Our 2025 season got underway in thrilling fashion at Lord's last week, as Middlesex and Lancashire went toe to toe, with both sides having to settle for a draw after four gruelling days of gripping County Championship action.
It was a brilliant advertisement for the format, as the game ebbed and flowed across the four days, with both sides grabbing momentum at times only for the other side to wrestle it back! Few could argue that a draw was probably the fairest result at the end of the game after both sides had given their all.
From Middlesex's perspective, it was a courageous and gutsy effort, when having lost the toss and conceded a first innings deficit of a hundred to Lancashire, they dug deep and found the spirit and battle to fight their way back into the game and put themselves in a position to come close to winning the game on the final day.
We have named a squad of thirteen for this week's second four-day encounter, when we'll head to Canterbury to take on Kent, who themselves convincingly beat Northamptonshire in a low scoring encounter which ended in a little over two days.
Middlesex are forced to make one change to the squad that was named to face Lancashire last week, with Sam Robson unavailable for selection, due to the imminent arrival of his first child. Robson will sit out of this one, and spend time with his expectant wife. Robson is replaced by spinning all-rounder Luke Hollman, who is added to the squad.
Disappointingly, South African paceman, Dane Paterson, who the Club were advised would be available for this week's clash down in Kent, is not named in the squad, as a personal/family matter has delayed his departure from South Africa. The Club have been given assurances that Paterson will be flying to the UK next week and will be available for the clash against Glamorgan at Lord's.
Middlesex will again be skippered Toby Roland-Jones, who will lead the seam attack, with Henry Brookes, Blake Cullen, Noah Cornwell and Ryan Higgins all in contention.
The spin attack will again be carried by Zafar Gohar, who performed brilliantly on his debut at Lord's last week, picking figures of 7 for 143 from 52 overs.
With Robson missing, Stephen Eskinazi could be in line to open with Fernandes, although moving Ben Geddes up to open, who batted brilliantly at Lord's against Lancashire for 74 in the second innings, could also be an option for First Team Coach Richard Johnson.
Play will get underway at 11am tomorrow in Canterbury and our hosts Kent will be broadcasting a live stream of the game, which you'll be able to watch on the Club's website.
Middlesex's squad of 13 for the Kent clash is as follows:
Kent
Middlesex
