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Spectators around the boundary edge at a county game
Ray Lawrence Photography

50 Years Ago: Allan Jones looks back at Middlesex's County Championship success of 1976

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Middlesex’s 1976 County Championship triumph, Up The Middle will periodically revisit the events leading up to Mike Brearley and company securing the county’s first trophy for 27 years. Here, Allan Jones, who'd newly arrived from Somerset, shares his first memories of that drought-riddled but glorious summer.

27.02.26, 16:56 Updated 27.02.26, 19:16 3 Minute Read

Jon Batham

Jon Batham

Allan Jones found Mike Brearley’s style of leadership a breath of fresh air when he arrived at Middlesex in 1976.

The now 78-year-old former paceman had been deemed surplus to requirements at Somerset where his relationship with their then skipper, the late Brian Close, was volatile, on field at least.

Yet Jones would prove one half of a formidable new-ball spearhead with Mike Selvey, returning 69 wickets at a shade under 23 apiece as the Seaxes secured the County Championship title for the first time since sharing the honours with Yorkshire in 1949.

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