The squad for the maiden first-class Middlesex game of the season has been announced, and it goes like this:
Neil Dexter (captain)
Gareth Berg
Corey Collymore
Steven Crook
Adam London
Dawid Malan
Tim Murtagh
Ollie Rayner
Sam Robson
Chris Rogers
Toby Roland-Jones
John Simpson (wk)
Joe Denly is out with a calf strain, and fingers crossed he'll be OK for Somerset on Thursday, but it seems like it's touch and go. It would be tough for Joe to come straight into a big championship game after missing all of pre-season, so he may well miss out, get a seconds game under his belt, and then in to make his Middlesex debut. It's a little bit ironic (only if you ask Alanis Morrissette) that Scott Newman has gone out on loan as he wasn't going to be needed for the early part of the season, and chances are he would have played in the first few games! (OK, not that ironic)
Denly missing out gives Adam London a chance in the first team. Adam didn't play at all in the Championship last year, but is a very talented batsman, and deserves a go in the firsts. At the age of 23 this year could be now or never for Adam, as if he doesn't establish himself this year, he may make a decision like Dan Housego and look to go elsewhere. Having struggled with his injuries over the last couple of years, it would be great to see him nail down a spot in the team, but as chances will be few and far between (with an ever-growing likelihood that Messrs Morgan and Strauss will be available for long spells this year) he'll have to take his chances when he gets them, and this is the perfect opportunity.
As for the rest of the team, we'll probably see Chris Rogers move up to open alongside Robson, with London, or possibly Malan in at 3. As with last year, we're likely to go in with four seamers and a spinner, so it's a toss-up between Steven Crook and Toby Roland-Jones for the final seamer spot (behind Murtagh, Collymore and Berg), and chances are they'll plump for TRJ. So would guess that the team will be:
1) Robson
2) Rogers
3) London
4) Malan
5) Dexter (c)
6) Simpson
7) Berg
8) Rayner
9) Roland-Jones
10) Murtagh
11) Collymore
This is pretty close to how they'll line up at Taunton next week, with the only possible change being Denly in for London (if Joe has recovered, and has got bored of playing Draw Something against me), but that remains to be seen!
The match is at Merchant Taylors' and is free entry, and with the sun out hopefully there'll be a fair few in to see Middlesex in their first official game of the year!
Friday 30 March 2012
Thursday 29 March 2012
Winning is a habit...
And seemingly it's one that Middlesex have even at this very early stage of the season.
Much of the success of last year has been given to the flying start that we made, which was down to a successful pre-season, both in training and the warm-up matches. Already we're three from three in our friendlies, with wins over Kent, a MCCL representative team, and Essex, and Middlesex are guaranteed a win today as the Neil Dexter XI take on the Dawid Malan XI. Hopefully the teams for that will have been decided by the two captains, who each picked a player in turn...
The main point of the warm-up games, aside from getting match fitness, is to get some time in the middle and some confidence. Which is why it's great to see flying starts from Malan, who made a ton against Kent, Toby Roland-Jones who's taken 6 wickets cheaply in his two games, and Steven Crook, who blazed a 29-ball fifty against Essex. Crooky is a genuine all-rounder, and while he didn't contribute as much as we'd have liked last year with the bat (although he nearly got us over the line when all seemed lost in the CB40 game against Yorkshire), it's great to see him striking it clearly. If he gets both parts of his game going, he could be a formidable player.
On Malan - after going without a one day ton for so long, he's now got two, both against Kent (even if this was just a friendly). In fact, up to the start of last season, his List A performances were incredibly disappointing, with 742 runs at just 19.53 and a high score of 60. Since then, however, he's made 512 runs at 42.67, 3 fifties and a ton, and if you include the Kent game, he's averaging 49.23 since the start of last year. His turnaround in the quarters has been remarkable, and could well be due to his elevation as an opener. After a slowish start to last season, it would be great to see Malla hit the ground running and really stamp his mark on Division One. Now one of the more senior players, (having been given the responsibility of captaining a side in today's friendly, one would assume he's third in line to the throne behind Dexter and Rogers), 2012 could be a big season for Malan. Let's hope so anyway!
