CC - Northants - Away

[Sillypoint]

Starts tomorrow. Reckon they'll keep the same side?

[Philip Banham]

Anyone coming to Northampton?

Hope to be there myself for all 4 days (if it lasts that long).

[MIDDLE EXILE]

A fit again Stevie Eskinazi plus Luke Hollman are added to the squad for tomorrow whilst Sam Robson is omitted due to injury.

[Sillypoint]

Eski to open?

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Middlesex win toss and bowl.Eskinazi and Fernades replace Robson and Brookes.

[Sillypoint]

Fernandes in ahead of Hollman. New pecking order in the spinners.

[Sillypoint]

Thought Cullen might get a go after Helm was pretty terrible but let's hope he improves

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Fernandes is predominately a batter as well as representing a more accurate spinning option than Hollman, whilst Helms's figures last week were mainly due to his bowling when conditions and circumstances favored the batters, and he did contribute significantly with the bat A balanced side. Congratulations to Nathan on his first-class debut.

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

Another cunning ploy by our once-dearly beloved Middlesex ... keep winning tosses and keep inserting - on another beautiful sunny day (? the same at Wantage Road) - ... 204/2 ... so far.

They obviously did not get the memo from Head Office ... "Here's to another strong week for Middlesex and let's get that first win of the campaign under our belts. Come on the Seaxes! .

[Sillypoint]

Fernandes is predominately a batter as well as representing a more accurate spinning option than Hollman, whilst Helms's figures last week were mainly due to his bowling when conditions and circumstances favored the batters, and he did contribute significantly with the bat A balanced side. Congratulations to Nathan on his first-class debut.

Not had a bowl yet so guessing he was brought in to strengthen a batting lineup which just got 600+. Weird. Id have gone with Hollman as leggies can snag wickets with bad balls

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Not had a bowl yet so guessing he was brought in to strengthen a batting lineup which just got 600+. Weird. Id have gone with Hollman as leggies can snag wickets with bad balls

Well, I wouldn't call Nath's selection weird. Luke must certainly have come under consideration, but his bowling stats are far from impressive, and picking a bloke in the hope that his bad balls might take wickets is rather contradictory,(more likely to go to the boundary)Nath is a genuine top-order batter and his inclusion in preference to an extra seamer gives a better balance to the side. Whilst wickets have proved hard to come by, we have bowled with more accuracy and discipline than last week and restricted the opposition's run rate.

[Sillypoint]

I don't think it's better balanced at all. Can't say a guy is a genuine top order bat when he played last year batting nine and bowling. Hope he does well when gets his chance but I think having variety with ball more important if you are gonna bowl first on a road. Playing for a draw already by the looks

[Sillypoint]

Nath. Ha ha ffs.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

I don't think it's better balanced at all. Can't say a guy is a genuine top order bat when he played last year batting nine and bowling. Hope he does well when gets his chance but I think having variety with ball more important if you are gonna bowl first on a road. Playing for a draw already by the looks
He never played a championship match last year at all, only T20 where he had an entirely different role. ,As I told you he's primarily a batter and his inclusion makes perfect sense rather than having an extra bowler. Hollman averaged 80 last year with the ball, a career economy rate of over 4 an over, and a strike rate of 70, his bowling has gone backward.We are not playing for a draw by choosing to bowl first and bad last, Conditions will not get any worse and we remain very much in this match. Fernandes is called Nath by most, what's your problem?

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Congratulations to Emilio Gay on reaching the highest-ever individual score for his county against Middlesex.

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

Got'em on the run again this morning ... one whole wicket - and for only 114 runs.

Another clever insertion. I wish we could lose a toss occasionally - at least then it wouldn't be self-inflicted wounds.

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

These huge scores for few wickets - not just us but, eg, Essex v Kent, Surrey v Somerset, Warwick's v Durham - are destroying county cricket. Heavens alone knows, few enough punters turn up anyhow - but what is going to attract them with a bucketful of runs and few wickets? Surely it can't only be the Kookaburra ball?

[MIDDLE EXILE]

The poor recent weather has made it difficult to produce pitches with any discernible pace and bounce, negating any advantage to the bowlers normally associated with this time of year, together with cloudless skies and the ball without a pronounced seam have all contributed to more batter-friendly conditions. Less international overseas quick bowlers or quality spinners available in county cricket are another factor that may account for the large totals. The number of young and inexperienced bowlers appearing is higher than usual, in part due to the absence of some proven performers playing in franchise tournaments around the world leading to a lowering of standards. Crowds are slightly up this season, and there is no indication they are put off by heavy scoring. The increase of draw points from five to eight has led to sides extending their first innings to lessen the impact of potential defeat, So all together a combination of reasons in my view.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Congratulations to Nathan Fernandes on a maiden fifty on first-class debut.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Well done to both sides for maintaining a healthy over rate all day and treating us to the rare sight of extra overs.

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

The poor recent weather has made it difficult to produce pitches with any discernible pace and bounce, negating any advantage to the bowlers normally associated with this time of year, together with cloudless skies and the ball without a pronounced seam have all contributed to more batter-friendly conditions. Less international overseas quick bowlers or quality spinners available in county cricket are another factor that may account for the large totals. The number of young and inexperienced bowlers appearing is higher than usual, in part due to the absence of some proven performers playing in franchise tournaments around the world leading to a lowering of standards. Crowds are slightly up this season, and there is no indication they are put off by heavy scoring. The increase of draw points from five to eight has led to sides extending their first innings to lessen the impact of potential defeat, So all together a combination of reasons in my view.


