It's all down to him

By London Leprechaun
September 16 2014

London Leprechaun reports on a hugley disappointing day for Middlesex when nothing went our way and we contributed to our downfall at the end. Some swans provide a nice distraction but nothing can hide that this day is nto a good sign for the last week.  Read on if you dare.

I’m  starting this report at Taunton station having left with Middlesex at 9-1.  The short walk to the station has us at 11-4.  I am not sure how and when I will end this!

The morning had started with an imperative – to get four wickets in just 14 overs for precious bowling points.  With no pressure on the over rate for once there is no reason not to hope for the seam bowlers to take advantage of morning hazy cloud and a still green looking wicket.  As long as we catch our catches.

Sadly the green looking wicket looks benevolent, our bowlers lack a yard of pace and we still can’t catch our catches.  Also with wickets a priority field placings seem overtly defensive.  Edges go through vacant slip positions AGAIN.  And a sixth precious wicket looks less and less likely as Hildreth and Trego are in no trouble at all.  Murts looks increasingly tired and tries to buy wickets with short deliveries.  Trego  in particular says thank you very much and a glut of boundaries in two overs, mens that the only bonus point gained by the end of the 110 overs is Somerset getting to 300.

Local attention turns to Hildreth and whether he will get his first 100 of the season.  HE is looking a bit nervous and skies a shot – which yet again results in a dropped catch.   An edgy shot is well stopped by Robbo before he beats a run saving field to get his 100.

Ollie Rayner  is bowling at one end without any luck at all. Edges go through slips legs, hands between the wicketkeeper and slip and in the end first slip is so fine they are virtually behind Simmo.  Doesn’t get a wicket though.

It takes the part timers – Malan and Denly to get any wickets at all.  Malan’s first ball – a rubbish long hop is driven by Trego straight to Morgan who actually holds a catch.  He is cross with a century for the taking, But it is no breakthrough.  The wicket, the atmosphere, the ball are doing nothing. Somerset are strolling and nothing goes Middlesex way.  Balls bobble on the outfield to confuse fielders, heartfelt appeals go nowhere and the absence of Steve Finn is being deeply felt.

At one point an errant ball seems to dislocate Chris Rogers finger. He strolls off, calling for the physio and asks him to put the finger back by the side of the pitch.  You can feel the stretch and the ouch from the other side of the ground.  He wants to come back on straight away but seems to be persuaded to at least go and take some painkillers.  Kind of sums up that this is not our day, though you can’t fault the spirit.  Though generally there is something of an air of resignation about the way things are going.  Apart from Ollie who looks increasingly frustrated as nothing goes for him,

Our only hope is that the wicket is turning into an old style Taunton road, especially as the follow on target is getting increasingly high.  The key will be just bat as long as possible and get as many points as possible.  And hope for rain on Thursday as radio Kevin keeps predicting.

They were being well coached

In afternoon sun there is a also a nice distraction from the troubles with a family of young swans on the river learning to fly, carefully being coached by their parents.  Which leads by a stream of consciousness to wonder about our coaching staff – batting, bowling and crucially fielding.  Penny for their thoughts.

Eventually wickets fall: Hildreth for a huge 180, Overton for a breezy 60 odd and then the declaration at tea.

And then it is clear that the wicket is not the old style Taunton wicket.  The Somerset fielders are clearly standing further forward then ours where and it only takes the second over for a ball to take Roger’s edge and just carry to Hildreth.  That is my cue to leave.  The walk to the exit accounts for Robson, across the bridge is Malan’s fall and Joe Denny is out on the approach to the station.  I start to write this and so far nothing more has happened.  There are some pessimistic tweets being read on the radio.  The train is approaching now so this report is temporarily suspended. At 35/4.  Is that recovery?

Radio reception on the train is patchy to say the least and First Great Western have not entered the wifi age so I am not sure what I am being spared until we get radio back.  Meanwhile reading a john Gresham novel is much less stressful.

Somewhere between Hungerford and Newbury the radio returns enough for the last two overs.  It is hugely disappointing to hear that the last over is being bowled to TRJ, and even more so that Simmo and Rayner were out to poor shots.  Especially as one was to Myburgh bowling overs for the injured Overton.  Much as you don’t wish injury on anyone it is not in the script to get out to a sub bowler. This is not a good sign mentally for tomorrow or even next week. Much now depends on Eion Morgan who sounds like he is standing firm. Stay with him someone.

Don’t think there is much more to say really.  Tomorrow could be a very long day; just hope it is not a very short one.  And I am glad I will have the distraction of a work meeting in the morning,