Middlesex must address batting malaise

Disraeli, often quoted by Twain, is believed to be the source of the well-known phrase ‘ There are lies, damned lies and statistics as a warning against manipulating an argument using figures, even when they are not necessarily false. However, with due deference to the two learned men, Middlesex’s ongoing lack of batting bonus points, the very fuel which drives the wins needed for a promotion push, warrants scrutiny if dreams entertained by Seaxes’ fans aren’t to be crushed once more in 2026.

Middlesex mustered only 26 batting bonus points in 2025, two fewer than the previous campaign where again their promotion quest pulled up short. Dig a little deeper and the stats are even more concerning. They reveal 16 of those 26 points came during the four rounds in high summer when that scourge of county bowlers up and down the land, the Kookaburra ball was in play. That experiment has now mercifully been scrapped.

Skipper Leus du Plooy and company will therefore have to conjure up ways to build totals against a Dukes ball which yielded only 10 points across the other 10 Championship games last term. Four of those came in the final match against Gloucestershire – by then a dead rubber.