Middlesex's next port of call is the University game against Durham at the weekend, and it will be interesting to see what side is named, as chances are that will be the side that takes to the field in just over a week's time to play Somerset. Come on the Middle!
Much of the success of last year has been given to the flying start that we made, which was down to a successful pre-season, both in training and the warm-up matches. Already we're three from three in our friendlies, with wins over Kent, a MCCL representative team, and Essex, and Middlesex are guaranteed a win today as the Neil Dexter XI take on the Dawid Malan XI. Hopefully the teams for that will have been decided by the two captains, who each picked a player in turn...
The main point of the warm-up games, aside from getting match fitness, is to get some time in the middle and some confidence. Which is why it's great to see flying starts from Malan, who made a ton against Kent, Toby Roland-Jones who's taken 6 wickets cheaply in his two games, and Steven Crook, who blazed a 29-ball fifty against Essex. Crooky is a genuine all-rounder, and while he didn't contribute as much as we'd have liked last year with the bat (although he nearly got us over the line when all seemed lost in the CB40 game against Yorkshire), it's great to see him striking it clearly. If he gets both parts of his game going, he could be a formidable player.
On Malan - after going without a one day ton for so long, he's now got two, both against Kent (even if this was just a friendly). In fact, up to the start of last season, his List A performances were incredibly disappointing, with 742 runs at just 19.53 and a high score of 60. Since then, however, he's made 512 runs at 42.67, 3 fifties and a ton, and if you include the Kent game, he's averaging 49.23 since the start of last year. His turnaround in the quarters has been remarkable, and could well be due to his elevation as an opener. After a slowish start to last season, it would be great to see Malla hit the ground running and really stamp his mark on Division One. Now one of the more senior players, (having been given the responsibility of captaining a side in today's friendly, one would assume he's third in line to the throne behind Dexter and Rogers), 2012 could be a big season for Malan. Let's hope so anyway!
Middlesex's next port of call is the University game against Durham at the weekend, and it will be interesting to see what side is named, as chances are that will be the side that takes to the field in just over a week's time to play Somerset. Come on the Middle!
Thursday 22 March 2012
First Squads of the Season!
So here it is - after months of waiting, the cricket season is finally upon us. While the official stuff gets started in a couple of weeks in Taunton, Middlesex kick off their pre-season friendlies tomorrow and Saturday with games against Kent at Beckenham, and a Middlesex League XI at Ealing, and the squads have been announced!
Middlesex CCC squad to face Kent on 23rd March
Neil Dexter (Captain)
Steven Crook
Joe Denly
Anthony Ireland
Adam London
Dawid Malan
Sam Robson
Ollie Rayner
Toby Roland-Jones
Tom Scollay
John Simpson (wk)
Tom Smith
Robbie Williams
The 13 man squad for the 40 over game is without Tim Murtagh (who was called up yesterday for Ireland at the World T20 qualifiers in Dubai) and Gareth Berg, Paul Stirling and Josh Davey, who were out there already. Chris Rogers and Corey Collymore are also missing, presumably still out in Australia, where they've been playing this winter.
This gives a chance to the less established Scollay, London and Williams, who didn't get much of a crack last year. Based purely on speculation and guesswork, I reckon Middlesex will line up with Denly and Malan opening with Robson at three; Dexter, London and Scollay making up the middle order with Simpson at seven, followed by the bowlers. Not sure if it will be a strict eleven-a-side game or if they'll be allowed to field all thirteen, but if so I assume all of the bowlers will get a few overs. The battle between Rayner and Smith could be an interesting one, as they'll both be fighting for the first choice spinner's role once the season starts.
Middlesex CCC squad to face the MCCL represetative XI on 24th March
Tom Scollay (Captain)
Steven Crook
Tom Helm
Anthony Ireland
James Kettleborough
Adam London
Ravi Patel
Ollie Rayner
Adam Rossington (wk)
Tom Smith
Gurjit Sandhu
Robbie Williams
The other game at Ealing has the look of a second team squad about it, with Dexter, Malan, Denly, Roland-Jones, Robson and Simpson all getting the day off. If it is how the second team will look once the season starts, the fact that both Rayner and Smith are in it suggests that they'll be going without a front-line spinner early on, but we'll see.
