It's cold but action will soon hot up

13 April 2012

Is it ever going to stop raining? Oh well, with the start of the season upon us, I had better brush up on my card skills rather than my cunning spinning repertoire. We've spent the last three months cooped up inside and I just can't wait for the serious stuff to start.

As you no doubt know, there have been a few things going on at Middlesex this winter. But now that is all resolved let's just get out there and have a game, which I am actually doing as I write this in Oxford. Top stuff, but bloody freezing, the old spinning fingers are really suffering as they have done in the last 15 years of mid-April torture.

One plus is meeting our overseas player this year, Stephen Fleming. Now as one old pro to another, I think it may be up to me to introduce New Zelander Flem to the Middlesex ways!

Because of the weather, everyone at Middlesex became a little 'net-crazy' pre-season. As a result, we were whisked off at the last minute for a week in Malta so we could run around on an out-field.

Great fun, nice surroundings and some interesting local characters. However, it didn't all go to plan, of course, hence my new 'Beckham' haircut, which was the result of a dreaded card-game forfeit.

Each morning, since our return, I've gazed into the mirror hoping to see that it might just have grown that extra millimetre overnight back towards normality.

Speaking of normality, will it be normal duties resumed for Surrey this season? To be honest, I doubt whether anyone can stop them. They have strengthened their squad with Ed Giddins (England bowler) and my mate Mark Ramprakash (England batsman).

Ramps is the one bloke you'd put your mortgage on to get you a score in county cricket. I should know, as I have been watching him do just that for us over the last 10 years.

We actually face Surrey in our first game in this season's Benson and Hedges Cup. Watch out Ramps, first ball pitching leg and hitting off - sorry mate! Surrey are the Man Utd of cricket and are planning ahead in a bid to stay at the top for as long as possible.

Realistically, it is going to be up to Lancashire and Yorkshire to raise their game and to try and put the county champions under pressure.

Cricket has changed in recent years such as the introduction of two divisions in the county championship.

I like the format, even if we are at the wrong end of the wrong division. It is now up to the players, the committees, the supporters and even 'Brian' the gateman to get behind Middlesex and improve the standard at the club and our standing in the league.

And what better incentive than the chance of promotion and Middlesex playing against the enemy south of the river over four days?

We all know, especially those of us who have been around for a while, this won't happen overnight. But I intend to help the club in any way I can, and if my new streamline haircut works to start with, it just might stay! Actually forget that last comment - no chance.

With everyone trying to emulate Surrey's standards this season, the level of cricket should rise and supporters will get to see some great games this season.

Also, there is the small matter of Pakistan and Australia coming over for a few games of bat and ball.

Well, I don't think you can get better than this, and who is to say it won't be six series wins in a row for England come September.

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It's cold but action will soon hot up

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