Top Table: Shaun Udal, Capt; Angus Fraser, Director of Cricket; Ian Lovett, Chairman; VInny Codrington Chief Exec.

Ian Lovett explained that the top table were not sitting on a raised platform to save money. MCC charge extra rent for this requirement. So the top table were at ground level with the members so to speak. Attendance approximately 50 members.

Question and Answer Session. Part 1.

Q1. John Fingleton - he queried the date of the meeting. Front page of official website did not contain Forum information. Did the management not want people to attend? Night before 4day game. Disappointed with lack of information.

A. Ian Lovett said the meeting was not deliberately planned to avoid a large attendance. Vinny also denied any tactical placement. Reason given: MCC had the facility booked on the days required by Middlesex. Monday was the only available date. It was pointed out that the dates of meetings, could be found under the 'membership section' and refer to 'social activities'. Ian Lovett noted that the questioner required the Forum date/time to be displayed on the front page of website shortly before the appropriate date. JF concurred but also felt that it should not be under ' social events' as he felt it was a business matter . Ian Lovett also stated that the next Forum would be on October the 14th and not as previously shown.

Q2. Why are we having a bad season? Yes, lots of players are missing: young players are inconsistent: overseas players of same age are more consistent eg Phil Hughes. Why?

A. Gus: English players mature later than their o/s equivalents. He had asked Peter Moores then the England coach, how he could help? Moores said, provide mature English players. There was no straightforward answer. Shaun: Asian players mature quicker due to culture - have to work harder - means more to them. Gus: making reference to Phil Hughes: he had had to work manually on his father's farm from a young age. Few English players have that experience.

Q3. Peter Moore. Said his point was more of a statement than a question. We are having an awful season! Strauss, Shah, Morgan with England - lost Smith/Joyce/Nannes. Not proactive in the Kolpak market - others are(Notts) - Tyron Henderson - our Kolpak player is not registered for 4day cricket. What will he do now? Presumably, P40 when that starts. What will he do in the interim?

A. Gus: he was not sure that we would lose Straussey during 50 over comp. However, events had dictated otherwise. As reagrds the Kolpak issue: where was the money to come from?: no money was sloshing around. Phil Hughes costs were covered by the premium Middlesex received from the IPL contracts for Tyron and Owais. Hughes was not expected to attend OZ boot camp when signed. So we lost him slightly earlier than planned. Hendo/Kartik came back from the IPL as soon as possible. Hendo now only to be used in P40. Shaun pointed out that as we don't own a ground, revenue raising is far more difficult for us.

Q4. Murray Goldstein: Was there a vote on the use/or not of Kolpak players?

A. Ian Lovett: he agreed that there had not been a formal vote on the subject- but felt that had been the mood in the club. We have suffered with player losses and so had Essex/Notts who had suffered the same, in not qualifying for the lucrative EPL Div 1 next year.  Kolpaks are reducing as contracts rundown. ( suspect EU players will replace them.SM). IL/GF planning for next year already. Peter Moores comment: might still go up and then be relegated. Assuring all that he was not being negative. Shaun at this point interjected by saying: he thought that we should have won Oval game: adding that it was still a great effort to chase down 182 in 25 overs, when to arrive at that point, only himself and Finny were fit to bowl after Murts injury. Leics - losing a session to the weather was crucial; and ditto at Essex, the weather chopping off a 100 overs.. FPT quarter also a disappointment. He (Shaggy) felt depressed studying the league table at breakfast each morning. However, mentioned that a couple of talented players had indicated that they would like to join The Middle, as they liked the look of what we are doing. IL: as a final comment mentioned that money will have to found to prevent the team becoming weaker.

Q5 Murray Goldstein: raised the question as to why with Strauss/Shah/Morgan missing in the 1st 20/20 game v Surrey, why Housego plus two rookie bowlers were included?

A. Gus: admitted we got that wrong. We went down the Danny Evans route. Berg would have been a better bet. Batters should be able to bat 30/40 balls in 20/20, so that an extra bowler can be included. Murray G: in response said. Robson should have played: and not be consigned to the dustcart. Further response from Gus: Godlemen/Compton better bet in 20/20 than Robbo- he had excelled in 50 over cricket not 20/20. 2nd team coach is asked for his recommendations, as to who is ready to be selected for the different game formats. He had suggested Robson was ready for 50/50. Final word from Murray Goldstein: poor judgement all round.

Q. Shirley: observed that we seem to have had more injuries this season despite a burgeoning support staff. To save money, why not trade one for another player?

A. Gus: did not think you could blame fitness staff for injuries to players. Tim Murtagh's injury was as a result of an innocent fall. Scheduled to return in July. Has played for Stanmore and is currently playing for 2nd's at Richmond v Kent. Danny Evans will return within two weeks from ankle injury. Robbie Williams has stress fracture of back. Thought to have been picked up playing for Durham UCCE. David Burton after showing good form at Bristol and in 20/20.  Has won a contract for the remainder of the season to provide cover. His club duties will be for Winchmore Hill. ( I spoke to him at player sponsors' do. SM). Steve Finn was doing ok. Silvers has struggled for wickets to date. Support staff as good as any other county. Injuries not fault of backroom staff. We have to match the opposition.

Q. Club stance on IPL? Players returned out of form.

A. Gus:  he stated the that wish list for any player - is to be playing international cricket, an IPL contract. For the club to resist these desires is not a positive. Likely to cause resentment and players to look elsewhere. ( agree very much with Gus on this one. SM). He (Gus) may have underestimated the comings and goings of players - dressing room like a revolving door- and it had not worked out.

Q. Peter Moore: Shah never played IPL - Morgan one game for England. Strauss not playing. Dave Burton had been great. Do we label players too much? Godleman 4day man - Morgan  1day etc.

A. Gus: we don't label players as such. No player in any dressing room considers that he cannot play all forms of the game.

Q. Attendances? these had been light at Lord's (20/20). should we be concerned over finances?

A. Vinny: yes we should. It costs a lot to stage 20/20 matches at Lord's. The WC 20/20 had had a big effect on our attendances at Lord's. Much less so for MCC/Notts/Surrey. He (Vinny) had written to the ECB to voice concerns, that Middlesex had been the most adversely affected club by the WC 20/20. It had had a major impact on our gates- gate receipts are a concern.

Q. Pakistan are to tour next year. There are to be 9 tests (in total) as Pakistan will play two neutral tests ( v Australia) here, due to security concerns  in Pakistan. Effects?

A. Vinny: MCC will bid for one of these neutral tests. So probably three in total at Lord's. On the MCC agreement front. He felt that they needed us but there were still issues on this. He also thought that Pakistan will play one of their Aussie test's at Lord's.

[......to be continued........]

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