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April 29, 2008
Journalists get on their bike
Posted 1 week, 5 days ago in Miscellaneous
How do you get from the Brit Oval to Lord's without crossing the Thames? Six intrepid cyclists are about to prove it can be done and all in a good cause.
They are cycling from Kennington to St John's Wood the long way round, taking in all 18 first-class county headquarters - a trip of more than 1,000 miles over 16 days.
The tour has been devised by two cricket writers who spend most of their time pedalling opinions on the game: David Lloyd of the London Evening Standard and Colin Bateman of the Daily Express.
Continue reading "Journalists get on their bike"
March 22, 2008
Underground Lord's
Posted on 03/22/2008 in MCC
The tunnels beneath Lord's, two of which used to carry tube trains, could be converted into indoor nets or used as walkways to cope with pedestrian congestion which is expected to increase dramatically in the next ten years.
David Batts, the MCC deputy chief executive, said: "It would be great to turn them into something useful.One of the main planks of our masterplan for Lord's is to create a cricket academy. We need new indoor nets and there is no reason why they shouldn't be underground like the ones at the Oval.
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"There are alternatives: the tunnels could become a storage facility, a car park, or a health club. We are receiving proposals from architects and we will come up with a shortlist over the next couple of weeks."
The tunnels used to house trains on the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines. A third tunnel still functions, carrying trains from Marylebone to Birmingham.
Read the full story in today's Daily Telegraph.
March 18, 2008
Watford lad lands Academy contract
Posted on 03/18/2008 in Middlesex
The Ealing Gazette reports that Watford Grammar School for Boys pupil Will Jones has landed a 12-month contract with Middlesex Cricket Academy. The 16-year-old right-arm pace bowler, who plays his club cricket for West Herts, was offered the contract by the club's Academy director Graham West.
March 9, 2008
Rebel without a pause
Posted on 03/09/2008 in Middlesex
Two decades after touring apartheid South Africa, John Emburey, English cricket's foremost rebel is at it again, coaching in the unofficial Indian Cricket League and dreaming of a global inter-city event. In a fascinating interview in The Observer, he talks candidly about those 1980s rebel tours.
After the first one, in 1982, he said: 'I'd have thought twice about going if I'd known the ban would last three years - that stunned all of us. Assuming I would have been chosen for England's tours, and played my share of Tests at home, I have lost financially.'
And he also looks at whether the ICL will have a London franchise.
There are 13 League football teams in London, so one cricket team should be possible,' he says. Not only possible, but very lucrative. Which sponsors would not want to be associated with the first team to carry the London brand into a competition played out in the globe's largest market?
March 7, 2008
Cancer Tests for England cricketers
Posted on 03/07/2008 in Miscellaneous
All first-class cricketers in England will be tested for skin cancer this season. In an initiative by the Professional Cricketers Association about 400 players will have checks for the disease.
February 19, 2008
Johnson joins Berkshire
Posted on 02/19/2008 in Middlesex
Richard Johnson, the former Middlesex fast bowler, has joined Berkshire to play in the Minor County Championship.
"He's a quick bowler which is what we've been looking for," Berkshire manager David Morris said.
"He's also a more than useful batsman in the middle to lower order, so just the man we want."
Former Hampshire and England spinner Shaun Udal had agreed to play for Berkshire, but was forced to pull out when offered a contract with first-class side Middlesex.
Morris added: "We're obviously disappointed that Shaun ultimately didn't sign for us because Middlesex made him such a good offer, but Richard really ticks many of our boxes."
Read the full story at the BBC.
February 7, 2008
de Wet signs for Middlesex
Posted on 02/07/2008 in Middlesex
Middlesex have confirmed South African fast bowler Friedel de Wet as a Kolpak player for 2008 after contracts were signed and work permits received. He is touring India this winter with the South Africa A side and has played domestic cricket in South Africa for the Lions and the Titans.
December 18, 2007
Graeme West to head Middlesex academy
Posted on 12/18/2007 in Middlesex
Middlesex Cricket Board cricket development officer, Graeme West has been appointed as Middlesex CCC’s new academy director, to take over from Toby Radford, who was recently appointed first team coach.
