Metro Bank 50 overs v Kent 13th August 2023

[Paul W]

Unchanged 14 man squad-

https://www.middlesexccc.com/news/2023/08/squad-preview-kent-v-middlesex-metro-bank-one-day-cup

We probably need to win all five of our remaining group matches to progress, which I think is unlikely.

[Jonathan Winsky]

I will be in attendance at this match, so hopefully Middlesex will make it worth it for me.

Prior to beating Surrey at The Oval yesterday, Kent had suffered two heavy defeats, so maybe we will lay a glove on Kent.

I am not sure whether the reason why Ishaan Kaushal only bowled four overs v Essex at Chelmsford yesterday was because Mark Stoneman felt that his type of bowling was unsuitable or because he didn’t trust Kaushal. Either way, it is not exactly ideal to select a specialist bowler and they end up not bowling anywhere near their allocation of 10 overs, as it arguably means that the team is playing with only 10 players. Until Kaushal bowled two overs at the death, it looked possible that he would end the match having bowled just the two overs he bowled at the start. Thankfully, the fact that our side yesterday had eight bowling options (the seven who bowled plus Stoneman) means that we can adapt to events such as bowlers getting injured or losing their confidence, the captain losing confidence in a bowler, or the captain deciding that more of a certain type of bowling is required.

The players in our squad who didn’t play yesterday are Nathan Fernandes, Thilan Walallawita and Robbie White, so the lack of fast bowlers amongst that trio means that unless we change the balance of our side, I would have thought that Kaushal will retain his place.

I have no idea how likely it is that Walallawita will play. Including him would make it unlikely that we could continue claiming to bat down to 9, but if he was to bowl well and keep opposing teams’ scores down, maybe we could get by with eight batters. If Walallawita was to play, then I couldn't see it being at the expense of Ethan Bamber or Kaushal, as that would give us an unnecessarily high amount of spin options, but then nor can I see it being at the expense of any of the batters or all-rounders.

Kent have named a 13-man squad for this match (https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/match-preview-kent-spitfires-vs-middlesex-6/) consisting of Jack Leaning (Captain), Arafat Bhuiyan, James Bazley (Overseas player), Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Ben Compton, Jaydn Denly, Harry Finch, Nathan Gilchrist, Hamid Qadri, Matt Parkinson, Jas Singh and Grant Stewart.

Both teams’ previews of this match explain the rules about players not required for their sides at The Hundred being allowed to play in the Metro Bank Cup for their county. The main things seem to be that players can play in the MBC if they haven't played in their Hundred team’s two most recent matches and their Hundred team doesn’t play on the day as their county plays in the MBC. Therefore, London Spirit allowed Michael Pepper to play against us for Essex yesterday and Bell-Drummond to do so for Kent tomorrow. I thought that London Spirit were supposed to be on Middlesex’s side! They are also on Essex’s side (and Northamptonshire's for that matter), but not Kent’s!

Had I been at Chelmsford yesterday, I would have seen Luc Benkenstein play, having previously seen his father Dale play on a few occasions. Instead, Matthew and Tom Maynard remain the only father and son of whom I believe I have seen both play cricket. However, if Jaydn Denly retains his place in the Kent side, I would have seen two generations of his family, as he is the nephew of Joe, who is due to be in attendance, but is not fit to play. I am aware of two fathers and sons I have seen play football: Wayne and Ryan Andrews, and Rory and Liam Delap.

[Paul W]

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting fed up constantly having to re-synch the single fixed camera with the BBC commentary.

Kent seem to be treating this like a second XI game- just the one fixed camera with no commentary provided.

At other games this season they have been demanding people pay for their 'superior stream'.

They haven't even bothered to provide a commentator- so it's Kevin Hand and Surrey's Mark Church (plus someone called 'Alex' - I'm not sure of his credentials).

The only useful thing I've learnt so far today is Ishaan's surname should be pronounced 'Kawshal' and not 'Cowshall[ which is how it has been pronounced until today.

[Paul W]

So it's two fixed cameras. One at each end.

