Middlesex CCC
Essex Was Robbo'd by Middlesex
Sam's Day
By Dingy Bags
August 12 2009
Dingy Bags tells us all about a slightly strange day at HQ. A few laugh out loud thoughts. A few quirks. And lots of good detail on the day. Reading this excellent report made me, for one, almost feel as though I had been there. Hold on...... Many thanks, Dingy Bags.
At least three mysteries at Lord’s today: 1) Is Udal unfit or did he drop himself/get dropped? 2) Why, oh why did Pettini put us in? 3) Why did Scott appear, albeit briefly, at no 6?
Arrived to see the squad engaged in a game of football, before three of them went down with back spasms. The Manchester United scout watching made copious notes. Next to the Long Room where MCC stewards were engaging in much nodding and winking as regards the make up of the side. A very grim-faced Shaggy came in as, almost at once, Morgan went out to toss. Perhaps the captain’s knee had swollen up again. Or perhaps not.
Next surprise, we were inserted. The clouds were already breaking up, so the warm morning wasn’t a factor. Obviously, the idea was to protect Bopara. Anyway, hot sunshine all day and only six wickets. Most likely, Pettini fancied a go at our brittle batting order. Ten runs came off the first over and only 101 off the next 46 – it was that kind of day. Those ten runs were from Masters, who went to lunch having bowled 11 overs for 19 runs. You do the sums.
Compo started fluently and ran well (in fact, Middx ran well all day, something of an improvement on the first day at Canters). It was a real surprise when he slapped Napier's second delivery, a rank long hop, to Bopara at extra cover. Ace soon played across a straight one and a familiar pattern was starting to emerge. Anyone who was at Derby and saw Morgan get out, caught down the leg side, got a repeat immediately after lunch and we were 64-3, with Pettini looking like a graduate of the Brearley school of captaincy.
Pace, Bounce, Bulk and Three Wickets
A word here about the Essex side. The game at Chelmsford revealed to me what a liability Kaneria is in the field and I though it was he chasing the first shot, from the first ball of the day. Actually it was Napier, who has looked fitter. The difference was confirmed from the second ball, when Kaneria turned a single into a three. But, along with Walker, who has always ‘carried some timber’, Maunders has put on a lot of weight and it was surprising to see the Essex skipper so slow across the turf. Amusing race of the day was Walker and Maunders, after a thick edge towards the Middlesex Room. I reckon we gained 15-20 runs today, from poor fielding. Let’s hope it’s crucial.
Ten Doeschate seemed to hurt himself badly down by the Tavern but recovered. I was interested to see whether Middlesex were going to refuse Essex a substitute, given events last season. Can you do that?
Morgan had looked chronically out of form and Malan likewise. The latter had a life at 4, dropped at second slip (a hard chance) by Cook. I am glad England released him. But gradually, Malan found his touch and was accelerating nicely when he was finally dismissed, at slip off the leggie. All this time Sam Robson was accumulating runs. They bowled short to him, sometimes with two men out; he never hooked. They packed the offside and bowled wide of off stump; he wasn’t interested. Masters might have impressively economical figures but he wasted a lot of effort today. I have no problem with Sam batting like this: we have needed someone to do this for years. No doubt, he will become more fluent with experience. Today, he held things together, until Malan found his touch and began to catch him up.
After Malan was out, third big surprise, Ben Scott appeared at no 6. And was lbw in the same over as Malan was dismissed. Thankfully, Auntie Janet was not in her usual place to witness this sad turn of events.
At tea, I had a chat with a former contributor to this site. I will not name him but suffice it to say that he managed his one thousand arguments before the end of May quite comfortably again this year.
The most fluent batting of the day came from the Ice Man, looking as in form as Morgan and Malan looked out of it. Despite doing (I think) a groin – Scott re-emerged as runner – he raced along to 43 at stumps. It was a shame that Willey gave Robson out late on, to a highish lbw, because he deserved to get the confidence that would have come with batting through a whole day, as well as maiden ton. He showed application, concentration and patience, qualities we do not have in abundance.
Honours about even on a docile pitch, I’d say, though Pettini presumably hoped for more than 6 wickets when he put us in. It swung a bit and tomorrow afternoon might be a bit cloudier. We will be glad we have Richo as third seamer, given Berg’s state of fitness. But first we want some more runs.
Happy watching to anyone going tomorrow. I will probably return on Thursday.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:15:17:52:09 by Ged.
Nice report.
I had to wait in for a parcel (which they forgot to re-send!)
I was also exhausted after having my friend's 18 month old grandson all day Monday!
I was told by his mother that I could take him to cicket, but he's so active I would not have seen much cricket as I'd have been running after him all the time
Compare this report to mine on the first day of the Surrey match.
Quote:I was interested to see whether Middlesex were going to refuse Essex a substitute, given events last season. Can you do that?
Sorry I keep asking annoying questions but I'm still relatively new to following county cricket... what happened last season? Thanks
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:12:11:17:46 by Wish_we_still_had_Styris.
Last year at Chelmsford, Pettini did not allow Middlesex this. I think Middlesex have allowed it to someone else this season.
At Edgbaston, England let Manou sub for Haddin, though the injury happened after the toss, thus counting as during the match) and they were entitled not to (though a sub fielder would have been allowed). I thought then "good thing Pettini wasn't skipper".
At Headingley, Prior was injured before the toss, which Australia then allowed to be delayed to give time to check him out. Again, they didn't need to, but no doubt were mindful of what they had been permitted in the previous test.
So, what Mr Pettini did was within the rules, b ut not consistent with the old adages about doing as you would be done to, Mr Pettini, what goes around...
Adelaide
Quote:adelaide
So, what Mr Pettini did was within the rules, b ut not consistent with the old adages about doing as you would be done to, Mr Pettini, what goes around...
Even as an Essex fan, I couldn't agree more.
