T20 v Essex 18th June 2023

[Paul W]

We might even get a point this time, as the weather forecast looks iffy-

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcpvhhdht#?date=2023-06-18

That site updates hourly, so may look different by this time tomorrow.

Squad named-

https://www.middlesexccc.com/news/2023/06/squad-preview-middlesex-v-essex-eagles-vitality-blast-2

Slightly different- with Max Harris and Toby Greatwood added and no Blake Cullen, who hobbled off last night.

[wembleylion]

I hope the live stream is better than last night's. I don't know if they have new people doing it but compared with recent streams it was very poor - the crowd noise volume turned up too high, jerky replays, wildly inaccurate on screen information, annoying adverts, and Kevin Hand (all alone for once) often inaudible due to the gabble. All very amateurish unlike the recent excellent productions.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

A strategy that encourages the promotion of youth over experience is admirable, but there comes a time when a certain obstinacy in selection becomes discernible. The refusal to resort to proven bowlers such as Toby,Murts and Bambi in favor of untried youngsters must be questionable, especially given our constant lack of success. In the current circumstances, I see little benefit to exposing Max or Toby Greatwood to such an environment, and likely to do more harm than good. It smacks somewhat of a blinkered approach and a determination to make a point rather than seeking to win matches. What do others think?

[Jonathan Winsky]

The fact that a yellow weather warning is in place does not bode well for the chances of there being much play, or of people being willing to pass through the turnstiles. I know that there are rules in place that play cannot take place around the time of any thunder or lightning. The recent lack of much rain should at least enable the ground to dry quickly after any rainfall.

I was hopeful that Middlesex’s preview of the match would explain why Pieter Malan didn’t play last night or why Tom Helm and Blake Cullen suddenly left the attack last night, although I have already largely worked out the answer to the latter question. Still, it would be nice to know the nature of any injury Malan had, and how long Cullen may be out for. Anyway, Malan and Helm are in tomorrow’s squad, so clearly Malan’s injury was minor, and it confirms that Helm’s reason for leaving the attack was due to bowling two high no-balls in an innings rather than due to any injury.

If Malan returns, I am not sure whether that would mean that John Simpson’s return to our side would have lasted one match, with the wicket-keeping gloves returning to Jack Davies.

It would be nice if Max Harris and/or Toby Greatwood could make their first 1st XI appearances of the season, although it would be a surprise if Toby Roland-Jones’ absence from our Twenty20 side continues considering he used to be a key player for us in this format.

As great as it is that our players’ levels of ‘matches played’ and maybe ‘runs/boundaries scored’ and ‘wickets taken’ are growing, it is questionable how healthy it is to keep on playing in a losing side.

Hopefully tomorrow’s ground announcer will be someone who makes regular references to the match situation, not only for the benefit of those who are too engrossed in their drink to have a clue about what is going on, but also for those who cannot hear no-ball calls or work out for sure why a bowling change has been made mid-over. Otherwise, I might have to watch the stream when I get home and hope that Kevin Hand’s commentary and the picture quality will have answered any questions I have!

Essex have named a 15-man squad for this match (https://www.essexcricket.org.uk/2023/06/17/match-previews-essex-v-middlesex-somerset/) consisting of Simon Harmer, Ben Allison, Aaron Beard, Will Buttleman, Sam Cook, Matt Critchley, Robin Das, Feroze Khushi, Dan Lawrence, Aron Nijjar, Michael Pepper, Daniel Sams, Shane Snater, Paul Walter and Tom Westley.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Jonathan, have you ever considered taking a tablet or a laptop along with you to Lord's and listening to the live stream or perhaps just the radio commentary so you are kept fully informed of what's going on. The fact remains that the vast majority in attendance are not concerned with the on-the-field subtleties and are quite content to proceed with their singing, dancing, and drinking than be fed with too much information.I presume your Dad was not present last night as I know he is most capable of enquiring of fellow spectators as to any mysterious and unexplained occurrences.

[John Fitzgerald]

If you are in possession of a Lord's radio you can listen to the BBC ball by ball commentary(not Middlesex) usually balanced and informative.

