Middlesex
Stick or twist at Middlesex?
An encouraging campaign was undermined by glaring failures in the middle order and seam attack
Jack Mendel
25-Sep-2013
In the immediate aftermath of any unsuccessful season, the bitter taste of shortfall smothers our views of what we expected to happen at the start. My very first article was entitled "More runs key to reaching heights" and, unsurprisingly, it is the lack of runs which prevented us from finishing in the top two. Realistically though, it was always going to be exceptionally difficult unless everyone performed to the max.
As it turned out we only produced enough runs to win six games out of 16, which is not good enough. The middle order failed, and the bowlers suffered as a result, as they had less to work with, and were simply not able to muster something special from nothing.
Most fans would say that Middlesex's year has been, if anything, above standard. Third in the top flight going into the final round, we haven't been relegated like our arch rivals, Surrey, and the last time we won the title was 1993 anyway, so anyone under 25, will not remember us winning much. It's not such a shocking season really.
Full postWent to buy a drink and missed three wickets
There may not be thousands of people queuing round the block or mascot races, but, it is the Championship that matters the most
Jack Mendel
07-Aug-2013
Thoughts of frustration and elation have been sent in equal measure in the direction of St Johns Wood in recent weeks. We have crashed out of the FLt20 in dramatic style, but in the Championship, our heads are kept above water. If this season is teaching us anything, it is that in order to succeed you need to stay focused right until the end.
At the beginning of the year, it was stressed that T20 was the focal point for the fans, and upon reflection, it was a success in a sense. We missed out by a single point, so it was close. It was noticeably well organised and advertised, with the tube littered with posters and reasonable prices that gave Lord's full houses on warm dry summer evenings. For the majority of the campaign, it was entertaining and a fairly slick operation.
Versus Surrey, we went into the game on 11 points in joint second; with the top two join sides on 12. Chasing 179 to win, we collapsed like a baby giraffe, stumbling to 25 for 4 by the fourth over, to 77 for 7 by the 10th over. It was like a horror show on the part of the batsmen. At one point I went to buy a drink, and missed three wickets in one and a half overs. It really was extremely disappointing, even though Surrey fielded and bowled exceptionally well.
Full postTwenty20 revives Malan
Middlesex's Twenty20 form has shown an upturn with some of the youngsters taking their chance to impress which could impact Championship selection
Jack Mendel
09-Jul-2013
The queues build on a warm summer evening in St John's wood, milling outside the station and eager to get down to the ground. Fans are scrambling for their tickets, not for a final, not for a Lord's Test, but for a midweek game of Friends Life T20 between Middlesex and Essex. Who says that domestic cricket isn't very popular?
The night before we played Essex, I made a very wise decision, so it turned out, to purchase tickets online. It was wise because when I turned up to Lords at 5pm to collect the tickets for a 6pm start, I heard numerous people walking back to the station. Some were not too happy, mumbling 'they have sold out, but it's on TV so we can go to the pub.' Luckily, I had three tickets in my back pocket, a few bottles of cider, and a pair of sunglasses which were a must on this bright and hot summer evening, and enthusiastically anticipating a strong performance against a rather strong Essex side.
We did not disappoint either, showing reciprocity towards the crowd's warm buzzing welcome by winning comfortably and impressively, and winning two more times out of five games so far too. Bearing in mind seven out of 10 games were lost last year, this is a big improvement already, and Middlesex are second top, on course to challenge for finals day advancement hopefully.
Full postProblems on the horizon for Middlesex
They may lead the betting for the Championship title but the successful side of the first months of the season is about to be broken up
Jack Mendel
28-May-2013
As the sun tries to break through and disrupt my exam preparation, so Middlesex's fantastic start has been a little disrupted too. After so much early-season success winning the first three games, both indifferent form and rain has prevented us from really following through and reinforcing our position.
Unfortunately once more the batting is the focal point, and the worry is the paucity of runs outside the opening pair, both in the County Championship and the YB40.
Much like my University exams, the more that can be ticked off the list, the closer summer gets, and the more I slack. As the season progresses, Middlesex become more comfortable and they get into a habit of relying on certain players for success.
Full postMiddlesex stir hopes of a revival
It's too early to wonder if Middlesex can win the First Division title for the first time since 1993, but the fans are beginning to wonder all the same
Jack Mendel
20-Apr-2013
Spring is here, the historic gates at Lord's are open and, for once, Middlesex followers are brimming with optimism. The last time Middlesex won the Division One title was 1993, the same year I was born (not connected), so obviously it has been 20 years of hurt. It's a little early in the season to speculate about winning the title. But it isn't often Middlesex will be (joint) top of the championship, even after two games.
The clinical nature of the victories in the first two games this season has been almost a bit too good to be true. Bearing in mind that one triumph has been against a newly promoted and rather poor looking Derbyshire, and the other against Nottinghamshire, the archetypal 'maybe next year' side, Middlesex should be relatively pleased with how ruthless they have been, but as any Middlesex fan will no doubt know, such comprehensive success is often met by a dip.
After skittling Nottinghamshire for 182 at Trent Bridge in their second innings to set up victory, a week later Middlesex bowled out Derbyshire at Lord's for just 60: a pattern seems to be emerging. And with the attack at Middlesex's disposal, what is to stop the wins from continuing?
Full postMore runs key to reaching heights
Middlesex's 2013 prospects previewed by the ESPNcricinfo Supporters' Network
Jack Mendel
02-Apr-2013
As Middlesex prepare for the 2013 season, they will reflect on a relatively successful 2012. On their return to the top flight, finishing third in the County Championship and almost making the semi-finals of the CB40 competition was encouraging. But Middlesex do have a number of issues which need addressing if silverware is a real goal.
Perhaps the biggest is the middle-order in first-class cricket. The batting last year was well led at the top by the experience of Chris Rogers (second-leading run-scorer in the Championship) and Joe Denly, who made over 800 runs, but Neil Dexter and Dawid Malan both averaged in the mid-30s and a number of batsmen who had major successes in 2011 also experienced difficulty in Division One. Most notably, Sam Robson and keeper John Simpson, who averaged over 50 and 40 respectively in 2011, fell back in 2012. Robson clearly struggled at the top, with just 687 runs at an average of 26, and Simpson managed 279 runs at just over 15.
The batting in coloured clothing was very mixed. Run rate cost Middlesex a CB40 semi-final spot but it was certainly an encouraging campaign, with Rogers, Malan, Eoin Morgan and Paul Stirling all notching up centuries. With Morgan on the outer fringes of the England Test side, he will play more for Middlesex, which is a boost in this format especially. Whether Middlesex can advance to the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Bank 40 (as it is now) will be a test of their character and depth.
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