Champions Collapse Dismally In Middlesex

Peculiarly, the reigning champions became back-to-back champions on mid-afternoon of the first day, not specifically through their own endeavours at that given time, but when Nottinghamshire were bowled out cheaply, the Tykes thus became uncatchable. All that remained, in theory, was for the best county in English cricket to proceed with their attempted demolition of Middlesex en route to more points and the possibility of creating a milestone or two at the end of this highly successful campaign.

Even by his own high standards, it is unlikely that at any time in his illustrious career did Ryan Sidebottom begin a first-class match with three wickets in the opening over. This display was a reminder that Sidebottom is arguably a finer exponent of swing bowling than the highly-acclaimed James Anderson. He could scarcely have wished for a better way to reach seven hundred first-class wickets. Not to be outdone, big Bresnan joined in the wicket-taking spree, and lo and behold the champions-elect had promptly collected three bonus points within three hours of the start of play! Improving slightly upon Somerset's debacle in Yorkshire's previous match, the hosts 'only' conceded seven wickets on the first morning, as their wafer-thin resistance was savagely sliced through. All that remained was for the Tykes to mop up the tail and send the mighty Middlesex packing after a mere thirty-three overs.

Not that the Tykes' reply was exactly cosmic either. In fact, by the end of day one, nineteen wickets had already come and gone at the home of cricket. Lyth made his typical brisk start, without building upon it. Lees was more laboured but could not build upon his foundations either. Ballance and Leaning didn't put the scorer to too much trouble, and only a virtual run-a-ball effort from captain Gale and a formidable tail-wagging exercise from Brooks and Sidebottom on the second morning ensured that there would be much daylight between the two protagonists at the halfway stage.  

However, in one of the most bizarre transformations in the history of county cricket, Middlesex recovered from the loss of three second-innings wickets whilst eighty-seven runs had been posted, to then progress to a harvest of runs which left the Tykes requiring 380 on the final day. Perhaps caught between the thought of preserving their unbeaten status and going for the target, the white rose wilted horribly after lunch, following the removal of captain Gale. Thereafter, the champions succumbed to the kind of batting capitulation that we have afflicted all summer on everyone else. It was a poor way to surrender their unbeaten record, but Middlesex have been on a roll of late, and yet again they secured a triumph on the final afternoon, when no such victory was deemed probable at the start of the day's play.

Credit must go in particular to young Toby Roland-Jones for a virtuoso performance with both bat and ball. Toby's future prospects had been talked up a couple of years ago, and this match-winning effort will do wonders for his hopes of being upgraded to the national team. England is crying out for new talent, because Anderson is in the twilight of his career and Mark Wood does not convince me. Young TRJ needs to be included in the England Lions at the very least, and possibly in the squad for the England first eleven.

All that remained after Middlesex had turned the table so dramatically was for Andrew Gale this time to actually lift the Championship silverware! Yorkshire thoroughly deserve their success. Even our neighbours Lancashire generously tweeted their congratulations. No county in England can dispute the consistency of the white rose, all the more remarkable in the absence of several international players. This triumph represents the first time since 1968 that Yorkshire have secured back-to-back County Championships. Perhaps it is fitting that they should get over the finishing line and celebrate their glory at Lord's, the home of English cricket. 

Middlesex versus YORKSHIRE; at Lord's; Wednesday the ninth to Friday the eleventh of September 2015. YORKSHIRE won the toss.

Middlesex first innings: 106 (Sidebottom 5-18, Bresnan 4-30)

YORKSHIRE first innings: 299 (Gale 98, Brooks 50*; Dexter 3-24, Murtagh 3-81, Roland-Jones 3-93)

Middlesex second innings: 573 for eight declared (Compton 149, Roland-Jones 103*, Harris 67*, Franklin 63, Robson 53; Middlebrook 3-130)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 134 (Lees 62; Roland-Jones 5-27, Harris 3-37)

Middlesex win by 246 runs. Middlesex nineteen points, YORKSHIRE five points.

Lyth - Scores of 25 and fourteen were inadequate. He probably bowled better than he batted, picking up one wicket, costing nineteen runs, from eight tidy overs.

Lees - 101 runs was a good return for Alex. He hasn't hit the heights this year. Perhaps he can finish the campaign strongly, much the same way as he began it.

Ballance - Gary batted for a total of nine balls, suffering the dreaded pair. He has definitely had better matches! However, he has batted very well recently.

Gale - Galey was twice dismissed by Dexter after two contrasting innings. His first effort was bullish and eye-catching. The second was defensive and less effective.

Leaning - Recalled to the team, Jack failed twice with scores of four and nine. All his great progress of early summer is regrettably being undone in late summer.

Bresnan - Tim took five wickets at a cost of 138 runs which was reasonable. However, his batting let him down this time, scoring only eleven and then nine.

Hodd - A twenty followed by a first-ball duck were scarcely a good substitute for the deluge of runs from the missing Bairstow. He did at least take three catches.

Middlebrook - The veteran was twice undone by Roland-Jones for a pitiful total of four runs. He did at least weigh in with a few wickets in their second innings.

Patterson - Tim Murtagh sent him packing in each innings for a mere nine runs in total. He also managed to take only a solitary wicket, costing 107 runs.

Brooks - His thirty-three overs cost a staggering 161 runs. At least he redeemed himself somewhat with a maiden unbeaten fifty, consisting of ten boundaries.

Sidebottom - His match bowling amounted to six wickets at a cost of 88 runs and a batting average of 34. He didn't deserve to be on the losing team.

AVERAGES

BATSMEN (minimum requirement - one hundred runs):

Bairstow - 107.10; 1071 runs; highest score - 219 not out; five centuries and five fifties

Pujara - 52.8; 264 runs; highest score - 133 not out; one century and one fifty

Bresnan - 48.73; 731 runs; highest score - 169 not out; two centuries and three fifties

Leaning - 42; 798 runs; highest score - 123; three centuries and two fifties

Finch - 41.33; 124 runs; highest score - 73 not out; one fifty

Maxwell - 40.67; 244 runs; highest score - 140; one century

BEST BOWLERS (minimum requirement - ten wickets):

Sidebottom - 17.07; forty wickets; best bowling: 6-34

Brooks - 23.02; fifty-six wickets; best bowling: 5-35

Patterson - 24.09; forty-four wickets; best bowling: 5-11

Middlebrook - 24.27; fifteen wickets; best bowling: 5-82

Plunkett - 28.92; twelve wickets; best bowling: 4-61

Rashid - 29.4; 25 wickets; best bowling: 4-48

Bresnan - 31.69; 39 wickets; best bowling: 5-85