Simpson wants title repeat and England recognition
Jeremy Blackmore discovers that Middlesex’s keeper/batsman has big ambitions in both domestic and international cricket
Middlesex have a group of players who can defend their Championship title, according to keeper John Simpson, who believes the club can emulate the standards Yorkshire have set in recent years.
Simpson, at 28 already a senior player at a club backing youth, is well qualified to make that judgment. The only Middlesex player to feature in every match across all three formats in 2016, Simpson played an important role in both the club’s Championship success and in the progress made in white-ball cricket.
His contribution behind the stumps plus a number of telling innings have been rewarded with an extension to his contract which will keep him at Lord’s until at least the end of 2019.
“It’s always a phenomenal achievement to win a Championship,” said Simpson, looking back at last September’s dramatic final-day victory over Yorkshire. “I think with our group of players, hopefully, we can defend it this season and in the next five or six years we can try to emulate the standards that Yorkshire have set.”
He is relishing the opportunity that comes with being a senior player, nailing down a regular top-six spot and averaging 43.27 in the Championship, seven 50s going with the unbeaten ton which helped set up an innings win over Hampshire at Northwood.
“I think maybe earlier in my career I probably didn’t throw myself forward enough to take responsibility in tough situations and it’s something in the last couple of seasons, I’ve tried to do.
“I’m a senior player now, even though I’m one of the younger guys, and the responsibility that comes with being a senior player is always having communication with the coach and captain. If they need anybody, I’m ready to go. If you feel you want to put a lefthander in, or if you feel there’s a role for me up the order, it’s something I’ll always look to try to do.
“Then with the keeping side it’s always communicating with the bowlers and captain and being an integral part of leading in the field and getting the fielders in the right place, especially in the shorter formats. But it’s something I enjoy and, growing up in the north, it’s in your upbringing to be quite tough.”
Born in Bury, Simpson played in the Lancashire Leagues, turning out for Lancashire 2nds before his move south which gave him an initial taste of firstteam cricket and a professional contract. He has already written himself into the history books at his adopted home in NW8. Only seven Middlesex keepers have claimed more victims and he has a place in the top six in his sights by the end of 2017.
He said: “Being picked up by Middlesex gives you that real sense of pride and I love playing for the club.
“There have obviously been some fantastic keepers who have played for Middlesex. I’m never going to reach maybe the top three, but it would be fantastic to finish my career at Middlesex and be within that top five in terms of victims at the club; that would be a special achievement.”
Described by teammate Ollie Rayner as the unsung hero of Middlesex’s title, Simpson helped his side chase down targets or save games on a number of occasions. Perhaps his finest all-round performance came on his birthday at Taunton in July. Following up nine catches in the match, he helped Middlesex chase down 302 in 46 overs with two wickets and two balls to spare, bringing up victory with a six to finish unbeaten on 79.
“To have contributed as much as I did in the game was fantastic, especially getting the win. It gave us massive momentum heading into the latter period of the season.”
Simpson sets equally high standards for himself with bat and gloves: “Adam Gilchrist set a precedent where all keepers now have to bat, but I’ve never shied away. I’ve always prided myself on being a very good keeper and a very good batsman.
“You see a lot made in the Press about keepers not being as good as they were back in the day and that’s something I don’t think is fair, but I guess you’re always going to look back when you had Jack Russell, Allan Knott, Bob Taylor, a lot of these guys who were absolute legends with the gloves.
“I think the modern game has moved on where you’ve got to be an excellent batter and when you do drop a catch now it’s highlighted even more, especially with all the modern technology, so you have to be efficient with both; there’s no hiding place.”
As well as their Championship success, Simpson believes Middlesex made strides in the right direction in white-ball cricket in 2016, reaching the quarter finals in the T20 Blast.
He said: “It’s still not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it’s exciting times, it shows we’re going in the right direction. We’re excited to have Daniel Vettori coming in as T20 coach and, hopefully, he’ll give us a new lease of life.
“I’m sure he’ll have his own ideas on the brand of cricket that we’re looking to play next season and we’re all working hard.
“In red-ball cricket we know our roles inside out, but I think we’re just shy of that in white-ball cricket, whether our skill levels are slightly not as good as other teams or because we haven’t generally got off to a good start in a competition and once you’re on a losing run, then momentum is never really with you.
“I think we’re making steps in the right direction, but just as a collective, I think we’ve just got to work a bit harder maybe on our skill levels and put ourselves under a bit more pressure and, hopefully, that will transform us on the field.”
While many would have backed Simpson for a Lions call-up this winter, he retains a burning ambition to represent his country after a taste of international action at U19 level.
“First and foremost I’ve got to perform and concentrate on what I do for Middlesex and, hopefully, that puts me in the selectors’ minds,” he said.
“I’ve never shied away from the fact that ever since I was a kid I’ve had this firm goal of always wanting to represent England.
“I’ve done that at junior level and been in performance squads but I haven’t gone on, so it’s a firm ambition, a burning desire to play for England. But I’ve just got to keep playing well in the county game.”
The new year marks a couple of busy months for Simpson. He is spending January working on his keeping and batting with Jack Russell and Dave Houghton respectively before returning to Cape Town next month for another stint with former India and South Africa coach Gary Kirsten.
On his return the squad head to the UAE for the Champion County match against the MCC before beginning their title defence.
If Middlesex are successful again this season, you sense that Simpson will once more have played an integral role.
I’ve never shied away from the fact that ever since I was a kid I’ve had this burning desire to play for England