West has worked for the MCB for over 10 years and has already worked with a number of the academy players through his coaching of the youth age group squads. “I am delighted to have been offered the academy director role” commented West. “I am looking forward to working with, and supporting the development of, the current crop of talented young cricketers that we have at Middlesex.”
“Graeme has a lot of experience within Middlesex in the youth cricket and schools system – no one is more experienced than him in that field” added John Emburey, Middlesex director of cricket. “His experience and knowledge will be a huge benefit for the future of Middlesex cricket.”
September 19, 2007
Time for salary caps?
Posted on 09/19/2007 in
A fascinating report in The Guardian looks into how county cricket pays for itself… if it does… and whether or not salary capping is a good idea.
July 23, 2007
Some county players earn less than minimum wage
Posted on 07/23/2007 in Miscellaneous
In The Sunday Telegraph , Steve James highlights the disparity between the high earners in English cricket and those at the bottom of the food chain.
The Professional Cricketers' Association estimates that a cricketer works about 50 hours a week (including play, travel, training and time spent away from home). This means, in broad terms, that a player needs to earn more than £7,000 per season to be over the minimum wage. There are definitely players earning less than that; indeed there are players earning as little as £3,000 per season.
July 6, 2007
Vaas returns early to Middlesex
Posted on 07/06/2007 in Middlesex
Chaminda Vaas will miss the third and final Test against Bangladesh at Kandy to return to Middlesex
Vaas, 33, joined Middlesex at the start of the English season, but returned home to play against Bangladesh and scored a maiden Test century in the first Test. With Sri Lanka having taken a decisive 2-0 lead in a one-sided series, Vaas was given permission to honour the rest of his contract with Middlesex.
June 13, 2007
Nash replaced by ... Nash
Posted on 06/13/2007 in Middlesex
There was confusion at Lord’s where Middlesex wicketkeeper David Nash reportedly fainted shortly after the toss in the Friends Provident match against Sussex. The media were told that Sussex had agreed to him being replaced by Ben Scott, even though the teams had been named. Ed Joyce started the match as Middlesex keeper before he was replaced by Scott for the second part of the innings. The official electronic scorecard showed Scott in the Middlesex XI
However, at the fall of Middlesex’s fifth wicket there was surprise when Nash bounded out from the pavilion. It later emerged that the umpires had agreed that as he was fit to bat, he could. The electronic scorecard was swiftly changed and Scott wiped from the records. It mattered little as Nash holed out to square leg for 2.
March 15, 2007
Middlesex link up with Breakthrough
Posted on 03/15/2007 in Middlesex
Charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer throughout the Twenty20 Cup competition in 2007. The Twenty20 Cup zonal rounds take place between June 22 and July 6. At all four of Middlesex’s home matches, including two at Lord’s, Breakthrough volunteers will be collecting donations from spectators and Breakthrough wristbands will be sold throughout the ground for a suggested donation.
December 6, 2006
Murtagh joins Middlesex
Posted on 12/06/2006 in Middlesex
Middlesex have signed Tim Murtagh, the former Surrey seamer, on a two-year contract.
He becomes the latest acquisition for Middlesex as they aim to bolster their bowling attack and joins other new signings, Chaminda Vaas, Murali Kartik and Richard Johnson in a new look attack at Lord's.
Murtagh, who suffered an injury-hit 2006 and played just two Championship matches, said: "I have enjoyed my time at Surrey immensely and take with me great memories from on and off the field but I felt, with the number of high-class spinners on their staff and the way the team is made up, my opportunities and contributions in the future would be limited.
"With interest from a number of other counties, Middlesex were the standout option for me, with the chance to play more four-day cricket and to play my cricket at Lord's a huge attraction. I can't wait to link up with Ed Smith and the boys next season."
John Emburey, Middlesex's director of cricket, added: "As an all rounder he will add valuable depth to our side. We welcome Tim to the club and wish him every success."