I've got it synched up correctly for one camera- but not the other.

Therefore impossible to get it right from both ends- as one camera seems to be running about ten seconds behind the other!!!

I didn't think that was possible- but Kent have managed to do it. Comfortably (by a considerable distance) the poorest video stream all season).

[Paul W]

They haven't even bothered to provide a commentator- so it's Kevin Hand and Surrey's Mark Church (plus someone called 'Alex' - I'm not sure of his credentials).



As I realised soon afterwards, Mark Church isn't commentating on this match (although Kevin Hand was going on about him at the start). Some chap called Ben, who has the misfortune to sound a bit like Church (but I was thinking 'Church doesn't sound as annoying as usual')

Unless something remarkable happens- like a Luke Hollman maiden ton, I reckon this game is already lost and we won't get out of the group stage.

[Erskine]

Turning into a bit of a shambles with nothing to play for in the rest of the matches and will probably now pick Toby !

[Pindarus]

What a sorry excuse of a competition this has become since the great days of the Gillette Cup.
My love of cricket was nurtured by being taken to watch county cricket at Lord's during the school holidays. Now there is no county cricket at Lord's during school holidays just this half assed comp shorn of its best players.

[adelaide]

Turning into a bit of a shambles with nothing to play for in the rest of the matches and will probably now pick Toby !

Even less point now. Mind you he might improve the side even if he only plays as a batsman!

Why is it that other teams' youngsters bounce in and play with confidence while ours always seem to struggle? That's not a new thing but it's as if something around the club makes them expect to fail (I say "as if" because that can't really be the case - it just seems that way).

[Paul W]

Even less point now. Mind you he might improve the side even if he only plays as a batsman!

Why is it that other teams' youngsters bounce in and play with confidence while ours always seem to struggle? That's not a new thing but it's as if something around the club makes them expect to fail (I say "as if" because that can't really be the case - it just seems that way).

I know I've said this before, but we've got a lot of 'handy' young players, but apart from Ethan Bamber no-one below the age of 27 (Robbie White, and anyone else who is younger) has actually nailed down a place and made themselves undropable. Max Holden has in one day cricket- but not really in red ball (I'm starting to think Max Holden might have a 'Pick me, or I'm off' deal with regards to 4 day cricket) but the others keep doing it now and again, but not often enough.

Josh de Caires is the latest to look like he might have what it takes to be a regular for ten or more years- or will he be another one who is 'handy' and spends the next few years occasionally producing, but not often enough, and is constantly in and out of the side?

Ethan Bamber has come through because it was going to take someone special to displace Tim Murtagh from the side and that is how it should happen- someone as good as the person they are replacing- whereas we are mostly picking and hoping that after 25 games people will get up to the required standard.

The frustrating thing is there is no-one I would put a line through and say, 'I've seen enough' but no-one is pulling clear of the rest to say, 'I'm the one you want to keep'. Hollman and Andersson (apart from his last over today) do seem to be more economical with their bowling this year, with fewer poor deliveries- but now their batting has stalled- can Kevin Hand really keep saying we bat down to 9 (Andersson) when right now Bamber looks a better bet with the bat?

And that's the problem Richard Johnson has. Do you pick Hollman, Andersson, Davies, De Caires and Cracknell forever (he seems to have given up on Walallawita), or do you decide that something has to give? Davies has done 'okay' this year (another one) but I have a feeling 'okay' may be his high water mark, but now we must commit to giving him a decent run. So we're stuck with all these 'handy, but not exceptional' home grown products, while other counties would be more ruthless and just get the cheque book out to sort out the problem.

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

Couldn't be bothered to watch the game - but not in the least surprised to see the result. When the oppo has an opening stand of over 100 and a 2nd wicket one of around 90, why can we not even (?ever) come close to competing, with equivalents of 10 and 35? Watching paint dry was a much more enjoyable and fulfilling occupation.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

To make judgments based merely on statistics without even watching the game demonstrates to me a certain lack of understanding of what's going on. True Kent failed to lose early wickets but the scoring rate was kept to reasonable proportions which lead to a later collapse and restricted them to a gettable total. That we failed to build partnerships and challenge their score was more than disappointing today, but |'m sure you watched the previous two matches Fingers when we certainly did compete and were unfortunate to lose narrowly on both occasions, Rather harsh to criticize them unconditionally. I trust the new paint has dried by now.