So how do you defend insertion on winning the toss - twice?

Was it not the good Doctor who was reputed to have said:

“When you win the toss, bat. If you are in doubt, think about it, then bat. If you have very big doubts, consult a colleague - then bat”.

Often cited as sound advice to all cricket captains.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

In the doctor's day, pitches were poorly prepared, left uncovered, and tended to deteriorate quickly, hence the advantage of having first use on them. Things are a lot different to what they were 150 years ago and pitches tend to remain the same and often improve over time so that advice is redundant in the present day. Middlesex gained a first innings lead last week and are well on the way to doing similarly in the current match, so not the unmitigated disaster you indicate. I've never sought to defend our decision to bowl first, but can understand the reasoning that makes it an option, That it brought no immediate success makes it easy for you to condemn it retrospectively........next question?

[James While]

Got some comp tickets for four of the Middlesex lads for Saints v Bulls in the Champs Cup QF last night.

They were moaning like hell about the softness of the Kooka.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

My heartiest congratulations are due to all three batters who performed today and achieved standout personal milestones. Tomorrow there remains the distinct possibility that we will exceed our highest-ever first-class total, Whilst a victory appears unlikely, history could be made and I urge as many of you as possible to be in attendance and lend encouragement to our brave lads.

[John Fitzgerald]

Well done the batters. It IS the ball . Players complain of a flatter seam and it goes soft quickly. It will be ideal for the sort of wickets and conditions we get in August. Oh hang on...

We may insert Yorkshire on Friday but it will be with a different ball thank goodness.

[Andrew]

Batting crazy almost everywhere at the moment. Simply unbelievable that Durham scored 517 and still had to follow on. Surely that must be a follow on world record score?

[John (Fingers) Fingleton]

My heartiest congratulations are due to all three batters who performed today and achieved standout personal milestones. Tomorrow there remains the distinct possibility that we will exceed our highest-ever first-class total, Whilst a victory appears unlikely, history could be made and I urge as many of you as possible to be in attendance and lend encouragement to our brave lads.



Massive personal and team records ... but one big yawn. And the blame, surely, goes mostly to ECB and the Kookaburra ball. Certainly hastening the end of county cricket, as if it was not challenged enough already. The whole essence of the game is a proper test of bat against ball - decidedly missing now. At least we are reverting to the Duke ball until towards the end of the season - when the K is back for the last 2 matches ... unless common sense breaks out (and that would be a first!).

[MIDDLE EXILE]

[QUOTE=John (Fingers) Fingleton;108485][B]
- when the K is back for the last 2 matches ...

.The Kookie will be used for our matches against Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors and against Yorkshire at Headingley in August.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

Batting crazy almost everywhere at the moment. Simply unbelievable that Durham scored 517 and still had to follow on. Surely that must be a follow-on world record score?
At Old Trafford in 2005, Middlesex scored 544 in response to Lancashires 734-5dec and followed on. Somerset followed on having totaled 530 after Derbyshire had amassed 801-8 in 2007 at Taunton.

[Andrew]

At Old Trafford in 2005, Middlesex scored 544 in response to Lancashires 734-5dec and followed on. Somerset followed on having totaled 530 after Derbyshire had amassed 801-8 in 2007 at Taunton.

Many thanks for that and I guessed that there must have been some scores slightly higher. The only thing I would point out is that the Old Trafford game can’t have been in 2005 as Lancs and Middlesex were in different divisions then and therefore did not play each other in the championship that season.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

My apologies Andrew,it was 2003.I was there for the entire match.

[Philip Banham]

I went on all 4 days.

This morning I purchased yet another scorecard. The only difference from the one I bought yesterday was the addition of one fall of wicket.

They had an early lunch and when the second lot of rain arrived (which was short lived) the match, thank goodness was abandoned as a draw.

I then drove the 17 miles home and ate my lunch.

[Pindarus]

So, when did we last score (or come to that concede) over 550 in 2 consecutive matches? Not even in the Compton and Edrich summer of 1947 I'll bet.

[MIDDLE EXILE]

So, when did we last score (or come to that concede) over 550 in 2 consecutive matches? Not even in the Compton and Edrich summer of 1947 I'll bet.

In 1995 when in successive matches at Lords we scored 602-7dec against Sussex, followed by 587 a.o.against Nottinghamshire.

[Andrew]

My apologies Andrew,it was 2003.I was there for the entire match.

Thanks, and very interesting to hear that you were there for the entire match. Incidentally, I should make it known to you that Lancashire is actually my county and not Middlesex. Am only on here invading your MTWD section as I am an MCC member. Doesn’t mean that I don’t follow Middlesex a bit as well, and always intriguing to read your,often very difficult, Middlesex related questions on another thread! Just a shame that after having scored 700 plus in 2003 that we didn’t go on to win, but well done for a very brave resistance!

[MIDDLE EXILE]

All are welcome to the Middlesex stream Andrew, I was also at The Oval when Fairbrother scored 366, still the highest individual score I've ever seen. Here's an easy Lanky question for you....What first-class batting record does Brian Statham hold for Lancashire?