The men from Marylebone have been on a downward spiral for the past couple of seasons, entering a period of rebuilding and revitalising, but while 2024 may have been disappointing in many respects, 2025 looks to be showing some green shoots of recovery. Financial issues which resulted in them incurring points penalties and fines appear to have been resolved and an ongoing court case involving their former CEO seems to have been resolved. The windfall from the Hundred has helped the club clear their debts and they look to be in a much stronger position from which to launch an assault for on-field honours. This has resulted in then making some rather eye-catching signings which give them grounds for optimism.
In the County Championship Division Two, they finished third and missed out on promotion, ending 21 points behind Yorkshire in second place. With seven draws, and only two defeats, they can reasonably point to progress being made in the red ball format, but the inability to maximise bonus points, in both facets ultimately cost them a top two finish. Lords became somewhat more batter friendly, which helped the batters, but the bowlers found life harder going than previously.
In the white ball game, things were much less rosy. In the Metro Bank One Day Cup, they finished 6th in Group A and failed to qualify for the knock out phase; whilst in the Vitality Blast they finished eighth in the South Group, winning only three of 14 games. The white ball issues can be best explained by the fact that no Middlesex player made a white ball hundred in 2024 and only Luke Hollman took a fifer in either format.
As a result, the playing squad requires some surgery to enable them to challenge in all formats and it is fair to say that they have been active with the scalpel during the close season. On the domestic front, highly rated young keeper batter Ben Geddes joins from Surrey, and Pakistani left arm spinner Zafar Gohar joins from Gloucestershire. The signing of Gohar fills a big hole in the red ball side, where they have lacked a real quality spinner and also offers useful lower order runs.
The one they are all talking about however, is the signing of legendary Kiwi batter Kane Williamson, who is available from May to September. This should allow him to play at least five County Championship games and at least 10 games in the Vitality Blast. Alongside him, they have bolstered their seam attack with South African Dane Paterson, who has spent the past four English seasons with Nottinghamshire, so knows the county scene well already. An interesting sidenote is also the signing of Irish left arm quick, Josh Little, who will be available to play in all formats, but is likely to appear mainly in the Vitality Blast.
Squad players like Martin Andersson (Derbyshire), Thilan Walallawita (released), and Robbie White (retired) have all left, along with opener Mark Stoneman (Hampshire) and seamer Ethan Bamber, who has joined Warwickshire. In their place, the likes of Henry Brookes, Tom Helm, Josh De Caires, and Nathan Fernandes all have the chance to build on their potential.
While 2024 was not the best year in the club’s history, it was also far from the worst with a solid foundation to build upon and some promising young talent in the pipeline that will be challenging for game time in all formats. With the right additions, the club can start to move forwards once again and not just stand still.
Key player
Ryan Higgins is perhaps one of the most underrated players on the county circuit, who never seems to be mentioned in the discussion for international honours. Last summer he contributed nearly 1300 runs across all formats, together with 39 wickets with his medium pace. His style of bowling is perhaps what counts against him in terms of the England selectorial thinking, but their loss is Middlesex’s gain. He has been playing first class cricket in Zimbabwe during the winter, being Zimbabwean by birth, so it would not be surprising if he elected to try and qualify to play for Zimbabwe instead. An honourable mention here also goes to Leus de Plooy, who had an excellent first season at the club, and the veteran seamer and captain, Toby Roland-Jones who continues to decimate top orders.
One to watch
Although Nathan Fernandes is primarily seen as a slow bowling all rounder, hewas given a chance at the top of the order last season and made his maiden first class hundred against Northants in April. Despite failing to build on that, with another season of experience at first class level, he could be the next exciting young player off the rank from Middlesex. Josh De Caires will also look to have a better season with the ball, and has undoubted quality with the bat.
Ins and Outs
Overseas signings: Kane Williamson (New Zealand, for at least 10 T20 matches and five Championship games), Josh Little (Ireland, primarily for T20), Dane Paterson (South Africa, until 26 May)
Ins: Ben Geddes (Surrey), Zafar Gohar (Gloucestershire, UK passport), Kane Williamson (May-Sept), Dane Paterson (April-May), Josh Little (May-Sept)
Outs: Martin Andersson (Derbyshire), Ethan Bamber (Warwickshire), Mark Stoneman (Hampshire), Thilan Walallawita (released), Robbie White (retired)
How will they fare
Middlesex are likely to compete strongly in the red ball game, as they have a very capable top six with the bat and a handy seam attack in the right conditions. If Gohar can find his feet quickly, then Middlesex could even be able to mix it with the big boys in the County Championship.
In the Vitality Blast, if they can find a high quality overseas allrounder capable of finishing games in both facets, then expect them to make a push for the knock out phases, but the additions of Williamson and Little in this competition should see them perform much better than their 2024 efforts.
The One Day Cup has sadly now become a development competition, akin to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in football. While it appears to have had a positive impact on the development of young players, few clubs prioritise it unless they happen to make the knockout rounds. I would not expect them to mount a serious challenge in this competition.
Opening Fixture: CC v Lancashire on April 4 at Lords
Likely Championship XI
- Robson
- Fernandes
- Williamson (c)
- Holden
- Geddes
- Higgins
- Davies (WK)
- Gohar
- Roland-Jones
- Helm
- Paterson
