Middlesex go the Palace.

This rare photograph appeared on twitter earlier in the week and it dates back to 1959 when, for the first time in sixty years, Middlesex played away from Lord's*. Such excursions away from the home of cricket are not so rare today, they were scheduled to play at Merchant Taylors' school this July and in the not too distant past I have seen them at Uxbridge and Southgate. Wisden describes the ground as a 'pleasant new venue in the shadow of Alexandra Palace', its famous mast can just be seen in the far distance but pleasant or not, they have not returned. 

For whatever reason this experiment became a one off, lack of excitement cannot be cited for opponents Hampshire won by two wickets with just three balls to spare having claimed the extra half hour and a typically adventurous declaration by skipper Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie set up this thrilling finish. On an easy-paced pitch Middlesex scored 293 with Fred Titmus top scorer, as he was in the second innings and he had a stand of 79 for the sixth wicket with JT Murray. Marshall and Jimmy Gray got the visitors off to flying start with a stand of 127 and Gray went on to make 155 including twenty fours. The declaration came on the second evening with Hampshire only 47 ahead but such boldness paid off with Middlesex losing Gale and Russell (WE) for 13 before the close. Thanks to Hooker and Titmus Middlesex reached a position where they too felt able to declare setting Hants 189 to win which they reached when Canning hit a four off the third ball of the last over which was bowled by Titmus. Grey again top scored for the victors. 

Wisden quotes the attendance for the three days as 'about 5000', which given that it did not include Saturday play by today's standards might seem quite reasonable but if we look forward a month to a match against Yorkshire at Lord's which Jack Robertson wisely chose as his benefit, the recorded attendance was over 21000 and therein perhaps lies the reason why championship cricket has never returned to Tivoli Road. Yorkshire won this match and two weeks later, as Brian has described in a recent posting, were crowned champions. At Lord's they had Stott and Bolus to thank for runs and Illingworth for wickets. Set only 81 to win they lost four for 56 before Illingworth saw them home. 

*Since posting this an hour ago I have discovered that Lord's was not available because landlords  MCC were playing Cambridge University. The match was won by the university with Henry Blofeld scoring his only first class century in their second innings.