The starting eleven contest is now closed.  The entries are now all in.  The contest asked people to predict Middlesex’s starting XI for its first County Championship match of 2007 before the end of 2006. 

 

It’s a simple question: who will take the field on 18 April 2007 in Taunton?  And what will the Middlesex batting line up be for the first innings of that match?

 

This is no small matter here at MTWD - the person who gets closest wins one of our famous small prizes.

 

Ged Ladd’s (i.e. my own) prediction was as follows:

 

Compton

Hutton

Shah

Smith (Capt)

Malan

Nash

Scott (Wkt)

Johnson

Kartik

Silverwood

Richardson

 

Others thought differently; some very differently.

 

Janet Davis, for example, is convinced that England will be evicted from the World Cup horribly early and thus predicts as follows:

1)       Andy Strauss

2)       Nick Compton

3)       Owais Shah

4)       Ed Smith (captain)

5)       Ed Joyce

6)       Jamie Dalrymple

7)       Ben Scott (w’ keeper)

8)       C Vaas

9)       M Kartik

10)   Chad Keegan

11)   Chris Silverwood

 

Whereas Barmy Kev predicts the following:

 

Ben Hutton,

Nick Compton,

Owais Shah

Ed Smith ( capt)

Eion Morgan

David Nash ( wk)

Tim Murtagh

Chad Keegan

Murali Kartik

Chris Silverwood

Alan Richardson

 

Comebackgatt thinks similarly to Kev:

 

Ben Hutton,

Nick Compton,

Owais Shah

Ed Smith ( capt)

Eion Morgan

Dawid Malan

David Nash ( wk)

Tim Murtagh

Chad Keegan

Kartik

Chris Silverwood

 

While Seaxe Man has found an interesting way of spelling Silverwood (no penalty there, Seaxe Man) and ahs as much respect for England’s ODI prospects as Janet

 

Joyce
Compton
Shah
Smith
Dalrymple
Nash
Vass
Johnson
Richardson
Sylverwood
Kartik

 

Dan Fox has come up with the following, including the audacious assumption that we are to sign Wagh:

 

Compton,

Wagh,

Shah,

Smith,

Morgan,

Hutton,

Nash,

Johnson,

Kartik,

Keegan,

Silverwood

 

 

Leon Winsky, after taking spelling lessons from Seaxe Man, suggests the following team:

 

COMPTON

HUTTON

SMITH     (CAP)

SHAH

GODDLEMAN

SCOTT    (WKT)

JOHNSON

KARTIK

SILVERWOOD

MURTAGH

RICHARDSON

 

 

Gareth Blake has come up with the following (similar thinking to Comebackgatt and Kev, but subtle differences in bowling attack):

 

Hutton
Compton
Shah
Smith (Captain)
Morgan
Malan
Nash (Wicket Keeper)
Kartik
Johnson
Silverwood
Richardson

 

 

Last and by all means least, an interloper from Surrey, Stewart Revie, suggests the following:

 

(1) janet

 (2) kev

 (3) muppets (any)

 (4) wombles (any)

 (5) pinky and perky

 (6) micky mouse (just like the team)

 (7) mr bean

 (8) bart simpson

 (9) steptoe

 (10) rolf harris

 (11) frank spencer

 

What a great wit you must be, Stewart – must have you over to the Ladd Mansion for dinner some time.  No room for Ged in your team?  Guess you’ll miss out on that fine meal, then.  What a pity.

 

So, eight contestants and one plonker it is.  We’re all waiting with baited breath.  Good luck everyone.