At long last a break from the accursed T20 that interrupts our domestic season. Some people like T20. I don't, or more accurately I don't like what's been done with it. Next year it's going to be cut back, which in one way is a good thing, but on its own I don't think that's going to be enough to bring the crowds back that have been driven away by overkill. I favour spreading T20 fixtures over the season. Opponents of this idea suggest that it would discourage overseas freelancers from signing up and cashing in. I say “Good!”  

What's the point of counties attracting big crowds if the lion's share of the takings is going to be gobbled up by overpaid superstars who have chosen the soft option of  easy money in T20 over the hard yards demanded by an international or first class career? Personally I don't believe that in most cases T20 crowds are there primarily to see these players who all-too-often in practice contribute very little to the teams' drive for success. Let's send teams to the Champions League who can actually compete in it with the players who got them there, instead of teams that have qualified using expensive ringers who will play for their IPL franchises instead. Let's get away from the idea that T20 is a goldmine that's “The Future of Cricket,” and start treating it for what it is – or could be if it was managed properly – a fun format that can sustainably bring in much needed revenue to English  county cricket.  

Anyway, you'll be pleased to hear that my rant is over.  

My plan for getting to The Second Home of Cricket was to get the train from Bristol Temple Meads to West Drayton and the bus from there. My Blackberry app told me to change at Didcot Parkway, which is a much nicer place to change trains than Reading. At least it is on a hot, sunny summer's morning, anyway. 

On arrival at Didcot, I crossed over to the platform from where my onward train was due to leave, only for a late running fast Oxford to Paddington HST to pull in and not move for 5 minutes. Suddenly, passengers began streaming off it. The announcement was that there was a track circuit failure preventing the train from moving. Realising the implications of this for my own train I dashed back to my previous platform and jumped on the next London-bound train, changing at Reading. There I was able to catch the very train I should have caught from Didcot, but due to the track circuit failure had been diverted via an avoiding line to miss out its Didcot stop. 

Better then Reading

Despite the messing about, I therefore managed to arrive at West Drayton on time, where a 222 bus to Uxbridge was boarding. 

On arrival I learned that Gloucestershire had won the toss and opted to bat. Not good news considering the clear skies and sweltering temperatures. Further bad news came from a look at the team sheet, with Toby Roland-Jones' name absent from it. However even without him and other notables, it still looked like a strong line-up, which speaks volumes for our bench strength. 

Gloucestershire got off to a brisk start, although to those present for the hit-and-giggle yesterday, it must have seen positively pedestrian. The pitch looked benign and there seemed to be little help from the atmospheric conditions for either Colly or Murts. Hamish Marshall was looking particularly comfortable, and that didn't change even when the introduction of Ireland and Crook into the attack did at least succeed in slowing the run rate. 

It was very much against the run of play therefore when Marshall (31) flashed hard outside the off-stump to Crook, but not hard enough to beat Dex who took a brilliant catch at 3rd slip. 

Two balls later, Kane Williamson followed, as Crook took his off-bail. From 52/0 and cruising to 52/2. Barmy Kev made a comment along the lines that “Kane wasn't able.” I wasn't going to mention this until I realised that I could retaliate by pointing out that Crook had just stolen the limelight. It could have been even better had an inside edge by Taylor off the last ball of the over not just missed  leg stump and reached the boundary rope. 

Had Strauss not missed the most straightforward of chances at first slip when Dent (on 28 at the time) nibbled at one from Murts outside off-stump, Middlesex would have gone into lunch in the box seat instead of what looked to be just about level-pegging given the apparently docile pitch. As it was, Gloucestershire would probably have been satisfied with their 109/2, Dent on 49, Taylor on 26. 

Resuming after lunch in conditions of hazy sunshine and oppressive heat and humidity more akin to the subcontinent than our own green and pleasant land, Dent brought up his 50 with a pull to the mid-wicket boundary off Colly. 

Simmo behind the stumps appeared to shell a chance from Dent, once again off Murts, but even if it was indeed a chance it didn't prove costly, since Colly pinned him LBW in the very next over without him adding to the 61 he had already scored. 

138/3, and it was soon 156/4, as Taylor (52) became Crook's 3rd victim, caught behind immediately after bringing up his 50. 

As cloud cover increased and dark predictions of imminent torrential rain were made, Murts accounted for Coughtrie (17), also caught behind. 183/5, and Middlesex were now in an excellent position. 

However Cockbain and Will Gidman were in no mood to roll over and let Middlesex have their way. They finished the session on 227/5 on 27 and 25 respectively. Still, the session had been a useful one for The Middle. 

During the tea interval, Gloucestershire fan and Hackney resident Hazel generously provided the thirsty MTWD contingent with some excellent and quite potent-tasting liquid refreshment in the form of home made elderflower bubbly. The elderflowers were apparently genuine Middlesex ones gathered from The Hackney Marshes. You could certainly taste the quality. It was exactly what was needed in these sticky conditions. 

Cheers Hackneyshire

Whether some had found its way into the Gloucestershire dressing room I don't know, but Cockbain and Gidman's impressive partnership continued as the threat of thunderstorms predicted earlier in the day failed to materialise. 

Cockbain hit Tommy Smith into the press tent for 6, followed 2 balls later by a 4 through mid wicket to bring up his half century. 

Off Smith's next over, Gidman also got in on the act, clearing the rope at mid wicket.  

For the first time Gloucestershire were forcing Middlesex onto the back foot, as shown by the rare false shot which brought up Gidman's 50 off Dex's bowling, which sailed through the vacant second slip area. 

His luck wasn't to hold though, as a thinner edge off the Middlesex skipper was pouched by Simmo without him adding to his 52. It was a vital wicket, ending a partnership which had taken Gloucestershire from a position of some concern at 183/5 to one of relative dominance at 295/6. 

Cockbain continued unfazed, clobbering the hapless Smith for another 6 over square leg. It was a tough reintroduction to the County Championship for Smith, with first day Uxbridge pitches rarely offering much help for spinners, and this one being no exception. With Anthony Ireland suffering from cramp, his workload was bigger than it otherwise might have been, too. 

At 311/6 off 81 overs the new ball was introduced, but it took a while before Colly – who had bowled well without much luck – finally made the breakthrough, with Taylor (10) being superbly snapped up by the diving Crook in the gully. It really was an excellent take. 330/7. 

This brought the aggressive Jon Lewis to the crease though, who was keen on playing his shots, including an extraordinary cut for 6 off Crook. 

The streaky edge to the boundary through the vacant 3rd slip area that brought up Cockbain's well-deserved maiden first class century was the nearest we could remember to him offering a chance. Without his contribution, his team would almost certainly have been bundled out for a below-par score. 

Instead of that, 368/7 with he on 103 and the dangerous Jon Lewis on 25 at the crease, Gloucestershire have every reason to be pleased with their day's work. The general consensus though is that  on this pitch they should need to score 400+, so there's still a lot of work for them to do, and plenty of hope for us. Early wickets tomorrow could change the balance of power very quickly indeed, but we can't afford to let them stick around for long.