Steven Finn, a former Middlesex teammate, said Tim
Murtagh is the “last of a dying breed” whose accomplishments in
first-class cricket should be “cherished” after Murtagh celebrated
his 91st and final appearance at Lord’s with first-innings statistics of 6 for
83 against Warwickshire.
Murtagh added to his overnight total of 5 for 55 by
dismissing Craig Miles for 29, but his efforts might not be enough to prevent
Middlesex from losing or even the possibility of being demoted. Despite Will
Rhodes’ century and Danny Briggs’ score of 99, Warwickshire still held a
commanding 194-run first-innings lead.
But at the age of 42, Murtagh, who has a career total
of 957 first-class wickets, including 33 at 19.85 for this season alone, put on
another classic performance of technique and endurance. Having worked as a
player-coach this year, he is expected to remain with the club on the backroom
staff next year whether or not he plays in Middlesex’s final game of the year
at Trent Bridge the following week.
During the lunch break, a ceremony at Lord’s to honour
Murtagh’s accomplishments took place, and two of his longest-serving teammates,
Finn and the former club wicketkeeper Ben Scott, gave him a framed montage of
his career.
“He’s been part of the furniture for this club
for years now, the main bowler and the main wicket-taker,” Finn said after
the presentation. “You can’t underestimate his influence within the
dressing-room as well, which is why the club wants to keep him on in a
bowling-coach capacity. So yeah, it’s going to be weird not seeing Tim Murtagh
opening the bowling from the Nursery End, as he has done for such a long time.