A (sort of) Middlesex season review

It seems like only yesterday I was looking forward to the start of the county season. It wasn't too long ago that I was so optimistic about Middlesex's season - especially due to the form of Steven Finn. It seems like only moments ago that Middlesex started to lose some games, and I stopped writing about them.

After 7 county champo games in the blink of an eye (with a small smattering of 40 overs in there too), attention was turned to the T20, which was undoutably the focal point of the cricketing summer (mainly due to it's invasive nature and 170 odd matches).

But now the T20 has come and gone; the group stages of the CB40 are over, and Middlesex are playing their last game of the season.

Where has the time gone?

To say it has been an up and down season for Middlesex would be an understatement. There have been some electrifying performances; such as the CC wins over Surrey, Sussex and Glamorgan, but there too have been some timid defeats. Far too many timid defeats. In the T20, we had a 50% win/loss ratio, with some epic wins over Essex, Kent and Hampshire, following and preceding terrible defeates to Surrey, Gloucestershire and Sussex. And the less said about the CB40 the better!

So where now for Middlesex? Iain O'Brien's visa issues are well documented, and of course we all hope he's able to extend his stay at Lord's. Pedro Collins has to leave due to a change in Kolpak laws, and we all wish Pedro well; a good performer in all codes of the game this year. And Owais Shah is leaving, released by the club, perhaps due to money, perhaps due to poor performances, probably a combination of both.

Chris Rogers will arrive as an overseas player for next year, and if he can maintain his 60+ average at the top of the order, it could be a very good piece of business. Eoin Morgan is staying, having re-signed his contract, but the nature of the international calendar means we'll be without him, Strauss and Finn for long spells of the season.

While this season has been often one to forget for Middlesex, there have been some positives. There have been plenty more wins then last season - proof that Angus Fraser is slowly turning it around. The emergence of Toby Roland-Jones and John Simpson as very good young county players (and potential internationals in the future) is very encouraging, as has been some infrequent performances from Josh Davey, Adam London and Sam Robson.

The problem with Middlesex at the moment is that we're a team in transition; a side who are building on our way to bigger and better things. With very promising, talented youngsters, as well as some players like Dawid Malan who are continuing to flourish, we could be in with a chance of promotion next year if we remain consistent. But that's probably me just being blindly and optimistically deluded.

Last Week's Poll - Which cricketer would make the best footballer?

As it's the World Cup, I asked which cricketer would make the best footballer. After thinking long and hard, I came up with a list of cricketers who have the required qualities for a footballer; athleticsm, gracefulness and steely determination. Unsurprisingly, you judged AB de Villiers to be the one of the list who has those qualities, with 42% of you picking him to be your chosen cricketer-as-footballer. However, after watching Middlesex yesterday, I can tell you that you're all wrong, as Steve Finn has the skills to pay the bills. And that Pedro Collins is cack in goal.

A Tale of Two Counties.

Middlesex have the oldest captain in County Cricket; Shaun Udal is now 41.

On the other side of the Thames, Surrey have the youngest; Rory Hamilton-Brown is 22 and has never captained a county side before.

Yesterday Middlesex signed young Australian T20 opener David Warner for their FP T20 campaign.

Yesterday Surrey signed Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds for theirs.

Warner is 23, and has a long international career ahead of him.

Symonds is 34; and having been suspended from Australian selection thrice in a year, is very unlikely to ever play internationally again.

Warner is in top form in the IPL, having hit a brutal 107 from 69 balls for the Delhi Daredevils as they beat the Kolkata Knight Riders, with Delhi sure to reach the semi-finals

Symonds has been inconsistent as the Deccans have struggled to defend their IPL title; looking set to miss out on the knockout stage.

Warner will join Adam Gilchrist at Middlesex, as well as internationals Eoin Morgan, Owais Shah, Pedro Collins and Iain O'Brien.

Symonds will join world record holder James Benning, Mark Ramprakash and Piyush Chawla.

Middlesex are a side who are rebuilding.

Surrey are a side who are rebuilding.



I look forward to the opening partnership of Gilchrist and Warner at Lord's - and pub landlords around Vauxhall are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Symonds. I'd guess that Udal will have an easier time captaining Gilly and Lloyd than Chris Adams and RH-B do with Roy. With such world stars as Symonds, Warner, Gilchrist, Sangakkara, Tait, Nannes, Pollard, Dilshan and Gibbs, it's clear that this years Twenty20 Cup will be of great quality. And hopefully there'll be the same result as 2008.