By Barmy Kev
March 12 2023

5^th February a lunch was held at the Lord’s Pelham's to celebrate Middlesex's 160^th birthday.  The £35 cost for a ticket made this more affordable than previous high profile events and was happy to take Mrs Barmy. 

 It started with nonsense. Having arrived at North Gate with tickets in hand we were curtly instructed by the MCC police to walk round outside to gain entry rather than through ground.

Once we arrived at the event my mindset changed positively. It was great to be reacquainted with fellow Middlesex fans, I hadn’t seen for a while. The organisers recognised the names of past lapsed MTWDers and they surprisingly put us at the front. We are normally well hidden. There was a current player on each table and we had Martin Andersson. I was judicious with my comments about certain matches.

Gus opened with an upbeat message. He was most complimentary on Jonno and Alan Coleman’s effect on the team’s togetherness. He was confident about this coming season. . He did not use his favourite word for forums  “frustrated” once.

Mike O’Farrell was next up.   He stated the club are against any further marginalisation of red ball County Cricket, but we need to embrace T100 (apologies for my language). Despite interviewing seven candidates they have still not find a successor to him as our Chair. He said with conviction he is willing to stay in the interim until the right man is found. Perhaps I was giving visible over cynical vibes when he was talking about MCC relationship improving.

The first group of panellists for Q&A led by Gus were Clive Radley, John Emburey, Mike Selvey and Mike Gatting.   There was plenty of reminiscing.  When Gatts mentioned his need to be fit, it was met with much laughter. He recalled on a tour of Pakistan playing squash against World Junior Champion Jahangir Khan and the run around he received.  He recalled on debut for Middlesex he scored a duck, but improved thereafter. He recounted an innings in 1-day match against strong Hampshirebowling attack he batted with the tail needing 9 an over and achieved it, which in those days was an incredible feat. With Radders and Embers they described the B&H final win against Essex who were running away with it and many Middlesex fans left at tea. Somehow we managed to pull it round.  I was amused when Mike Selvey talked about when we won championship at the Oval, Radders saw us through to title with achieving a batting point. Him and AA Jones immediately went for Oval bar to celebrate. He was then told he had to bat and described his non-orthoxox shot play.  Gatting infamous reverse sweep came up on a few occasions,     

From current players we had Robbie White, Ryan Higgins, Jack Davies and Joe Cracknell. All spoke well with enthusiasm. Ryan expressed what was behind his move back here to his “first love”.  I like Joe Cracknell comment with franchise cricket winning is not the be all and end all, while playing for a County team spirit comes across strongly in victory and defeat.

After the speeches finished, there was more mingling and positive thinking.  On leaving we cheerfuly followed the MCC directive of exiting via the Grace Gates feeling upbeat.