By Dave Buxton
March 15 2003

Today's the start of our opposition preview. Between now & the start of the season, we’ll be looking at Essex’s oppo' in both league formats, the star man to look out for & Scimitars prediction of where they’ll finish. We start with our rivals from NW8, Middlesex. Read on for our verdict....

Opposition - Middlesex

Middlesex were also promoted last season along with us, finishing 2nd in Division 2 and will like us think they are back where they belong amongst the game’s elite. The question is, can they stay there?

The main aim this season is consolidation for the ‘sex. Since the great intervention of two divisions, 4 of 6 teams that have been promoted from division 2 have gone straight back down the next season and the Lord’s based team won’t want to follow the same way.

For a team who, like Essex, had so many triumphs in the 80’s/early 90’s they have had to rebuild with some talented youngsters and there will be a lot on their shoulders this season.

None more so than Ed Joyce. The talented Irish batsman has been likened to David Gower with his finesse and shot selection. Last season he was the highest run scorer for the seaxes, with 1166 runs at exactly an average of 53, with a best of 129. This was one of four tons for Joyce last year and you feel he’ll have to produce those figures again to give Middlesex a chance.

Middlesex have no 'household' names, but are a team unit. Led by Andrew Strauss, he’s showed he’s an excellent up and coming captain in his first season (apart from events at Southgate!) and he’ll have to learn fast in division 1 against much stronger opposition. His opening partnership with South African Sven Koenig is vital and they’ll need to reproduce their big opening stands of last season to give them the perfect platform for big totals, which set them up so many times last term.

Along with Owais Shah, Paul Weekes, Ben Hutton and keeper David Nash, the batting looks strong and should set up many big scores again and for me, they'll have to, because their bowling looks a problem.

Aussie overseas fast bowler Ashley Noffke bagged 45 wickets last term and coped well after the retirement of legend Angus Fraser. He’ll need to repeat the same this term. Thereafter though, the bowling looks very lightweight.

Middlesex’s second overseas player is Abdul Razzaq, but didn’t really settle in in 2002 and has been out of form for Pakistan for some time. Simon Cook on his day can be a handful, but more often than not pitches too full or short and hasn’t really taken on the mantle left by Fraser yet. Tim Bloomfield is having injury problems and his participation in 2003 is very doubtful. Aaron Laraman has been sold to Somerset and fellow youngster Chad Keegan (another aptly named player) is also enthusiastically wayward. Former Gloucestershire youngster Ben Gannon has been signed (the only non-overseas signing), but is unproven and they need a bit more firepower in their seam bowling to be able to bowl sides out twice.

The Cat, Phil Tufnell, is still going strong though with 45 wickets last year and he is vital. But, it looks like Middlesex will rely on the great man too much.

The key for the Lord’s side is that they won’t have to worry about England call-ups (you would think) during the season, except perhaps Owais Shah, so they will be able to keep a settled side together. However, they’re a side that Essex should finish above again.

When Essex went up two years ago with a young side, they paid the price of not making any signings and this ultimately cost them. Although the batting looks strong, I fear Middlesex’s lack of quality strike bowlers and signings might be their downfall.

SCIMITARS PREDICTION: Flirting with relegation, but just hold their own and survive-bowling must fire though.

ONE TO WATCH: Ed Joyce. Fine batsman with a good future ahead of him, now he‘s playing against the best.

WHEN WE MEET: Fri 18-Mon 21 April in Championship at Chelmsford
                        Wed 4-Sat 7 June in Championship at Lord’s
A big local derby to start the season off and then another meeting in early June and two games Essex must win or at least avoid defeat in.

MIDDLESEX SPORTNETWORK SITE: Unofficial Middlesex CCC

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Date: 13/3/03

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