At 126-4, it should have been a stroll - and for most sides, it would have been. But like I say, Middlesex know how to lose. We've been there.
Phew! That was close to calamity to losing that 100% of losing so far this season. That is 11 straight losses in this competition. Someone's head needs to roll and I suspect it should be those runnng the club rather than the coaches themselves. It is a club that must have on its doorstep an unlimited pool of talent. \There is a huge Asian population on its doorstep in Hounslow and Isleworth. Where are the players from this community? Many years ago, Middlesex regularly played 5 players with an Afro-Caribbean heritage. Where are these players now? Somehing is amiss in the club's recruitment policy.
An excellent result, took the wickets near the end and Middlesex couldn't get the end of Currie's over away or Ellis. Crane was subbing for Weatherley all innings, I wonder what's up with him. He batted poorly today but we're already without Prest. Still got Gubbins who could do a job I suppose.
So England go with Moeen who hasn't played first class cricket in 2 years. Absurd - he turned his back on England so he shouldn't have been asked to come back. Hope the Aussies tank him all over the park.
That's a bit harsh on someone who was honest about his mental inability to get focused and prepared for a test match. Things change in a couple of years and maybe now he's in the right head space. Good luck to him I say, I hope he has a blinder and shows other people struggling mentally that you can turn things around.
I've got nothing against Moeen and I don't really blame him for accepting the call. I just think that call really should not have come at all. I think it sends out completely the wrong message to those who play CC week in, week out. If he had played some red ball cricket this season then maybe I could understand it. But he's binned it off, same as Rashid did and he hasn't been considered for test cricket since. It smacks of double standards by the ECB (not Stokes or McCullum as they weren't captain and coach at the time).
There could be consequences from this decision to bring back Moeen. Moeen Ali's potential Ashes call-up causing resentment among England's fringe players | Daily Mail Online Players like Jacks are not going to wait around for England when there are lucrative franchise contracts up for grabs.
Wish Moeen all the luck in the world…would do for any England player facing the Aussies. Can’t imagine any logical reason not to as he didn’t regain his place by subterfuge or blackmail…he was asked and said yes.
I might have gone livingstone myself. Partly selfish to keep Dawson here but I like the fact he can bowl 2 types of spin.
England desperately need a spinner of the calibre of Swann. Nathan Lyon could be the difference between the two teams.
Ah, just heard Kevan James' explanation, Prest with a broken foot so will be out for a while I'd have thought, and Fuller's got a slight niggle so probably being saved for the Championship match starting on Sunday