Middlesex star set for exit

Aug 25 2010 By Jon Batham

PEDRO Collins’ first season as a Middlesex player will also be his last.

Director of Cricket Angus Fraser confirmed this week he will have to replace the Barbadian in Middlesex’s pace attack next season because changes in the law regarding Kolpak players – those from outside the EU - make him ineligible.

New rules to be introduced to the County Championship for 2011 insist non-EU players fit one of two criteria to qualify as Kolpaks.

They must have either A) Played one Test for their home country in the last two years or five in the last five or

B) Played four successive seasons of County Championship cricket.

Collins doesn’t qualify on either of these criteria, having played the last three of his 32 Tests for the West Indies back in 2006, while he has only played the last three seasons of domestic cricket in England.

With Steven Finn likely to be under central contract with England, the loss of the 34-year-old, who has been an increasingly influential figure in the absence of the injured Iain O’Brien, is a blow for Fraser and company.

"It’s a shame as Pedro has done well in the one-day cricket all season and bowled well in the last four or five Championship games," said Fraser.

"He’s also been a cracking member of the squad to have in the dressing room."

Collins underlined his value with four first innings victims in Middlesex’s six-wicket win over the then Division Two leaders Glamorgan in Cardiff this week.

It took the left-arm seamers haul to 28 in eight Championship appearances.

However, the real heroes of a low scoring encounter were batsmen Scott Newman and Dawid Malan.

Much maligned opener Newman returned to form with scores of 99 and 64, holding the visitors together almost single-handedly in the first innings.

However, it was left to Malan (84 not out) to steer Middlesex to the victory target of 250 – the highest total of the match - in company with Gareth Berg (30 not out).

The win leaves Middlesex still in seventh place ahead of this tomorrow’s game with bottom placed Derbyshire.

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