Surrey's captain, Mark Butcher, said: "Tim has been a great servant to the club both on and off the field for many years. His attitude has been exemplary and his ability to control the white ball in one-day cricket has been a huge asset to the team over the past few years. He will be missed at Surrey but we wish him all the best at Middlesex."
October 17, 2006
Bottoming out in search of seamers
Posted on 10/17/2006 in Middlesex
Three bottom places mean fewer reasons to be cheerful. Long before the trapdoors clanged shut, the coach John Emburey (while lamenting injuries and the pitches provided by MCC, Middlesex’s Lord’s landlord) admitted his team deserved it. That is no small feat considering a wise ex-Glamorgan captain tipped them to win the Championship and that a squad which began the season featuring one reserve Test batsman ended it with three – in addition to a groovy new Compton. In all cricket, only Somerset suffered more defeats; captain Ben Hutton’s shingles must have felt doubly unpleasant. It was no surprise when he quit soon afterwards. With Alan Richardson and Mel Betts crocked and only Chris Silverwood regularly marrying penetration to control, it would be easy to blame the bowlers. But it would be more just to bemoan a batting order featuring eight Championship centurions but just two specialists who improved their reputations: Ed Joyce and Nick Compton. Owais Shah (732 one-day runs, second only to Mal Loye) continued to make some wonder why England overlook him in the short game. It seemed symptomatic of a wider unease that, in the Championship, Jamie Dalrymple averaged 32 with bat and 39 with ball, then whizzed about for England like a turbocharged Fred Titmus.
Rob Steen The Wisden Cricketer
Bottoming out in search of seamers
Posted on 10/17/2006 in Middlesex
Three bottom places mean fewer reasons to be cheerful. Long before the trapdoors clanged shut, the coach John Emburey (while lamenting injuries and the pitches provided by MCC, Middlesex’s Lord’s landlord) admitted his team deserved it. That is no small feat considering a wise ex-Glamorgan captain tipped them to win the Championship and that a squad which began the season featuring one reserve Test batsman ended it with three – in addition to a groovy new Compton. In all cricket, only Somerset suffered more defeats; captain Ben Hutton’s shingles must have felt doubly unpleasant. It was no surprise when he quit soon afterwards. With Alan Richardson and Mel Betts crocked and only Chris Silverwood regularly marrying penetration to control, it would be easy to blame the bowlers. But it would be more just to bemoan a batting order featuring eight Championship centurions but just two specialists who improved their reputations: Ed Joyce and Nick Compton. Owais Shah (732 one-day runs, second only to Mal Loye) continued to make some wonder why England overlook him in the short game. It seemed symptomatic of a wider unease that, in the Championship, Jamie Dalrymple averaged 32 with bat and 39 with ball, then whizzed about for England like a turbocharged Fred Titmus.
Rob Steen The Wisden Cricketer
September 26, 2006
Keegan on the spot
Posted on 09/26/2006 in Middlesex
Chief Executive Vinny Codrington says of the planned halving of the import quota: “What you save on flights and accommodation you might lose on hiring one or two homegrown players. For me, with all the coming and going, it’s become a laughing-stock.”
Chad Keegan, meanwhile, has been given permission to talk to suitors, via his agent/father Blake. “We want him to stay and have offered him an extension,” says Codrington, “but we don’t feel able to offer a long-term contract as he’s played only a dozen games in three seasons. We showed a lot of faith during his back problems and waived the rules so he can talk to other counties. It would be nice if that loyalty was returned but, if someone comes up with something better, they’re welcome.”
It was also good to bump into Norman Cowans at the cricket writers’ dinner, especially since, the previous day, he had figured in one of ESPN Classic’s slightly less classic moments. Did he recall being dismissed in a Test against West Indies when the ball lobbed off his pads, 25 feet above his head towards short mid-on, then spun back to bowl him? “Roger Harper”
came the instant reply.
Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer
August 18, 2006
Spearman to Middlesex?
Posted on 08/18/2006 in Middlesex
There are rumours that Craig Spearman could be heading to Middlesex next season. He has had a successful four years at Gloucestershire but may now be looking for a change. Middlesex are currently struggling to avoid relegation from Division One of the County Championship.
