Middlesex CC on the hunt for talent

Aug 21 2009

MIDDLESEX’s Director of Cricket Angus Fraser may have to wait a year or two for the Wisden City Cup to unearth the county’s next cricketing superstar.

That’s the view of Chris Peploe, coach of the Barclays Eagles side who will contest the final of the inaugural tournament against the Times Tigers on Bank Holiday Monday.

Fraser and company threw their weight behind the new Twenty/20 format competition – the brainchild of Wisden Cricket Almanac Editor Scyld Berry – in the hope of tapping into talent not found through the traditional public school route.

A new pace or spin bowler is known to be top of the wish list. But, while in no doubt the competition is an excellent vehicle, Peploe claimed hitting the jackpot first time around was a big ask.

He said: "I’ve seen a couple of decent quick bowlers in the other sides, and there are some talented cricketers, but whether we have found someone who is ready to be plucked out and given a contract by Middlesex I’m not sure.

"The jump from amateur to professional cricket is a huge one, as it is from professional to Test cricket. We’ve seen that in the Ashes series with the likes of Ravi Bopara struggling for runs."

"But this is a good vehicle for helping to close that gap. It’s made Middlesex realise there are other areas they need to dip into in order to find talent, and it’s made some of these players realise the route to the county game isn’t a closed shop."

"If it runs for a few more years, the more players will find out about it and that increases the chances of finding a special talent."

Peploe’s Eagles side, representing the west of the county, will go into the final as favourites after topping the qualifying group.

They have beaten the Tigers on the two occasions they’ve met and in wicketkeeper batsman Mylo Wilkin have the tournament’s leading run scorer.

They have lost their last two matches, where they have missed key bowlers Shaftab Talib and Poash Joshi through injury.

However, Peploe is bullish about his team’s chances. He added: "We’ve messed about with the squad in the last couple of games to make sure everyone has had a fair crack of the whip.

"But I’m settled on my team for the final, and if the injuries heal up and the boys are fully fit, I’m confident we’ll be the first winners of the Wisden City Cup."