Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday gloom at Lords

Noel Coward’s ‘Midday Sun’ was nowhere to be seen, but given the overcast conditions with mizzle and a chill hanging in the air, it was still a healthy if brave flow of expectant County Cricket followers that were streaming out of St. John’s Wood Station and down towards Lords at the start of the English cricketing ‘summer’. On Good Friday too, so no one was just bunking off work to grab an hour of cricket and the ranks of the more senior county regulars were swelled by a healthy smattering of younger folk. It all amounted something of a ‘first day of term’ feel. And not remotely mad. Honestly!

It’s not the fault of the fans or the counties that April 3^rd, with all its attendant weather risks, is the earliest ever start to an English domestic season. For that, we should look to the ECB, the ICC and even the BCCI (if you can realistically separate the last two). But it’s a question to put to one side for today and focus only on how Middlesex, embattled off the field, but fielding a pretty useful blend of youth and experience on it, would fare against Gloucestershire, who could say the same.

2025 season finale revisited

By a curious turn of fate and fixtures, it was against Gloucestershire at Lords that Middlesex closed the 2025 season with a thumping innings victory that was, alas, too late to elevate them from Division Two. It did however see new club captain Leus du Plooy smash 263*, the 7th highest First Class score at Lords, just behind one D. Bradman at 6^th. It also saw young right armer Seb Morgan strike an unlikely 97 and four wickets from the perennial Roland Jones. All three were in the fray again at Lords today.

There would be little doubt as to what choice would be made by the toss winning captain. It was Cameron Bancroft, the abrasive Aussie, that called correctly and sure enough Middlesex were asked to bat. But first a poignant minutes silence was observed to remember Mick Hunt, who passed away in March and had been at Lords for 49 years, including 33 as what he called “head of grass”.

Slow going on a slow outfield

Whoever batted was going to need to be on their mettle and ready to apply both technique and resistance.  Sam Robson and Josh De Caires did just that, adding a fair bit of guts too, which will have pleased new Kiwi coach Peter Fulton.  The first hour passed without a boundary. Partly due to conditions, partly the probing bowling of Fulton’s fellow Cantabrian Will Williams and Tasmanian Gabe Bell, but also, in no small measure, to a noticeably slow outfield. The Lords turf has been completely relayed over the winter and on more than one occasion, shots or edges that would have sped away last season looked as though they were having to machete their way through elephant grass. I’m not sure what Mick Hunt would have made of it.

When a boundary finally arrived, it was smartly driven square to the short Grandstand boundary by Robson off Matt Taylor. It scarcely opened the floodgates though. Robson had survived a drop at short fine leg of the second ball of 2^nd over by Williams off Bell, but otherwise was the principle aggressor. De Caires had been as careful as he could be, but fell to leg side tickle off Taylor for 12 with the score on 40,  much to his obvious frustration. With just five more runs added, a flurry of mizzly drizzle was enough to send the players off for an early lunch with Middlesex on 45/1, Sam Robson on 27 and Max Holden yet to score.

Sam Robson holds the honour for the earliest century of a First Class season, notched in March 2012 against Durham University and he was moving along nicely here after lunch with the help of that rarest of beasts, an all run four. Last season he could have simply stood in his crease and admired the ball flying down hill towards the Edrich Stand boundary. Shortly after however, he was pinned LBW by Williams for 33 to ball that was noticeably more pitched up, to leave Middlesex 51 for 2.

du Plooy continues last season’s form

The arrival of Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy and Max Holden’s growth in confidence, saw some acceleration, du Plooy particularly looking to carry on where he finished last season against Gloucestershire at Lords. Together they sped things (comparatively at least) to 135 before Holden was bowled on the walk and playing across the line to give Williams his second wicket from the Pavilion End. Leus du Plooy continued to be combine solidity with classy aggression however and brought up his 50 from just 70 balls with six fours along the way.

Around him though Gloucestershire applied pressure and were rewarded with  wickets. Ben Geddes had lofted a Jamie Smith style back foot pull for six off Taylor, but went next over, caught behind, loosely driving at off spinner Ollie Price. He was followed by Ryan Higgins who never really got started and nicked a rising ball from the lively Bell to Price at first slip.

Joe Cracknell operates at the upper end of the order in the Blast for Middlesex, but a maiden First Class ton last season has established himself as first choice wicket keeper and very useful number seven bat. From the first delivery with the new ball, his fine cover drive took Middlesex to 250 and a batting bonus point. A cut to off brought up a fine 50. Leus du Plooy in turn, having had his slice of luck when dropped at slip by Price off Taylor when on 68, moved into the 90s as the sun made its only and brief appearance for the day.

Just before 6pm, the gloom returned, the floodlights burned all too brightly and with Middlesex on 279 for 5, du Plooy frustratingly marooned on 98 and Cracknell motoring nicely on 58, the umpires judged the gathering gloom as just too gloomy.

Gloucestershire will perhaps have been the happier of the two sides to depart, but the match is teasingly poised.