By Charlie Talbot-Smith
LAST year’s fifth-place finish might look like a disappointment on paper for Middlesex, particularly considering they were third in 2012 – their first year back in the top flight.
But, according to director of cricket Angus Fraser, appearances can be deceiving and the former England seamer is quietly confident his side are very much on an upward curve.
Promoted back into the top division in 2011 after five years away, Middlesex’s quick start to 2013 tailed off in the end. That means the wait goes on for a first County Championship since 1993, but Fraser is adamant that all the signs are there for a continued upsurge.
“Although we fell from third to fifth I actually think we were a better side last year than we were in 2012,” he said.
“In 2012 we won five games and a few of them were exploiting opportunities that were presented to us against sides like Lancashire and Worcestershire who were chasing wins.
“They were trying to avoid the drop and playing aggressively and that rather played into our hands.
“Last year we won six games by being the better side and at tough places like Hove, Taunton and the Oval.
“We made a really strong start and we were a bit disappointed with the way we fell away.
“But we are definitely moving in the right direction and if we can build on what we have achieved every year and keep improving then we are going to be there or thereabouts.
“If you say you want to win something I don’t really know what that means. The t20, the 50-over, the County Championship?
“We want to improve every year and if we can do that then we will be in the mix challenging for honours.
“I work on the principle that if you are up there challenging consistently then one year it will go your way.”
Despite two openers in Sam Robson and Chris Rogers both passing 1,000 first-class runs last summer, the rest of the batting line-up continually misfired. That put a lot of pressure on a bowling attack that does boast impressive strength in depth and they coped admirably for the most part.
And with Steve Finn back and raring to go, the likes of Dawid Malan, Neil Dexter and Eoin Morgan will need to back up their two stubborn Sydney-born openers. It is Rogers in particular that Fraser is delighted to see returning to the ranks.
“Chris is an outstanding cricketer and a top bloke,” he added. “He has played some outstanding cricket over the last year and no-one is more satisfied than everyone at Middlesex with what he has done in the last year for Australia.
“It’s a real boost to have him back this year and Australia don’t have too much Test cricket this summer so we look forward to having him around a lot.
“Those players (the other batsmen) know what to expect, we have sat down with them and they are as disappointed as anybody.
“But we know that some players are going to have better years this time around, some others are not going to hit the same heights.
“Guys who get runs in the four-day stuff might be making their runs in the other forms of the game, you cannot always be at the top of your game.
“Depending on how England go in Bangladesh we could be at full strength for the start of the season and we want to hit the ground running.
“That way you are always looking upwards rather than downwards.”
Finn played only six county games for Middlesex last year but with the likes of Tom Helm and James Harris – both very much on England’s radar – and the wily experience of Tim Murtagh to call upon there is plenty of room for encouragement.
“Mid to late 20s is when most bowlers are supposed to hit their peak and while our guys are mostly a bit younger than that, they are a year older and wiser now,” added Fraser.
“We have brought in Harry Podmore as a younger guy and with Ryan Higgins as well there is a lot of potential in this squad.
“But, like all these things, you want to balance that with some senior players, the ones with the experience to hold it together.
“There is that little bit of competition now and they all know that it all comes down to who performs better at the start of the season.”
