Pre-Season Hopes and Expectations

So pre-season for the Middlesex players has officially started, which makes this a good time to look forward at the season ahead! The new signings have now all joined up with the team, and everyone is looking forward to getting started early next spring as a Division One club.

So what are Middlesex's goals for the 2012 summer? After so many years in the doldrums of Division Two finally came to an end on that glorious Leicester afternoon in September, surely the main priority is avoiding going straight back down. From what I've heard from the Middlesex faithful, while there is a cautious air of optimism about this team really causing some upsets next year, I think most would take avoiding relegation by one point. It's obvious that while success in the 40 over and T20 competitions would be nice, the focus from the management, players and members is towards the County Championship, which will be the main priority this season.

That isn't to mean that the CB40 and T20 competitions won't be taken seriously. Indeed, the very good showing last year in a tough competition to progress in shows that in terms of a 40 over outfit, Middlesex might be quietly confident going a bit further, or even emulating them lot from south of the river. And the T20? Well, let's cross that bridge when we come to it.

As it stands, Angus Fraser and Richard Scott have put together a very fine team capable of some great things. In first class cricket, while playing in Division One will be a big step-up, there are players in that Middlesex team who are clearly good enough to perform at that level. With a strong batting spine complemented by the firepowers of the all-rounders and the guile of the bowlers, Middlesex can certainly ruffle a few feathers of some of the big boys. The CB40 team may be hit by squad rotation during a long season, but last year's efforts showed that the Panthers can play some very good 40 over cricket at times too. And while the T20 performances last year were nothing short of pathetic, with the addition of established T20 stars Joe Denly and Ollie Rayner to the fold, the potential addition of a superstar like Chris Gayle or if we get to see much of Steve Finn or the elusive Eoin Morgan, if the boys get off to a good start, who knows what might happen. It's certainly a good time to be following Middlesex, and the mood is certainly one of quiet optimism. Whether I'm still talking up the boy's chances a few weeks into the season remains to be seen!