[Jonathan Winsky]

I was hopeful that Middlesex might have been able to overhaul Kent’s 288, but when the first 8.2 overs of our reply saw us lose three wickets and be behind the rate required having scored 45, it felt like a big mountain to climb. From then on, our rate required climbed, and we got increasingly behind the DLS par score.

To be fair, there was a point in our chase when we were favourites, as I overheard someone sitting in front of me saying that Kent were 11/8 to win and Middlesex were 11/10. I promptly placed a bet, albeit in my head rather than with a bookmaker, that this comment would have put the mockers on, and a wicket would fall the next ball. And lo and behold, Sam Robson was out, with Jack Davies falling next ball for good measure.

I am not surprised to hear that the stream was poor, as I noticed that the cameras at each end were unmanned, and I could not see any manned or unmanned cameras in other positions around the ground. I paid to watch the stream of the T20 Blast match between these two teams at Canterbury earlier in the season, and my memory of it was that it was around the standard of the streams Middlesex produce. As I have now made two purchases from Kent this season (the stream for the Blast match and the match ticket today), I was not surprised that they assume that I support them and that I returned home to find an email from them celebrating this result!

If England beat Australia in their FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final on Wednesday to qualify for the final starting at 11:00am UK time next Sunday, that as well as Middlesex’s poor form so far in this competition could impact attendance for the match v Lancashire at Lord’s. If England reach the final, the build-up will be bound to feature towards the top of the national headlines in the preceding days, and the whole country would be urged to cancel any other plans they had for Sunday. I would probably still go to the cricket, but I would feel an urge to follow the football. Anyway, Australia are the only country to beat England in about 35 matches, so maybe Middlesex v Lancashire will not be overshadowed after all.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

I think you may have misheard the odds quoted Jonathan. You cannot have both sides odds against in a two-horse race, because if you back both you'll always make a profit. Suggest 8/11 and 11/10 were more likely.I would urge you to encourage Middlesex to put the start time back to 2.00 pm next Sunday if our ladies are in The Final . I'm led to believe they have such contingency plans in place

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

To make judgments based merely on statistics without even watching the game demonstrates to me a certain lack of understanding of what's going on. True Kent failed to lose early wickets but the scoring rate was kept to reasonable proportions which lead to a later collapse and restricted them to a gettable total. That we failed to build partnerships and challenge their score was more than disappointing today, but |'m sure you watched the previous two matches Fingers when we certainly did compete and were unfortunate to lose narrowly on both occasions, Rather harsh to criticize them unconditionally. I trust the new paint has dried by now.

On the assumption that your #11 was aimed in response to me, I suspect you and I come at MCCC from different perspectives, whoever you are. Having been a (now Life) Member for more than 50 years, and watched them for more than 70 (regularly as I have never lived more than 7 miles away from Lord's and for the past 40 years, less than a mile), I have seen them at their greatest and, sadly, at their worst ... and the last few seasons has more than confirmed their scraping of the barrel. No County has probably had more advantage - and few have blown it as much as we have done.

By the way - drying paint was, as I am sure you realised only too well - purely a metaphorical, tongue-in-cheek, analogy!

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

I was hopeful that Middlesex might have been able to overhaul Kent’s 288, but when the first 8.2 overs of our reply saw us lose three wickets and be behind the rate required having scored 45, it felt like a big mountain to climb. From then on, our rate required climbed, and we got increasingly behind the DLS par score.

To be fair, there was a point in our chase when we were favourites, as I overheard someone sitting in front of me saying that Kent were 11/8 to win and Middlesex were 11/10. I promptly placed a bet, albeit in my head rather than with a bookmaker, that this comment would have put the mockers on, and a wicket would fall the next ball. And lo and behold, Sam Robson was out, with Jack Davies falling next ball for good measure.

