v Middlesex 142 for 2
County Championship Division 2
Close on Day One
Thursday 28 April 2022
Played at Lord's
Are you familiar with the work of John Ernie Emburey? And his role in The Summer Of Four? Mike Gatting was sacked as England Cricket Captain after the First Test against West Indies in 1988. Emburey stepped up for the next two tests before he was canned. To be replaced by Chris Cowdrey. He lasted just the one toss. Before Graham Gooch took over as Captain for the last Test of the series.
Emburey would have played more games for England, indeed, might have Captained England more, if he hadn't gone on BOTH Rebel Cricket Tours to Apartheid South Africa. He was the only England cricketer to take the Rand on both tours - 1981/82 & 1989/90.
For an England XI v Tasmania, in Hobart, in 1986/87, Emburey scored 46. All in boundaries - 10x4s and a Six. OK, that's your Ernie Emburey. I bet you're wondering how he features in this Blog from a "modern" Middlesex game.
Well. Because. As I was eating me Lunch (Steak & Veg Pie, with Mash & steamed veg) atop the Mound Stand at Lord's, an older guy wearing a Middlesex tie approached my table.
"Excuse me, are you Phil?
"My name is John Emburey & I'd like to present you with this…."
That, dear readers, is a badge commemorating my 10 years as a Middlesex Member. (It's actually 3 years late - I've been a Member for 13 years - but no mither Ernie, I'll let that slide).
You may notice TWO badges in that pic (giggling here). Because I was steak pieing with another Carrier Bag Firm luminary. Who has been a Member for longer, 16 years. And, was offered minus one badges in relation to me (still giggling here).
Well. In. Dig. Nation. Don't cover it.
Fair play to Middlesex. They recovered well. Databases were quietly checked. Spare badges were quietly deployed. And Emburey eventually came back, presented the "rogue" badge, Vegetarian pied (we think) himself up, joined us for Lunch (an hour 'an half). And, therefore, received the benefit of my fucking wisdom. Oh yes, deffo.
That is how John Emburey features in this story mate.
The bar up top the Mound Stand was the usual cricket bar FARCE. The beers on the board were in no relation to the beers on the keg/cask clips, and the prices were in no relation either. When I queried, the prices were read out to me from the till. Alright. But, that's not how it works. You have to display the actual price of the actual thing you are selling. Or, well or we're all fucked.
Marston's, Pedigree, from a bottle at 4.5%
We decamped to the Bowlers' Bar and found…
Marston's, Wainwright, Golden Ale on Cask at 4.1%
But, the Outstanding Beer Of The Day (in an admittedly poor field) was…
Brakspear, Gravity, English Bitter on Cask at 3.4% (that was on in The Middlesex Room)
Middlesex day, that one. As all us verified badged 10 year Members will testify. (You can't hear this, but there is a 16 year Member "off page" muttering & chuntering like a good 'un).
Robbie White actually went as the second Middlesex wicket with just two balls of the day left. So, it could have looked even better in the scorebook for Middlesex. But, parity ish with just two gone is a good day. Of course, The Big Show here at Middlesex is Shaheen Shah Afridi. He didn't disappoint. Two in two. Including cleaning up Ackerman for zilch. The tail wagged a bit from 90 for 8 to 149 all gone. Or it would have been worse for the Running Foxes.
Quite a day for the CBF. Quite a day.
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