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Gordon Muchall narrowly missed out on 1000 first-class runs
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Only two Championship wins, one a sensational run chase at Taunton, the other the thrashing of a weak Yorkshire side, proved a disappointing return, yet the number of local lads coming through continues to give hope of a more prosperous future. With Mike Hussey leading the side and Ashley Noffke, the Australian fast bowler who topped the Middlesex averages in 2002, signed up for next summer, they should for once have two settled overseas players.
In recent seasons injuries, no-shows and international calls have played havoc. This year saw one of the biggest flops of all. Shaun Tait arrived at the Riverside with 33 wickets at 29 each from the last Australian season and a call-up to his country's A side under his belt. But in his first bowl he conceded 21 no-balls and two wides against Somerset and at Colchester he overstepped five times again. In two matches he failed to take a wicket, conceded 176 runs from 18 overs and had to be left out of the side.
Alan Walker, the county's bowling coach, says: "We tried just about everything to cure him of the no-ball problem but none of the usual remedies worked. He has an odd delivery stride and never puts his feet down twice in the same place. He's got to be a better bowler than he showed for us but nothing went right. He was so keen to play, too."
Player of the Year: Gordon Muchall
High: The run chase at Taunton
Low: Finding an Aussie who couldn't cut it
This article was first published in the October issue of The Wisden Cricketer.
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