to produce, the official report is less informative than Kev managed when posting on the same evening.

They probably wrote the minutes before the Forum took place. A good committee secretary should always be able to do that!


Adelaide

Diamond: you are quite right: I should have included Chesterfield as an outground to remember.

Aigburth Liverpool was also a decent visit. Sadly, the 'let's build on sports field brigade' have applied so to do on Aigburth and will appeal to Scameron if refused you can bet.

Another memory was the 7 foot Jamaican Chef slicing the beef up. A v.generous portion it was too.

The Pavilion should be a listed building though could be failed by the H and S Brigade as well.

Later someone at Lanky will be wailing about the loss of grounds for the locals to use: but hey the brown envelopes hold sway.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:16:17:16:28 by Seaxe_Man.

longroomman: I salute you on your tally of outgrounds: nice to hear: sadly most are no longer in use, so you are ahead of the game.

You sometimes have to be careful what you wish for. Once they are gone they won't be replaced.

Another one I forgot was Stratford on Avon: a pleasant run on the Chiltern Line ex Marylebone.

Have read the official report,and think that Kevs actually covers much more!
Comittee need to be more open with the membership,and tell what is going on,not trying to brush some answers under the carpet

There are a few counties who carry a live report of their forums (and their awards evening for that matter) on Twitter, so that is in contrast to Middlesex taking 10 days to produce a report of the forum which turns out not to be particularly informative. Leicestershire held a forum last night, and it didn't take long for it to emerge that their players are unhappy with the showers at Grace Road.

I know that Middlesex see forums as a private event for members and that those who attend are asked not to tell the outside world about what is said, although I think most other counties have a more relaxed attitude about disclosing what is said at their forums.

One thing that did emerge at the Leicestershire forum is that the ECB have guaranteed 18 first class counties until at least 2019. That is a bit like The Bank of England guaranteeing no british bank can go under. That should give them enough time to turn things round. But- if they can't keep good players, and barely win a first class game in the next five years, then who knows what happens after that.

So that's one shower saying they are unhappy with another, JW?


Adelaide

Ok so it was the same "event" reported on but did the official site have to lift Kev's report almost word for word and present it in the same style? After all they had 10 days to glitz it up a bit,Kev had his version online almost within an hour of the event finishing.

Again,poor use of modern media by the club.Yes we are a members club but if we want more to join we have to furnish them with good information at the time it is information and not history lessons.

JW,i think the 'private and don't tell the outside world' part of the forum is mainly the AGM with the accounts discussed, that's the same accounts that get sent to everyone at end of financial year.
Why we are kept in the dark on some items is beyond me, we pay our membership, so tell us everything!!

Your post chunky, re 18 counties, probably explains James's Telegraph rant on Tuesday.

How many do they want? Any volunteers to drop out? Should speed up the demise of Test Cricket and maybe all cricket once the roots are chopped and people drift away.

About par for the course amongst the so called ruling classes. Cock ups are the rule of the day.

What about all of the money spent on tarting up grounds for International Cricket? Swalec springs to mind.

The Forum Report Official? Could not see who was taking the notes at top table. It did'nt appear to be anyone.

Hence my allegation they rehashed Kev's notes SM

Nought wrong with the SWALEC apart from the price of beer in the ground and the fact you can't see the ground from the members bar

Quote:

adelaide
My one trip to Bournemouth was so long ago that two British women were playing the Wimbledon final while we were in Dorset. We were staying in Swanage and the journey to Bournemouth was by bus and chain ferry across Poole Harbour!
Adelaide

Well, the chain ferry is still going strong and some of us still make that trip by bus when in that neck of the woods. Happily it should soon be possible again to travel by train between Swanage and Bournemouth. I also have a very clear memory of that Wimbledon final.

As has been mentioned previously, there is a simple solution to putting up decent minutes for the forum and still keep it private for members only, and that is to have a separate section for members on our official site which can only be accessed by a password. Surely this is not too difficult to set up.

The summary of the forum on the official site was put up too late and was rather sparse in its content and that is being very kind.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:27:11:03:24 by lower pavilion.

I agree LP,As the forum concerns every club member,not just those present,it should be a matter of urgency the 'review' is put on the club website.
From reading comments put here,looks like a few questions need to be put to committee members when the next chance arises.
Any of them want to join us at The Star on November 15th? Most welcome to!

Quote:

Seaxe_Man
longroomman (IP Logged)
07 October, 2014 20:32
Obviously there are a number of factors to consider.If we played our Uxbridge match in April it would probably finish, However, I think the point is that it is hard to take wickets and to force a win at Uxbridge, for our strong opponents too.

---

Further analysis is required of this statement too.

When you say lrm 'its hard to take wickets at Uxbridge' that is true only of the home Middlesex bowlers, though they have not always been well supported in the field with the chances created. eg Chopra 228no in 2013 was grassed three times on 0. This was unsurprisingly, the matchwinning knock.

A decent number of the oppo's bowlers have had a field day at Park Road:
to whit

2008: beaten by Warwickshire by an innings with a young Chris Woakes and Darren Maddy doing rather well.

