By Jeremy Horne
August 15 2003

Middlesex have made the announcement of 5 new caps, including one of yesterdays heroes, Simon Cook. The other lucky men were Ben Hutton, Chad Keegan, Joe Dawes and Ashley Noffke.

Middlesex have awarded some of the season's best performers and most improved players county caps. Below are the proud moments for the five men and a little about their progress this year.

SIMON COOK: Had a bad start to the season after some inaccurate bowling in the one-day games especially and after some experimentation with the bowling, he took up a regular place in the attack again. More recently, he has taken many important Championship wickets, bowled tight spells in the NCL, scored a one-day career best of 67 not out against Durham on Sunday and hit a crucial 65 to aid the recovery against Kent yesterday.

JOE DAWES: Only joined as cover for Abdur Razzaq at the beginning of the year, but has impressed with the ball many times and has returned to the squad to replace both Razzaq and Noffke when absent. He has also helped with coaching the younger bowlers and boasts an impressive record that has only seen us lose one game in his presence.

BEN HUTTON: After starting the season at Number 8, he was eventually put in his rightful position at number 4, where he made 2 centuries in two games against Essex and Sorry aswell as a handful of important half-centuries.

CHAD KEEGAN: By far the most improved player of the year, after becoming instrumental in the championship side, a form of the game he has struggled with in past seasons. He has also shown great improvement with the bat that has seen him add crucial runs in the championship aswell as score a temporary promotion to number 3 in the one-day squad.

ASHLEY NOFFKE: Not been as prolific as last season, with only one five-for to his name, but has ofden bowled well without any luck.

We would like to congratulate all five players and hope that they continue to show their immense ability for Middlesex in many seasons to come.

And finally, one more interesting point- with Noffke and Dawes both being capped so late in the season this could well be a big indication on next years overseas players. What do you all reckon?