Brings back so many memories and not just from watching it on the day. A few years before, when playing club cricket for Finchley in the Middlesex League, I'd faced a young Neil Williams when he was playing for Hornsey in a 2nd team match and in 1st team matches, in the very first one I played, I caught Keith Tomlin off Bill Merry, playing for us but whilst he too was on Middlesex's staff. Later, I opened the bowling against Wilf Slack (RIP) who was playing for Southgate on his way into the Middlesex side. I didn't face Neil Foster but did bowl a couple of balls against him in a National Knock Out q/f against Colchester and East Essex at Castle Park in a really close match which he helped to win in the final few overs. Many years earlier, I'd played a Middlesex Schools match against Eton School and Mike Gatting was our captain. It was an U15 match and most of us were 14 but Gatting was a year younger. The previous weekend, he had scored a huge century for Brondesbury 1st team in a club match. Gatt was already identified a s a big talent back then and he went on to have a fine career. A few years even before that, as a 9 year old kid, I'd been at Lord's to witness Clive Radley, then only 22, score his maiden 1st class century against the touring South Africans. So many memories get triggered by this lovely clip of a bygone age now dominated by pyjamas, pyrotechnics and disco music. Looking at this clip, the atmosphere was electric based on fans expectations. All the razzamattaz wasn't needed. I don't think it's needed now but that's a battle long lost.
Watching these highlights for the first time in 31 years takes me back to watching the agony of this game live (I am an Essex supporter). What you don't get a feel for here is just how uneven the Essex innings was. The cracking reply by Essex and Gooch (71 off 10) and then Brian Hardie staying in seemingly forever, but just not being able to get the ball away and the score between overs 12 to 21 going from 80 to 100. The anguished swish of the bat by Neil Foster at the end when he's bowled by Cowans in the half light sums it up really.
I was there too. Gooch was batting on a different level to everyone else in this game, and it was a surprise to everyone when he got out. After Kenny McEwan was out I didn't really fancy our chances. I spent most of the Middlesex innings hoping that Ray East would get a few overs. Fair play to the Middlesex bowling attack though - Daniel, Cowans, Williams, Edmonds and Emburey was a high class line up.
I was at the match with my dear old departed Dad supporting Middlesex. We were in the lower tier of the Grandstand, level with the Pavilion End wicket, right amongst a huge bunch of Essex supporters whose ability to consume lager amazed a teenage me. Middlesex were outplayed all day, except in the last hour or so and the win was so amazing and unexpected. Watching it back I remember the complete confusion in the crowd at the hit-wicket, John Emburey’s miserly spell of bowling, Gatting going for a stupid 3rd and being run out (he was also run out in the Gillette Cup Final vs Worcester) and Neil Foster standing his ground at the end not wanting to believe Essex had lost the match. One of my favourite ever Middlesex matches I’ve been to.
Anybody that remembers the 60's 70's and 80's cricket wise will remember Essex being amongst the most arrogant sides in the game yet were one of the most under performing sides in history, even Peter West felt sorry Essex while Middlesex were practically ignored. What a great team Middlesex was, without doubt they ushered in the modern game, now we are as bad as Essex were then.....utter rubbish
