I suppose one of the dream jobs I was allocated during my time on the local newspaper was in July 1985.
Cumberland had been drawn away to Middlesex in the old Nat West knockout competition.
Back then the first round saw Minor Counties sides allocated County Championship opposition.
Now I’d been to Lord’s on several occasions in the 1950s and 1960s to watch Middlesex but this time the game was being played at Uxbridge.
Cumberland skipper John Moyes won the toss and elected to field against a star-studded Middlesex side which included ten internationals.
On a tight ground Cumberland bowled well, keeping their hosts to below five an over as they finished on 283-9.
Wilf Slack was the batting star and eventual man of the match with 98 and was involved in a stand of 100 with Roland Butcher (59) for the third wicket.
Cumberland’s two opening bowlers Kevin Sample (4-58) and David Helliwell (4-57) each completed their 12 overs with those good returns.
Sample dismissed four internationals and Helliwell three – his fourth victim was the only uncapped member of the Middlesex side, Neil Williams.
Unfortunately for Cumberland their Pakistani star Qasim Omar (professional for Workington at the time) suffered a hand injury while fielding and was unable to bat.
So in effect Cumberland went in to bat without their experienced opener and knowing they would only have 10 men.
Skipper Moyes ended up top-scoring on 37 and there was a little cameo from big-hitting Graeme Clark (23) before the Cumbrians were dismissed for 152 in 53.3 overs.
England left-armer Edmonds took 4-39 and his international spin twin John Emburey had 2-38.
Early in the innings Edmonds was fielding at short leg and as West Indian paceman Wayne Daniel walked back to his mark he turned round and bellowed “Come on Wayne, knock his …… head off!”
John Moyes – who had started his cricketing career in Essex – was the batsman at the time but he did not wilt.
In actual fact he was later caught by Edmonds off Emburey but no sledging comments were picked-up at that juncture.
My own cricketing hero at the time was Clive Radley (bowled for 18 by Halliwell on that occasion) and highlight of the trip was a brief conversation with the Middlesex batsman.
I had long been an admirer of his pugnacious style and remember having a T-shirt printed “Clive Radley for England” to wear in Midweek Cricket League matches.
I’m delighted to say two years later in 1978 he won the first of his eight England caps against New Zealand.