While these are just two fairly meaningless friendlies, it'll just be nice to see Middlesex back out on a cricket pitch for the first time since Grace Road!
Middlesex CCC squad to face Kent on 23rd March
Neil Dexter (Captain)
Steven Crook
Joe Denly
Anthony Ireland
Adam London
Dawid Malan
Sam Robson
Ollie Rayner
Toby Roland-Jones
Tom Scollay
John Simpson (wk)
Tom Smith
Robbie Williams
The 13 man squad for the 40 over game is without Tim Murtagh (who was called up yesterday for Ireland at the World T20 qualifiers in Dubai) and Gareth Berg, Paul Stirling and Josh Davey, who were out there already. Chris Rogers and Corey Collymore are also missing, presumably still out in Australia, where they've been playing this winter.
This gives a chance to the less established Scollay, London and Williams, who didn't get much of a crack last year. Based purely on speculation and guesswork, I reckon Middlesex will line up with Denly and Malan opening with Robson at three; Dexter, London and Scollay making up the middle order with Simpson at seven, followed by the bowlers. Not sure if it will be a strict eleven-a-side game or if they'll be allowed to field all thirteen, but if so I assume all of the bowlers will get a few overs. The battle between Rayner and Smith could be an interesting one, as they'll both be fighting for the first choice spinner's role once the season starts.
Middlesex CCC squad to face the MCCL represetative XI on 24th March
Tom Scollay (Captain)
Steven Crook
Tom Helm
Anthony Ireland
James Kettleborough
Adam London
Ravi Patel
Ollie Rayner
Adam Rossington (wk)
Tom Smith
Gurjit Sandhu
Robbie Williams
The other game at Ealing has the look of a second team squad about it, with Dexter, Malan, Denly, Roland-Jones, Robson and Simpson all getting the day off. If it is how the second team will look once the season starts, the fact that both Rayner and Smith are in it suggests that they'll be going without a front-line spinner early on, but we'll see.
While these are just two fairly meaningless friendlies, it'll just be nice to see Middlesex back out on a cricket pitch for the first time since Grace Road!
Monday 12 March 2012
Newman off to Kent
After a few rumours had been flying about, it's been confirmed today that Scott Newman has joined Kent on loan for the first two months of the season. With Robson, Denly and Rogers likely to make up the top-order for the first part of the season, Scott wouldn't have had much of a look in, so has been allowed to head off to Canterbury to get the season started.
It seems like a good deal all round, with Scott being able to get in some match practice after a few months off (and perhaps 'prove a point' to those who don't see him in Middlesex's plans), Kent gaining a player with plenty of county experience, especially after a winter of upheaval, and it certainly suits Middlesex to have Scott playing a good standard of cricket fresh as and when he's needed over the season.
The benefits of the loan are fairly clear, and I'd assume there's some sort of clause allowing Middlesex to recall Scott if there are injuries or a dramatic loss of form of any of those top three, so it seems like a good move all round.
I'm sure all Middlesex fans wish Scott all the best, and hopefully we'll see him back full of runs when he returns to Middlesex in June!
It seems like a good deal all round, with Scott being able to get in some match practice after a few months off (and perhaps 'prove a point' to those who don't see him in Middlesex's plans), Kent gaining a player with plenty of county experience, especially after a winter of upheaval, and it certainly suits Middlesex to have Scott playing a good standard of cricket fresh as and when he's needed over the season.
The benefits of the loan are fairly clear, and I'd assume there's some sort of clause allowing Middlesex to recall Scott if there are injuries or a dramatic loss of form of any of those top three, so it seems like a good move all round.
I'm sure all Middlesex fans wish Scott all the best, and hopefully we'll see him back full of runs when he returns to Middlesex in June!
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