2008 Northants: rain in the second session on day 4 meant a draw. But a certain tasty Kolpaker by the name of Johann van der Wath filled his boots with 12 wickets.

2009: Kent win by 10 wickets with Tredwell finding purchase and filling his boots. Derbyshire nearly followed suit with 19 wickets, Graham Wagg doing well and Adam London saving the day in a 10th wicket stand.

2012: bowled out for 98 by Notts. Andre Adams featuring. Got Straussey with a peach on 50.
This game was heavily weather affected and finished with Strauss on his final Middlesex innings of 127no.

2013: lost again to Warwickshire with Barker and Rankin getting lift to dislodge our top order. Voges made a debut 150 and the game went into the last session on day 4. For an aficiando of 4day cricket, which many on here claim to be: an excellent game of cricket.

I would also add that the 11 points garnered at the much maligned Uxb and the washout 5pts from MTS were a big slab of the 19 point lead which we took to OT.

longroomman
There are many reasons why it is not as good there as at Lord's, The view, the food, the transport etc., but most of all the feeling that nothing is going to happen and it will take 4 days.

---

Well the opposition have won three games recently, so they did not share your feeling that nothing was going to happen. 4day cricket watching requires patience if nothing else: there will and are, slow periods of play in 4day cricket as there are in 5day Tests.

I take it that you have been there. The food is at least affordable. The 35 quid lunches in the Warner Stand, for most are not.

The transport: rubbish: Met/Picc, plenty of buses plus West Ruislip Central Line get you there. Car parking no prob either.

JW: re the chore: you have to remember that none of the top table are UXB members and in fact only one is a Middlesex member: sez it all.

How lovely to come on and see you still championing Uxbridge Roy and also to read your many memories of games at Park Rd. My view of course only covers 2008-2012. It is fair to say that many do not like or enjoy their visits, also that it is not a pretty ground, with road noise, athletics stadium noise, college yobs and of course no church. Last season I made contact with an old college mate, not seen for 30 years, he is a Kent member who visited in 2009 and said it was "the worst County ground he had ever been to". Some people do appear to agree with Gerry!

Since moving away and seeing the other side of the track, I realise the difference between outground and headquarters cricket. At an outground the LV=CC match is the highlight of the season and treated as such, whereas at headquarters, it is just another game!

Turning to your match thoughts, wasn't Van der Wath sublime? Yet let us not forget how he was countered by the young Malan with a perfect debut hundred.

2009 was a right off for many reasons. First 2 games back to back in September, not good! The captain wanted pitches to turn but the main spinner pulled out on the first morning, then the toss was lost and Kent scored 600+.

For some strange reason you choose not to mention my particular favourite, the game against Sussex when all the England players were available. This was the game where we all ended up in the newspapers for the wrong reasons. We had "the meteor", Matt Prior reportedly had a watch pinched and the Sussex coach was drained of its fuel. Corry bowled well for Sussex, Finny produced the best spell I saw him bowl, Rayner was outstanding, Toby very good but above all the bowlers stood Monty Panesar who was outstanding. Thanks to the rear guard batting prowess of Morgy, ably supported by Finn, the game was saved against all the odds.

Yes it may be difficult to get a result there, but when the bowlers put the ball in the right place, they can get reward, albeit not for long. However, we did have a bit of fun for a few years.

Return of the Vic! Still, I suppose things are a bit quiet at the moment...


Adelaide

Plenty of fun, Vic. It also has to be said that we were not exactly a great side at many of these points and didn't win that often anywhere.

We had a far better side during Uxbridge victories further back.

Thx for reading Vic. It brought a tear to my eye. My main point is: I just like to see fair comment and not just the jaundiced ones of, for want of a better phrase, the ABU's.

As dinghy bags fairly points out, when we had a stronger side in the eighties, we won at Uxb quite frequently.

The advent of 4 day cricket in 1992, meant that pitch preparation requirements of the ECB changed, backed up by points deductions for poor pitches. Meant that curators (I'm sure you know anyway) anywhere were not going to prepare pitches where the game is over in two days as happened in the early 4day games.

The Middlesex team from 1994 onwards was in decline. Haynes left that year, Emburey was nearing the end and Gatt was getting long in the tooth. Quality replacements hard to find. We have not successfully recovered from that period IMHO.

Not menshed by longroomman, is 2006, a relegation year, when we won not a single match at Lord's. Bizarrely, our only win was at Southgate versus Yorkshire when Shah inspired a collapse in the last session. (I think lrm finds the Uxb chips to be quite nice though).

Always easy to blame the ground for poor results. Known I think as a cop out. But that needs to be evenhanded.

You are right Vic. I should have menshed the Sussex game. Given a host of reasons, not least the poor financial deal we have at SJW: the outground portfolio needs to continue methinks. Another loss predicted despite attracting 70,000 to our 4 prime fixtures gatewise.

Hope you and your good lady are enjoying life up their at Trent Bridge. Hope to visit in 2015.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2014:10:29:11:29:39 by Seaxe_Man.