9 September 2010

Shah scores send off hundred

I wonder if there are any second thoughts at Middlesex about the way they've treated Owais Shah after he scored a hundred today in his last match?

Posted by Ed at 13:54

4 comments:

Mark Davis said...

Speaking as a member I'm pretty upset

9 September 2010 at 21:40
Ed said...

Not quite the send off Shah was looking for with Middlesex bowled out for 66 in their last innings and losing comfortably in the end despite his first innings hundred. But he was top scorer and the Cricinfo report suggests that he was the only one able to play Shakib, so you wonder what Middlesex will do next year without him....

11 September 2010 at 07:42
Chris White said...

It's all very well Ed, but I just wish that Owais had knuckled down and done this the whole season, and not just in his final match.

Yes, he proved his point and he was shabbily treated, but he also proved what Middlesex have been missing this season. Too often he's had starts and not pushed on, and in my mind Middlesex have done the right thing in releasing him, though I do wonder whether I will regret saying this next season.

It's funny though - look at Middlesex's top six from just four or five years ago:

Strauss, Smith (early ret), Shah (released), Joyce (Sussex), Dalrymple (Glamorgan) with Hutton (ret), Godleman (Essex), Compton (Somerset), Weekes (ret) and an overseas pro like Styris filling in.

Only Strauss remains, and he barely plays a match for Middlesex. The top six is unrecognisable, and Middlesex are having to blood some very young players. It's hardly a settled side is it, so why have so many players felt the need to move on?

14 September 2010 at 09:40
Ed said...

I take your point Chris - unless he is being particularly difficult behind the scenes and hindering team spirit I'd definitely have given him another contract though. For exactly the reasons you gave I think it would have been easier to up the performance of a proven talent coming into his batting prime rather than take a chance on another alsoran and continue the pattern of continual change.

14 September 2010 at 10:26

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