I am not surprised to hear that the stream was poor, as I noticed that the cameras at each end were unmanned, and I could not see any manned or unmanned cameras in other positions around the ground. I paid to watch the stream of the T20 Blast match between these two teams at Canterbury earlier in the season, and my memory of it was that it was around the standard of the streams Middlesex produce. As I have now made two purchases from Kent this season (the stream for the Blast match and the match ticket today), I was not surprised that they assume that I support them and that I returned home to find an email from them celebrating this result!

If England beat Australia in their FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final on Wednesday to qualify for the final starting at 11:00am UK time next Sunday, that as well as Middlesex’s poor form so far in this competition could impact attendance for the match v Lancashire at Lord’s. If England reach the final, the build-up will be bound to feature towards the top of the national headlines in the preceding days, and the whole country would be urged to cancel any other plans they had for Sunday. I would probably still go to the cricket, but I would feel an urge to follow the football. Anyway, Australia are the only country to beat England in about 35 matches, so maybe Middlesex v Lancashire will not be overshadowed after all.


I am astonished and appalled to learn that any county charges its online spectators to watch the streaming of any match, whether good quality or bad. I have never been asked to pay for any that I have streamed, home or away - and wouldn't.

And talking about quality, I think Middlesex streaming this season has been mostly superb - many cameras, constant commentary (some of it even about the cricket!) and clearly labelled (and instant) Replays (Sky could learn from that in particular).

I have regularly praised Loz and Fletch - after moaning and whingeing quite a lot in previous years - and presume/hope we do not charge spectators, or at least Members, from opposition counties for the opportunity.

[Sillypoint]

Agree the Middx coverage is fantastic. A real credit to the club. It's been well thought through, obviously got professionals in who know what to do, etc.... Total opposite of the playing side tbh!

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Well Fingers, if you want to play the numbers game, I've been a member for 53 years, a lifer for 37, and watched them for 67 years.I walked from my home as a child to watch them, bunked off school in Finchley Road to watch them on a daily basis, raced from shul up Abbey Road on a Shabbos morning so as not to miss too many overs, gave up working full-time at 30, and watched them almost every day's play home and away for the following 40 years even when I moved 200 miles away. from Lord's.The last few years; illness has prevented me from attending very much, but I watch almost every ball on the live stream, so I've watched a great deal more than yourself and I resent your comments that you see them currently as ''the scrapings of the barrel'', Success as eluded them in recent years, but promotion last season was most creditable and better days are ahead despite financial constraints, and to criticize their performance without even watching them I find downright insulting and unacceptable.

[adelaide]

I am astonished and appalled to learn that any county charges its online spectators to watch the streaming of any match, whether good quality or bad. I have never been asked to pay for any that I have streamed, home or away - and wouldn't.

And talking about quality, I think Middlesex streaming this season has been mostly superb - many cameras, constant commentary (some of it even about the cricket!) and clearly labelled (and instant) Replays (Sky could learn from that in particular).

I have regularly praised Loz and Fletch - after moaning and whingeing quite a lot in previous years - and presume/hope we do not charge spectators, or at least Members, from opposition counties for the opportunity.

I have a feeling that Kent were charging as a trial on behalf of all counties. That added to my determination not to pay a penny, as a successful trial would see the contagion spread. I said that at the time (on the original MTWD, was it?) and, while it's up to everyone to make their own decisions, I am a bit disappointed that anyone else paid. It's an own goal.

If Kent had charged for yesterday's shaky coverage, they would have had requests for refunds. I suspect that the trial was T20 only. That's what their website implies. It's also free to Kent members but presumably not to members of the visiting county.

