Middlesex’s title win was so exciting because it really mattered and that must not be diminished by another T20 competitionSuddenly county cricket is sexy. The melodrama of the last round of matches was agony for the committed, fascinating for the neutral and it even captured a fresh audience, which will please everyone at the England and Wales Cricket Board since they keep stressing this goal (rather than their eagerness to generate some more quick cash). Taken in isolation the Middlesex-Yorkshire match at Lord’s was often a turgid affair on a dull surface. Yet it was mesmerising as the visitors eked out the last few runs to take them to 350; before Nick Gubbins rose to the occasion as impressively as...
Ryan Sidebottom’s thrift at one end allowed Jack Brooks to cut loose at the other but the champions could rue some poor fielding against MiddlesexLate September, the very butt end of the season. In London it was a soupy sort of day, the sky a uniform grey and the atmosphere, in the morning at least, still thick with the lingering humidity of last week’s Indian summer, leaving the city’s commuters facing the dilemma of whether or not to pack an umbrella. If this morning was meant for anything, it was bowling first. Related: Middlesex rally against sloppy Yorkshire as Nick Gubbins hits unbeaten 120 Continue reading...
Middlesex, Yorkshire and Somerset all have title hopes in the tightest race for years and it may yet be one decided on bonus pointsForty-eight years ago, your correspondent was at the non-striker’s end when Surrey’s Arnold Long edged a ball from the seamer Tony Nicholson to Long’s opposite number, Jimmy Binks, standing up to the stumps, to complete a hat-trick of County Championship titles for Yorkshire. Since then, seven other counties have tried to emulate the feat and fallen short (Middlesex, who won in 1976 and tied in 1977; Essex, champions in 1983 and 1984 and again in 1991 and 92; Worcestershire, 1988 and 89; Warwickshire, 1994 and 95; Surrey, 2002 and 03; Sussex, 2006 and 07; and Durham 2008...