I imagine that everyone participating in or attending this match will give Paul Collingwood an excellent and deserved ovation.
Durham will also be saying goodbye to director of cricket Geoff Cook.
Middlesex will enter this match having won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six County Championship matches, so a win would take us into the winter feeling a bit happier about our season compared to what seemed likely earlier in the season. However, a defeat would take a bit of gloss off our resurgence under Richard Johnson and would leave us at risk of finishing behind Leicestershire and/or Derbyshire.
If we keep our over-rate in check, it would be the first time since 2013 that we would have avoided a points deduction!
The stunning bowling performance which Leicestershire this week inflicted on Durham was largely attributable to Mohammad Abbas, whose match figures of 18.3-6-52-10 caused Durham to be bowled out for 61 and 66, which was their two lowest totals in first-class cricket. However, I am not sure how much scope there is for our bowlers to attempt to do something similar by bowling in this match like Abbas did this week, as that performance came at Grace Road in unique conditions.
I wouldn’t have thought we will be keen to make many changes from our win v Derbyshire at Lord’s. It would be nice if Robbie White could do well in this match.