In fact if I cannot get to a game I sync the BBC commentary with the Middlesex live stream. The pictures are usually good but much though I like Kevin Hand the commentary can be a bit one sided which is something the BBC does not allow

[Paul W]

If we do manage to get a game today Joe Cracknell needs to put a score on the board.

After his 77 at MT's v Glamorgan his scores have been 2,2,0,1,3.

[Jonathan Winsky]

I have a smartphone, although I don’t think there are many websites which give me a certain answer to why someone unusual has happened. Sometimes, I find myself having to rely on my smartphone to find out certain information that is highly relevant, such as how many overs each bowler has bowled, or a subject of my or my dad’s curiosity, such as a batters’ strike rate, a bowlers’ figures, or the breakdown of the extras.

I suppose that it would have been unrealistic to expect the ground announcer to inform everyone about Blake Cullen hobbling off, although had the announcer informed everyone about the high no balls Tom Helm and Grant Stewart were bowling (as some announcers do), it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see them not completing an over. Funnily enough, when Stewart’s second delivery was a high no-ball, the thought occurred to me that if he wasn’t careful, he would get thrown out of the attack, so I wasn’t greatly surprised when exactly that happened a couple of minutes later. Still, it is nice to be certain about particular things rather than having to guess, as I have a habit of getting things wrong. I feel worried about my credibility as a poster if I get things wrong or if I feel that I know less about a match than other posters. The fact that people who have attended a match often find themselves knowing less about the match than those who didn’t attend certainly defeats any idea that a prerequisite of knowing about a match is having to attend.

In some ways, getting things wrong or being disproved is part of the fun of posting. However, as I have said, I get worried that I am not seen as a credible poster.

The chances of there being play are currently looking good, although I could end up being wrong about that, especially as the match is still four hours’ away.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

I wouldn't worry too much about getting things wrong Jonathan. All of us do occasionally, it cannot be helped. Your credibility remains high and your willingness to express yourself honestly and truthfully is much to your credit. Keep up the good work.

[Luke Smith]

I have a pavilion ticket that I was going to use today with a guest but sadly I cannot go to Lord's any more. So if you're looking for a spare Pavilion (Member Guest) ticket for Middlesex v Essex today please let me know.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Overcast at Lords. We win the toss and bowl. Nate is in for Blake

[Paul W]

Oh well....

If we're going to do this (which we won't) it will need to be a record domestic run chase.

:)

Rain may yet intervene before the end.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Deja Vu, rain or not.

[Paul W]

I wonder if this T20 campaign has increased, or reduced Tim Murtagh's chances of becoming our full time bowling coach when he finally retires as a player.

With no previous experience of coaching at county level, I assume this bowler/coach role was a halfway house to see if he was suitable.

Of course, Richard Johnson and Alan Coleman should be able to advise the bowling unit as well, plus I guess you can tell the bowlers what to do- but how much of it is your fault if they can't go out and do what was planned.

No idea if Tim Murtagh is an excellent coach and one day strategist, and the bowlers can't deliver- or if he could be giving better help and guidance.

Only way to know that would be if I was one of the players.

[Pindarus]

Time to adopt the Emma Raducanu strategy.

Withdraw from competition and sack 5 coaches.

[adelaide]

Essex saved by the weather...

I wasn't watching the stream today but I was very surprised to see Nathan Fernandes, the least experienced bowler, given the last over.

Has any county ever lost the lot in T20?

[Paul W]

Has any county ever lost the lot in T20?

Adelaide-

Ask me in a fortnights time.

Richard Johnson and Alan Coleman due to appear on next series of 'Pointless'.

[Jonathan Winsky]

Considering Middlesex have, in the space of three days, twice got closer than a team in our position in the table would be expected to pulling off a chase of 225+ (having earlier in the competition threatened to overhaul Glamorgan’s 238-3 at Merchant Taylors’ School), the fact that we found ourselves initially needing a lot more than 200 in these matches comes into sharper focus, as it goes without saying that we would have beaten Glamorgan at MTS and Kent at Lord’s had we kept our opponents to 200, and we would have almost certainly ended today’s match ahead of DLS had our target been 200 (we lost today by 22 runs on DLS, so I am fairly sure that means that we would have won by scoring 23 more runs or tied with another 22 runs, although I am not sure whether it follows that conceding 23 fewer runs would have reduced our DLS par score by 23 runs).

