Middlesex look to a future without old stalwarts

BOB WILLIS TROPHY PREVIEW: Dawid Malan and Paul Stirling will no longer feature in the Seaxes' top order, as Stuart Law and new skipper Stevie Eskinazi look for a productive red-ball campaign

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In: Luke Hollman (youth)

Out: Paul Stirling (Northants), Tom Barber (Notts), George Scott (Gloucs), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Ollie Rayner (released)

Fixtures: August 1 – Surrey (a); April 8 – Hampshire (h); August 15 – Kent (a); August 22 – Sussex (h); September 6 – Essex (a)

Remind me what happened last year?

Things didn’t go to plan in the County Championship, after promotion had been widely predicted. Middlesex accrued just 24 batting points over the course of the campaign – only four sides totted up fewer. Captain Dawid Malan became disaffected, his alliance with Stuart Law didn’t gel, and a sad parting of the ways was agreed.

What’s happened over the winter?

Law thought he had lined up the perfect replacement as skipper in Peter Handscomb, but understandably he will not be coming now this season, his two-year deal deferred until 2021. Stevie Eskinazi will lead in this truncated four-day campaign, with Toby Roland-Jones as his deputy.

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Who’s arrived and who’s left?

Malan is now at Yorkshire. George Scott and Paul Stirling have also left: Scott follows Ryan Higgins, Adam Rossington and Harry Podmore in leaving London for regular opportunities elsewhere, while Stirling – to the frustration of all – has fallen victim to the ECB’s new regulations around Ireland players.

For him to remain at the club as a local player he would have had to retire from international cricket. Instead he will play for Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast as an overseas signing.

Who will be the key men in 2020?

Eskinazi, 25, was one of several batsmen to struggle in 2019. Consistent until last summer, he averaged just 19.19 in 12 Championship games. Maybe captaincy will help him focus. He reviews play in a detailed and engaging way to journalists, and has shown good cricket knowledge from a young age.

Max Holden, Tom Lace, Nick Gubbins and Martin Andersson can consolidate their places and fine-tune their game amid the more low-ley surroundings of Radlett, where they will play their two home four-day matches.

Steven Finn, Toby Roland-Jones, Tom Helm, James Harris, Ethan Bamber and Blake Cullen provide significant depth in a crowded queue of seamers. Nathan Sowter is now the club’s senior spinner.

What can we expect from this team this season?

Law will hope he can fine-tune his plans so a proper promotion push can be achieved in 2021. Although we said it at the start of 2019, their seam battery looks so strong. Maybe that can – fittingly – be a trump card in the Bob Willis Trophy. It will also be exciting to see more of Joe Cracknell – he made 66 in the intra-squad game last week.

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