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

Well Fingers, if you want to play the numbers game, I've been a member for 53 years, a lifer for 37, and watched them for 67 years.I walked from my home as a child to watch them, bunked off school in Finchley Road to watch them on a daily basis, raced from shul up Abbey Road on a Shabbos morning so as not to miss too many overs, gave up working full-time at 30, and watched them almost every day's play home and away for the following 40 years even when I moved 200 miles away. from Lord's.The last few years; illness has prevented me from attending very much, but I watch almost every ball on the live stream, so I've watched a great deal more than yourself and I resent your comments that you see them currently as ''the scrapings of the barrel'', Success as eluded them in recent years, but promotion last season was most creditable and better days are ahead despite financial constraints, and to criticize their performance without even watching them I find downright insulting and unacceptable.

Resent on MacDuff ...!

But the good news, for me at least, is that the more you reveal of your hidden self the more you will, albeit maybe only gradually and unintentionally, become identifiable.

I do not change a word of my earlier comments. Since the 'glory days' they have, unquestionably, blown it - and not for want of finance (although that is doubtless now a critical factor), nor talent ... it can only be leadership (at all levels) &/or mindset. And was promotion from somewhere they had absolutely no right to be, except by their own hand, really 'creditable'? Pull the other one ...

Isn't it curious/telling how often we lose some of our finest talents to rival counties (sad but inevitable to see Finny's retirement today) as a result of poor performance in NW8 ... and thereafter they flourish?

PS: Bravo! You win on many of the numbers ... particularly retirement ... I put mine off until I was an age old 45 ... with the avowed intention of watching more cricket ... until Lockdown, around 50-55 days a year at hq, possibly another 20 or so at some of my other 12-15 clubs, and many England tours overseas.

[Paul W]

I have a feeling that Kent were charging as a trial on behalf of all counties. That added to my determination not to pay a penny, as a successful trial would see the contagion spread. I said that at the time (on the original MTWD, was it?) and, while it's up to everyone to make their own decisions, I am a bit disappointed that anyone else paid. It's an own goal.

If Kent had charged for yesterday's shaky coverage, they would have had requests for refunds. I suspect that the trial was T20 only. That's what their website implies. It's also free to Kent members but presumably not to members of the visiting county.

The remarkable thing about yesterday's stream was how Kent managed to have one camera ten seconds behind the other- thus the best I could settle for was to be in synch from one end, but not the other (took me a fair while to suss out that was what was happening, as I couldn't understand how I kept putting it right, only for it to be wrong again a couple of minutes later).

I've seen better streams of Middlesex County League matches. Most can provide replays immediately after the dismissal. Kent couldn't even do that.

Our streams are superb. One thing we really are good at.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Hidden in plain sight Fingers.I think if the allegiance and loyalty you claim to Middlesex were as strong as you claim my identity would be obvious as is it to most others on here. I'd agree that leadership and management have been wanting and we've lost quite a few we'd have preferred to stay, however, to hark back to The Glory Days' and condemn our current staff is more than unhelpful. You have spread your cricket watching far and wide and long may you continue to do so, but as far as The Middle are concerned I suspect only a casual involvement. You'd be correct in assuming our support comes from different perspectives,Middlesex normally in my heyday 60-70 days a season including 2nd XI, Under 19s, junior and ladies matches,other cricket about 30-40 days,Record 122 days a season, today sadly mainly from' my armchair but always 'Middlesex till I die'.

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

Hidden in plain sight Fingers.I think if the allegiance and loyalty you claim to Middlesex were as strong as you claim my identity would be obvious as is it to most others on here. I'd agree that leadership and management have been wanting and we've lost quite a few we'd have preferred to stay, however, to hark back to The Glory Days' and condemn our current staff is more than unhelpful. You have spread your cricket watching far and wide and long may you continue to do so, but as far as The Middle are concerned I suspect only a casual involvement. You'd be correct in assuming our support comes from different perspectives,Middlesex normally in my heyday 60-70 days a season including 2nd XI, Under 19s, junior and ladies matches,other cricket about 30-40 days,Record 122 days a season, today sadly mainly from' my armchair but always 'Middlesex till I die'.


Tosh!