Sadly, making a decent effort of pulling off unrealistic run chases seems to now be the height of our expectations, when it would be much more preferable to now be either plotting our route to a quarter-final or thinking about making sure that our quarter-final is at home.

I was surprised about Nathan Fernandes being Blake Cullen’s replacement, although it was nice to see Fernandes back in our side. However, it is difficult to know whether the experience of being expensive and finishing on the losing side will have hindered his confidence or hardened him. I expected Ryan Higgins to bowl the final over of Essex’s innings, although admittedly Higgins conceded 32 from his two previous overs.

Had our innings not been curtailed, maybe Fernandes and some of our other players would have made a good contribution with the bat, as I know that batting is as much of a selling point for Fernandes as his bowling.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

It has mattered not how many we've chased as we've failed on every occasion whatever the target, True we've come close a couple of times but teams look to defend how many they get, and the higher the score the more attacking will be their bowling and field-placing, so it's all relative to how near we get and we've been shown as not good enough. Not playing Nathan would have meant throwing in Harris or Greatwood who we were not prepared to risk in the circumstances. It would be nice to hear from coaching consultants Ramps or Sals occasionally rather than trotting out the same old faces with the same excuses each time

[Erskine]

I suppose you can not expect to win many matches when you leave out your best two batsman Robson and Stoneman and best two bowlers Murts and Bamber. Even though they are not considered could not do worse

[Erskine]

I see they all played in the seconds today and Middlesex scored 450 in the day !

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Those you mention are not considered white ball specialists and were not considered for T20 selection.I agree they could do no worse but to turn to them now would be an admittance that we may have got the strategy wrong and the dogmatic thinking of those in charge of selection would never do that. They could not even persuade anybody to interview after yesterday's latest debacle, likely running out of excuses and failing to find any positives. After 15 successive defeats in the Blast, the professional cricket committee should perhaps be discussing if those responsible for our four-day cricket should also be looking after the one-day side.

[Paul W]

I suppose you can not expect to win many matches when you leave out your best two batsman Robson and Stoneman and best two bowlers Murts and Bamber. Even though they are not considered could not do worse

I wouldn't be picking Murtagh, because this is almost certainly his last season, and the very thing that makes Bamber so good in four day cricket (reliable accurate line and length at about 75-80 mph) would make him meat and drink in T20. Yes, I suppose he could learn some of the T20 tricks of the trade, but I've a horrible feeling he would get smashed around the park even more than those we are currently picking, plus I wouldn't want to risk doing anything that might put him off his stride when he comes back for the next championship game.

Robson and/or Stoneman I do agree with. I guess the problem is we need to get Cracknell in the side and also give Davies a chance. Cracknell hasn't had a great campaign (only 3 out of 10 scores have been above 12- the higher scores being 36*, 42 and 77) but he has shown in the past he has 'something' that suggests he is an asset in T20.

The problem is we've got too many players who are keeping us guessing. Obviously you want someone to succeed, but quite honestly the next best outcome is someone falls flat on their face, because then you can say, 'Thanks for trying- but we're moving on'.

We've got too many doing a bit (20's and 30's rather than 70+) and 'doing a bit' each time makes you think 'Do we stick with this person, or move on'. Before his 121* Holden's next best scores were 34, 43 and 53, so handy but not innings defining. Before the 121 I was thinking maybe he should be left out- but then he showed why he is rated by management- but how long will we wait for the next 70+ score from him. Some time in the next four games, or will we have to wait until next year? You see every time I think someone has turned or corner, it is usually followed by half a dozen anonymous games, meaning we're right back where we started.

Next game v Surrey on Sky, so the whole country can watch!

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Just 13 to pick from tomorrow with Roland -Jones and Pieter Malan out of the squad.