Went to this yesterday. Some random observations, mainly from a Middlesex viewpoint;
Kent bowled well in very helpful conditions but could've helped themselves a bit with slightly better field placing (6 leg-glances went for 4s, fine of long-leg before lunch). That there was only one cover-driven boundary in the last 140 runs of Middlesex's innings tells a story about the track. Malan made 32 but I can only remember 2 coming in front of the wicket (uppishly through cover).
Thomas looked very lively (and the sort of pace that Finn used to generate but no longer). But he was the wrong bowler for this track, hence Kent concentrated on using Podmore, Stevens and Henry.
Middlesex have picked the wrong team because they mis-read the track. Rayner will not bowl a ball in the game and it would have been better for Stirling to play and be given licence to whack it.
Bell-Drummond and Kuhn ran brilliantly together but Middlesex's insistence (like so many teams these days) to bowl without a cover point, played into their hands. On a day when a massive percentage of the runs came behind the wicket, Middlesex needed to show more thought. Trouble is, the Captain (Malan) is not the right man for the job.
Billings looked fantastic standing up (very quick hands) but less so standing back....probably because of the massively swinging ball. Middlesex probably played and missed something like 30-40 times.
Fuller (a good hitter) needed to chance his arm, when Middlesex went 8 down. He didn't and lost the strike.
Morgan needed to do the same but punched the worst ball of the day (leg stump full toss) straight to mid-wicket. He's been utterly useless for Middlesex in Championship games and needs to be moved on.
If Murtagh was playing, I'd have been very confident of a Middlesex win. There hasn't been a better track for him this season at Lord's. He used to take wickets but go for a few. Now he takes wickets whilst keeping it tight.
Bamber has been the most threatening of the Middlesex bowlers because he is the most similar in style to Murtagh. Fuller and Finn bang it in a bit too much and Andersson is very inexperienced.
Kent should win and on the evidence of yesterday are a better side than Middlesex.
Went to this yesterday. Some random observations, mainly from a Middlesex viewpoint;
Kent bowled well in very helpful conditions but could've helped themselves a bit with slightly better field placing (6 leg-glances went for 4s, fine of long-leg before lunch). That there was only one cover-driven boundary in the last 140 runs of Middlesex's innings tells a story about the track. Malan made 32 but I can only remember 2 coming in front of the wicket (uppishly through cover).
Thomas looked very lively (and the sort of pace that Finn used to generate but no longer). But he was the wrong bowler for this track, hence Kent concentrated on using Podmore, Stevens and Henry.
Middlesex have picked the wrong team because they mis-read the track. Rayner will not bowl a ball in the game and it would have been better for Stirling to play and be given licence to whack it.
Bell-Drummond and Kuhn ran brilliantly together but Middlesex's insistence (like so many teams these days) to bowl without a cover point, played into their hands. On a day when a massive percentage of the runs came behind the wicket, Middlesex needed to show more thought. Trouble is, the Captain (Malan) is not the right man for the job.
Billings looked fantastic standing up (very quick hands) but less so standing back....probably because of the massively swinging ball. Middlesex probably played and missed something like 30-40 times.
Fuller (a good hitter) needed to chance his arm, when Middlesex went 8 down. He didn't and lost the strike.
Morgan needed to do the same but punched the worst ball of the day (leg stump full toss) straight to mid-wicket. He's been utterly useless for Middlesex in Championship games and needs to be moved on.
If Murtagh was playing, I'd have been very confident of a Middlesex win. There hasn't been a better track for him this season at Lord's. He used to take wickets but go for a few. Now he takes wickets whilst keeping it tight.
Bamber has been the most threatening of the Middlesex bowlers because he is the most similar in style to Murtagh. Fuller and Finn bang it in a bit too much and Andersson is very inexperienced.
Kent should win and on the evidence of yesterday are a better side than Middlesex.
Been to both days and agree with all of this. Hopefully a win today and a Sussex defeat will mean a win at home to Glamorgan next week could secure promotion before the Warwickshire game. At least we have the toss up there.
Comments
156 should be gettable!
Not looking good
Didn't work with Stewart last time and didn't work today.
Edit: also missed the earlier post about it! Oops must read full thread rather than just checking the scorecard before posting.
You are home and dry.
Last I heard, it wasn’t that promising.
Mind you, things took a turn for the worst as soon as I started watching....
But in DBD & Kuhny I trust to get us home in the morning.
Come on Sooper Kent !
kentcricket.co.uk/news/kent-sign-paceman-matt-milnes/
Kent bowled well in very helpful conditions but could've helped themselves a bit with slightly better field placing (6 leg-glances went for 4s, fine of long-leg before lunch). That there was only one cover-driven boundary in the last 140 runs of Middlesex's innings tells a story about the track. Malan made 32 but I can only remember 2 coming in front of the wicket (uppishly through cover).
Thomas looked very lively (and the sort of pace that Finn used to generate but no longer). But he was the wrong bowler for this track, hence Kent concentrated on using Podmore, Stevens and Henry.
Middlesex have picked the wrong team because they mis-read the track. Rayner will not bowl a ball in the game and it would have been better for Stirling to play and be given licence to whack it.
Bell-Drummond and Kuhn ran brilliantly together but Middlesex's insistence (like so many teams these days) to bowl without a cover point, played into their hands. On a day when a massive percentage of the runs came behind the wicket, Middlesex needed to show more thought. Trouble is, the Captain (Malan) is not the right man for the job.
Billings looked fantastic standing up (very quick hands) but less so standing back....probably because of the massively swinging ball. Middlesex probably played and missed something like 30-40 times.
Fuller (a good hitter) needed to chance his arm, when Middlesex went 8 down. He didn't and lost the strike.
Morgan needed to do the same but punched the worst ball of the day (leg stump full toss) straight to mid-wicket. He's been utterly useless for Middlesex in Championship games and needs to be moved on.
If Murtagh was playing, I'd have been very confident of a Middlesex win. There hasn't been a better track for him this season at Lord's. He used to take wickets but go for a few. Now he takes wickets whilst keeping it tight.
Bamber has been the most threatening of the Middlesex bowlers because he is the most similar in style to Murtagh. Fuller and Finn bang it in a bit too much and Andersson is very inexperienced.
Kent should win and on the evidence of yesterday are a better side than Middlesex.