[Pindarus]

Re our decline, our revered former leader/manager/general factotum/president Sir Angus Fraser once opined (wrongly in my opinion) that Middlesex's raison d'etre was to produce England players. Doesn't seem to be working, Angie baby.
Apart from the superannuated Morgan, who was the last person from Middx in any of the England teams? And where is the next? You never hear any of our players mentioned in potential future England players discussions.

[adelaide]

You never hear any of our players mentioned in potential future England players discussions.

Yes you do, on the live stream, though they are more Handian monologues than discussions.

[Paul W]

Yes you do, on the live stream, though they are more Handian monologues than discussions.

Of course we mustn't forget Martin Andersson is the next Jacques Kallis!

I suppose Tom Helm has got close a couple of times- Lions tours, and I think he even got named for a senior tour once (or was he just 'first reserve' or named in a bigger squad that was subsequently whittled down a bit).

Edit- and John Simpson's 3 ODI's during Covid.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Ryan Higgins is likely to be named in The England squad for the upcoming white ball series against New Zealand.The current leader of The PCA's Most Valuable Player of the Season table

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

Re Streaming, this was quite informative, from the Daily Telegraph in May:





The success of live - and free - county cricket coverage is helping the domestic game reach new audiences
By Sam Dalling 24 May 2023 • 11:25am
Yorkshire county cricket live stream
The blanket coverage of domestic cricket is helping to reach new audiences

The wonder of county cricket live streams – and how they changed my life

Among cricket’s many beauties is that it is as much for the ears as the eyes. Few, if any, sports lend themselves equally to audio as they do visuals. If you are reading this, doubtless you will have spent many hours listening to descriptions of how person X is hurling a piece of red leather at person Y who is yielding a piece of willow.

All 18 first-class counties now broadcast every ball of the summer online, for free – in all three county competitions (as long as the same match is not being broadcast on Sky Sports). The exception is Kent, who are taking part in a trial this summer whereby their T20 home games will be behind a paywall. Crucially, Kent's coverage remains free for members, with other users charged £6.99 per match.

Between 2015 and 2019, counties were unable to stream domestic games while Sky were broadcasting any ECB cricket at all. So while some dabbled in live coverage, there was reluctance to invest heavily. That changed in 2020 when the ECB and Sky agreed to drop this restriction.
Matt Critchley of Essex bowls to Steven Mullaney of Nottinghamshire during the LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 match between Nottinghamshire and Essex at Trent Bridge
Every ball of the 2023 County Championship is broadcast live and free to air Credit: GETTY /Gareth Copley

At first each county took the BBC’s radio commentary feed over the top of their own video footage but a quintet – Somerset, Gloucestershire, Northants, Surrey and Middlesex – now run their own show completely. Lancashire give it the full TV production bells and whistles. The BBC’s Scott Read still leads commentary but he is regularly joined by David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, England women’s Kate Cross, England disability skipper Callum Flynn, Paul Allott and Phoebe Graham. Others, like Warwickshire and Essex, use the BBC radio commentary for the County Championship, but bring in their own voices for the Blast.

The streams have, aided by the pandemic, grown rapidly in popularity and quality. Last year, LancsTV won the YouTube Channel of the Year award at the Broadcast Sport Awards, fighting off competition from Sky Sports Premier League and LADbible TV. They succeeded Somerset, who claimed the award ahead of Gary Neville’s ‘The Overlap’ and Premier League YouTube in 2021.

YouTube is helping the game reach new audiences, too. An average County Championship Day might bring 25,000 views at Somerset (where I commentate, see below). But the shorter formats, and their overseas stars, can bolster the numbers. If there is an Indian or Pakistan international on show, the numbers are stupendous. When Babar Azam played at Taunton, a T20 match had 1.1 million clicks and the cash prize for the interval gameshow was offered in Rupees.

Contrary to popular belief, rather than dying, the county game is evolving. The County Championship has world-class players flocking to it and live coverage of games is helping spread the good word.

[Sillypoint]

Good article. As someone who has got interested during Covid it's very good free and must be exploited to grow the longer form of the game!