During the lunch interval today, on day two of Middlesex's LV= Insurance County Championship match against Worcestershire, both Steven Finn and James Harris were joined on the outfield in front of the Lord's Pavilion by their teammates, support staff, Club staff and members of the Club's Board, for a presentation to acknowledge their outstanding careers with the Club.
Chairman Mike O'Farrell and President Mike Selvey presented both players with a framed collage of their most memorable moments as Middlesex players, ahead of Finn's departure to Sussex and Harris's departure to Glamorgan.
The presentation took place after the following announcement was read out over the in-ground PA system...
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls,
"Before you go to enjoy your lunch could I draw your attention to the front of the Pavilion where Middlesex County Cricket Club would like to make presentations to Steven Finn and James Harris, who will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
"Steven Finn is the first Middlesex cricketer to move through the Club's entire player pathway.
"Steven was 16 and on Middlesex’s Academy when he made his first-class debut in 2005 and during the following four years his hard work and determination allowed him to develop into a bowler that was opening the bowling for England.
"During Steven’s Test career he played a prominent role in England winning three Ashes series; he also performed at both 50-over and T20 World Cups.
"At a personal level his highlights in Test cricket would have been two six wicket hauls against Australia in Perth and at Edgbaston. In ODI cricket his best performance was a five wicket haul, which included a hat-trick, against Australia in 2015.
"In total Steven has taken 254 wickets for England, which is more than any other Middlesex bowler.
"With Middlesex Steven played a pivotal role in helping the club win its three most recent items of silverware – the T20 Cup in 2008, Division Two of the County Championship in 2011 and the County Championship in 2016.
"In a 16 year career Steven has played more than 260 games for Middlesex and took 587 wickets, with his finest personal performance being the remarkable figures of 9-37 against Worcestershire at New Road in 2010.
"Steven has had fewer days of note with the bat, although he can boast a Test 50 and who will forget him scoring the winning runs in a thrilling T20 against Surrey.
"James Harris could have joined any county in the country when he left Glamorgan at the end of the 2012 season and Middlesex have always been delighted that he chose to come to Lord’s.
"James has made an enormous impression on Middlesex both on and off the field. On the field he has stood up to be counted on numerous occasions with bat and ball when the team has been in trouble.
"In nine season with Middlesex James took 316 wickets and scored almost 2,500 runs. With the ball the highlight of James’ Middlesex career was a nine wicket haul against Durham in 2015.
"With the bat he scored a remarkable hundred against Lancashire at Lord’s in a RL50 Quarter Final and there were two other innings – a defiant unbeaten 41 against Lancashire in 2014 that kept the club in Division 1, and a superb 78 against Somerset in 2016 that helped set up a remarkable victory – that were of equal, if not greater, importance.
"James has become one of the most respected figures in county cricket, a standing that has been recognised by him becoming Chair of the PCA.
"It has been easy to see what both these players have given to Middlesex on the field but off the field they have been equally valuable. Steven and James have been an enormous credit to themselves and their families and we are proud they have represented this great club.
"Everyone at Middlesex wishes Steven and James every success in the next chapters of their careers and we look forward to seeing them at Lord’s in the future.
"In appreciation of their service to Middlesex and as a small memento of their time here could I ask the Middlesex President, Mike Selvey, and the Middlesex Chair, Mike O’Farrell to present Steven and James with a collage of their achievements and happy times with Middlesex.
"Thank You."
