Having locked horns on Friday evening at Uxbridge Sports Club in the NatWest T20 Blast, Middlesex and Hampshire go head to head again on Sunday for what it the second of three matches against each other in just two weeks, across different formats, at three different out-grounds, when Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood hosts Middlesex’s latest Specsavers County Championship Division One clash.
Whilst Middlesex took the honours at Uxbridge in the first of the three clashes, it will have little bearing on what unfolds at Merchant Taylors’ School given the change in format.
At Lord’s last week, almost 50 overs were lost to bad light and rain, as Middlesex were once again left to settle for the frustration of a draw, having fought their way into a position of strength against Somerset at the Home of Cricket. This resulted in the game ending in a draw – Middlesex’s sixth such consecutive result in this year’s campaign.
With Middlesex already suffering over seven lost days of cricket to the weather, of twenty-four possible days’ cricket, this is fast becoming one of the most frustratingly inclement starts to many a Championship campaign.
Whilst Middlesex are yet to taste victory, their consistent run of draws does see them sit within a group of only three sides who remain unbeaten this term in the top flight. Adam Voges and his side will however be keen to swing the balance in their favour again against Hampshire and push home that first elusive red ball win of 2016. Hampshire themselves, in contrast, have now tasted all three results to date in the Championship.
Having drawn three and lost one of their opening four encounters, they then landed their own first win in the last round of matches, when defeating Nottinghamshire by 69 runs in a tight encounter at the Ageas Bowl.
The win took them off the bottom of the Division One table and ahead of Surrey, who now sit at the fot og the table having themselves suffered a humiliating loss, inside three days, to Lancashire at Old Trafford.
With Middlesex sitting right in mid-table on 62 points, just 23 points off the top, yet only 11 ahead of Hampshire, who sit in eight, there’s little to separate the top from the bottom of the Division One table, so a much needed win for Middlesex at Merchant Taylors’ over the next four days will put the Seaxes right back in the mix at the top of the table.
Middlesex are pleased to announce the following 14-man squad for the Specsavers County Championship match, starting tomorrow, Sunday 29 May against Hampshire at Merchant Taylorbs' School:
Adam Voges (c), Stephen Eskinazi, James Franklin, James Fuller, Nick Gubbins, James Harris, Dawid Malan, Tim Murtagh, Ravi Patel, Ollie Rayner, Sam Robson, Toby Roland-Jones, John Simpson, Paul Stirling.
Gates open at 10am with play due to start at 11am.
Tickets can be bought on the gates on the day and cost £15 for adults, £10 for over 65s and £5 for under £16s.
Car parking is available and coat £3 for Middlesex members and £5 for non-members. For details on how to get to the ground CLICK HERE
