Gubbins moves out of Strauss’ shadow at last
NICK GUBBINS has long had to endure comparisons to Andrew Strauss. The similarities are obvious – both are left-handers who progressed from Radley College to open for Middlesex.
One obvious difference is in their conversion rates. When Gubbins walked out to bat against Somerset, he had eight first-class 50s but not a single century, a record that compared unfavourably with Strauss’s Test record of 27 50s and 21 centuries.
Three times in those eight halfcenturies, Gubbins had been dismissed in the 90s, including for 91 against Surrey at the Oval a week earlier, when his fine innings was ended by a tame chip to mid-off. As Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s director of cricket, said, “He did get a bit nervous in the 90s and it affected the shot he played – he didn’t play a great shot to get out.”
Just as well, then, that Gubbins began to remedy that conversion record at Lord’s. He has worked with Strauss on his game, and one topic Strauss raised was how to convert good starts into three figures. “Converting did come up in one of our conversations .That was a couple of years ago so I haven’t learned very much,” Gubbins said.
But when he carved Jim Allenby through the offside for four, Gubbins had finally acted on Strauss’s advice, and registered his maiden first-class century. It is a moment that he will forever treasure, especially with his parents lurking furtively at Lord’s.
“Words can’t describe that feeling. To walk out at Lord’s as a Middlesex player is as special as it gets, and today just topped that up even more. I think my parents were here in secret, and it’s my dad’s birthday – the stars aligned and it was one of those days when it all went my way.
“It’s a bit of a monkey off my back. Now I can just get on and enjoy cricket and batting.”
Indeed he can: it was the first stage in Gubbins forging a career as his own man, not merely one who invites lazy comparisons to Strauss.
“It’s a nice connection to have and to have half the career he had would be amazing. I’m not trying to live off it, I’m trying to make my own way in the game and do my own thing.”
While Gubbins’s game is underpinned by a solid defence, he actually has a more expansive array of strokes than England’s former captain. Middlesex signed him primarily as a four-day cricketer, but have been surprised by his growth in the limited-overs game too: he is a genuine three-format player.
“Nick’s potentially a stronger white-ball cricketer than Strauss – he’s got bigger, stronger strokes,” said Fraser. “There’s more to his game than I imagined when we signed him.”
Now Gubbins will be tasked with how to juggle first-class cricket with the limited-overs formats, but he has a sufficiently phlegmatic temperament not to be overwhelmed by that challenge.
His moment of personal history was almost usurped by his partner’s attempt to set Lord’s history. Sam Robson had reached 99, one run from becoming the first man to score four consecutive first-class centuries at Lord’s, when he dragged a ball from Jack Leach on to his stumps.
Robson’s superlative form has also benefited Gubbins. “I love batting with Sam. He breeds confidence in me,” he said.
Alas, neither has enjoyed a victory this season. Middlesex have now drawn all six of their games, not helped by an anaemic surface at Lord’s or having lost more overs than any other team in Division One this season.