July 30, 2006
Players thrive on steep earning curve
Posted on 07/30/2006 in Derbyshire
Steve James, the former Glamorgan and England opener, has revealed that the average salary for a county player is around £40,000. Surrey top the pay league, with their players earning an average salary of £60,000, and that excludes the bumper earnings of their overseas recruits. Yorkshire are at the bottom of the pay league, with an average salary of £30,000.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, James's article has gone a long way to dispelling the belief that county cricketers are sports paupers. While they still might to be able to hold a candle to any footballers in the Premier League, their pay is not as bad as it once was.
Click here for the full story.
July 13, 2006
Joyce back for Middlesex
Posted on 07/13/2006 in Middlesex
Ed Joyce is fit to resume his season after recovering from the ankle injury be picked up during England's Twenty20 clash against Sri Lanka at The Rose Bowl last month. When he first suffered the injury, it was feared Joyce would miss most of the season, but he is now ready to resume his challenge for an England place.
June 20, 2006
Back issues
Posted on 06/20/2006 in Middlesex
“It’s very, very good to be back,” says Chad Keegan with the verve of a man whose rich promise has been repeatedly thwarted by back trouble and for whom, far worse, inactivity is death. “Sitting around watching cricket is terrible. I can’t do it. Before my op last summer I didn’t watch or train. I tried to ride my motorbike but that didn’t last.”
A rousing Championship return against Warwickshire – with bat and ball – was also made conspicuous by a meatier frame. “I went back to South Africa in the winter for three months, to Durban to train with my uncle who’s a bodybuilder. People had been calling me skinny, so he fed me six meals a day.”
He concedes that the back injury, which kept him out for a year, was not managed terribly well. “They say I’ve had a stress fracture from when I was younger. It’s been like a time bomb waiting to go off. I’ve had pain when I tried to come back, and that’s down to too much bowling. The regime is stricter now. The more I bowl the more my rhythm improves but I have to restrict how much I do.”
Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer
April 28, 2006
Fans and Family Day at Hove
Posted on 04/28/2006 in Sussex
Sussex begin their C&G campaign on Sunday, April 30 when they play Surrey at The Oval. They play Middlesex the following day, Monday, May 1, at Hove. Both games start at 10.45am. On the Bank Holiday Monday the day has been called "Fans and Family Day" with discounted tickets for everyone at Hove. Those attending wearing a sporting shirt will gain entrance for just £5 while all Under 16s will get in free.
April 19, 2006
Silverwood ready to go
Posted on 04/19/2006 in Middlesex
Chris Silverwood is raring to get bowling for Middlesex after his move from Yorkshire. He is excited by the prospect of continuing his career ar Lord's after a difficult move south.
But he told BBC London that he has not left on a bitter note: "Everything's been done very amicably with Yorkshire. I've not fallen out with anybody up there and Middlesex have been very patient with it. It's like a new challenge for me now. I'm like a kid with my new toy at the moment
April 12, 2006
Middlesex and Kent draw in the cold
Posted on 04/12/2006 in Middlesex
Middlesex’s drew with Kent in a two-day pre-season friendly at Canterbury in temperatures which were close to freezing. Both sides batted for a total of 90 overs and Middlesex used 13 players and Kent 15.
Middlesex made 270 first time round, Paul Weekes scoring 62, and Kent reached 98 for 2 at the close. Kent reached 365 for 7, with Neil Dexter bringing up his hundred shortly before the umpires brought play to a premature close as rain added to the general unpleasantness.
Essex play Middlesex in pre-season friendly
Posted on 04/12/2006 in Essex
Essex play Middlesex in a 50-over pre-season friendly at the County Ground on Thursday, April 13. Play starts at 11.00am and admission is free.
Middlesex finally land Silverwood
Posted on 04/12/2006 in Middlesex
Middlesex have finally completed the signing Chris Silverwood after Yorkshire agreed to release him. Silverwood, 30, has signed a two-year deal.
A Yorkshire statement confirmed they had agreed to release him "by mutual consent".
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