Middlesex head to Radlett Cricket Club's Brunton Memorial Ground today, to play hosts to a Kent side, who until yesterday, like Middlesex, had yet to record their first win in the Royal London One Day Cup competition this term.
With both sides suffering wash outs in their opening fixtures, then following up with losses in their next outings, Kent's skipper Sam Northeast will have been mightily relieved to have got their campaign up and running yesterday with a win against Hampshire in Canterbury. Eoin Morgan will be hoping that a return to Cobden Hill, a ground where the Seaxes have tasted success in the List-A format before, will bring a similar change in fortune for his Middlesex charges.
Middlesex head into the clash on the back of defeat in a low scoring encounter at Stanley Park, Blackpool, where, on a sub-standard pitch that offered plenty early on for the bowlers, Middlesex's fate was all but sealed the minute that Lancashire won the toss and stuck them in. Recovering well from 83 for 7 to post a total of 161 will have offered plenty of encouragement to Middlesex, as will the fact that on a track where batting became easier as the game wore on, they bowled well to restrict Lancashire in their run chase, with the home side narrowly reaching their target with only two wickets left standing and with just two overs to spare.
Whilst also suffering defeat in their second encounter, against Glamorgan at the SWALEC, Kent turned things around yesterday, when knocks of 80 not out from Daniel Bell-Drummond and 78 from former Middlesex man Joe Denly steered the Spitfires to a comfortable five wicket victory.
With Bell-Drummond and Denly coming straight into this game with big half centuries under their belts, and skipper Northeast, the impressive Sam Billings, and the seasoned Darren Stevens all scoring big against Glamorgan earlier this week, Kent look to be bringing their impressive T20 Blast batting form into the fifty over competition. With Robson, Malan, Compton and Morgan expected to fill the Middlesex top order, at a small Cobden Hill ground at Radlett today, there's every chance a run-fest could be on the cards.
Middlesex do however head into the game without influential Irish powerhouse, Paul Stirling, who has struggled to shake off an injury picked up on international duty with Ireland, although whilst Steven Finn is also absent with England, terrorising the Australian batsmen, the Seaxes are buoyed by the impressive start to his Middlesex career by new Pakistani overseas signing Junain Khan, who shone on debut at Blackpool, returning figures of 3 for 32 from his allotted ten overs.
On a day which looks blessed with a favourable forecast of sun, sun and more sun, fans could well be in for a real treat at Cobden Hill, Radlett today, in a match which start at 11.30am.
Injury Update
Paul Stirling: Paul sustained a calf strain whilst away playing for Ireland and was unfit on his return to Middlesex. He is undergoing a scan today in order to assess the injury further.
Tom Helm: Tom is progressing extremely well in his recovery to his stress fracture and will make a return to cricket next week for the second eleven against the MCC YCs.
Middlesex Squad
Middlesex have named the following 14-man squad to play against Kent Spitfires at Radlett CC:
Eoin Morgan (c), Nick Compton, Neil Dexter, James Franklin, Nick Gubbins, James Harris, Junaid Khan, Dawid Malan, Ravi Patel, Ollie Rayner, Sam Robson, Toby Roland-Jones, Gurjit Sandhu, John Simpson.
Match & Ticket Information
Gates open at 10am and the match is due to start at 11.30am, so why not come and join us for a great day of cricket with friends and family.
All Middlesex members get free entry to this match on production of your membership card.
General admission tickets can no longer be bought in advance but are still available to buy on the gate on the day and cost £20 for adults, £10 for over 65s and £5 for under 16s.
How to get to Radlett Cricket Club
Car: From the north: Leave the A1/A1M at junction 23 and join the M25 travelling West towards Heathrow. Leave the M25 at junction 22 and take the B556 towards Radlett for a mile to a T junction with the A5183. Follow this all the way into Radlett and as you leave the village you will see the Cat & Fiddle pub on your right and the turning for the public Car Park which will be signposted is about 300 yards past the pedestrian entrance to Radlett CC on the left.
From the West: Leave the M25 at junction 21a and take the A405 to St Albans until you reach the Park Street roundabout and take the right hand/third exit, the A5183, to Radlett. Then follow the directions as detailed in “from the north”.
From the East: Leave M25 at junction 22 and follow the directions as stated in “from the north”.
From the South: Depending on how far south you are: Either use the M25 and directions as directed above from the east or west; or take the A5 Edgware Road going north to the roundabout with the A41 going straight on towards Elstree and join the A5183 towards Radlett. Follow Watling Street (A5183) until you see the signposts for the public Car Park which will be on your right.
Train: Radlett Train Station (First Capital Connect) 0.7 miles - 0845 026 4700.
Radlett CC is approximately a 15 minute walk through the town. Once you leave the village you will see the Cat & Fiddle pub and the pedestrian entrance to Radlett CC is about 50 yards past the pub on your left. There is a brown signpost on the right indicating the turning point to the cricket club and Tabard Rugby Club.
Parking
If you are driving to the match, parking will be available during Middlesex's match in the field adjacent to the Ground, and can be accessed via Watling Street (A5183). Parking costs £5 for non-members & £3 for Middlesex members.
If you are travelling by public transport please plan your journey in advance and check the TFL website for any planned disruptions or closures.
Food & Drink
Alcohol is permitted to be brought into the ground for this match but must not exceed four cans or one 75cl bottle of wine and if you wish you can bring in your own food!
There will also be a number of food outlets and bars around the ground where you can purchase a variety of food as well as alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING CASH!
The Radlett Clubhouse is available to Middlesex & Radlett Members only (no guests).
Need help at the Ground?
If you need any help at the ground on the day, why not visit the Middlesex gazebo. Please come and ask us any questions you may have. Alternatively, there will be plenty of stewards around the ground who will be happy to help you.
