Had a soothsayer revealed a decade ago that Jimmy Anderson was to become England’s leading wicket-take, it would have been a fair assumption Chris Read was to become his chief accomplice.
As things transpired, while their relationship remained strong off the field – Read performing usher duties at Anderson’s wedding – only three times did they combine for dismissals in Tests, all in Sydney at the end of the 2006-07 whitewash by Australia.
History shows Read did not appear for his country again, yet he has remained the most consistent wicketkeeper on the county circuit and at 36 his powers as a prolific lower-order batsman have shown no sign of waning either. Long since at peace with his England days being behind him, he has unearthed a new ally after returning from a hamstring injury last week.
Just as in their match-changing stand of 93 in victory over their relegation rivals Worcestershire, Read and Brett Hutton frustrated the opposition at a crucial juncture. Here, they thwarted Middlesex for the entire afternoon session after two gifted dismissals in a rain-hit morning threatened to give the visitors control.
From a position of 229 for six, they nullified Middlesex’s threat with the second new ball and later cashed in on the bowlers’ fatigue with Read hitting his 23rd first-class hundred and Hutton highlighting his credentials with a career-best 72. By the time they were separated Nottinghamshire had eked out an unlikely first-innings lead.
Two seasons ago Read experienced an annus horribilis with the bat but he returned to type in 2014 and having opened with a hundred against Middlesex at Lord’s, took his average to more than 50 this campaign. His unflappable nature – dropped on 70 by his opposite number, John Simpson, and later stuck on 77 for half an hour – clearly rubbed off on the 22-year-old Hutton.
“Last year I was pleased with my form, particularly in the championship, and I’ve probably felt back to my best this year,” said Read, who eventually fell for 108 driving at Toby Roland-Jones.
“Since my injury I’ve come back and hit some good form. I would always encourage any youngster when in form to make the most of it, and not give it away, because a poor run can be around the corner – I’m certainly hoping to fill my boots while I can.
“I’ve batted seven all my career so the relationship with No8 – in the past with people like Paul Franks and Mark Ealham – is an important one. Potentially you’re the last of the recognised men who can score a hundred. Brett Hutton has shown in the last two weeks that he’s a genuine all-rounder.”
Middlesex’s spirits were doused by the lunchtime downpours that stripped 15 overs off the day’s allocation. Having failed to develop their morning momentum, they must now avert a batting slump that would allow Read’s men a sniff of back-to-back wins. The best hope of Nottinghamshire doing so appears to be if they can rediscover the aerial movement they exacted in reducing the visitors to 166 for seven on the opening day.
“The ball has swung about all match and then at two o’clock today the sun came out and it does absolutely nothing. So in the circumstances I think the bowlers can be quite pleased with their economy rates,” was the Middlesex coach Richard Scott’s assessment.
