Joyce looks worth the wait for England place

Middlesex 214-7 Northamptonshire 188 Middlesex win by 26 runs

The England selector Geoff Miller attended yesterday's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy third-round match between Northamptonshire and Middlesex. With England sides to select and players of potential to watch the former Derbyshire, Essex and England all-rounder would have been hoping to witness an Owais Shah or a David Sales push their case for international recognition. Miller would have left the County Ground disappointed and wondering why he bothered.

Apart from a fortuitous fifty by the Middlesex captain, Andrew Strauss, decent all-round performances from Simon Cook and Northamptonshire's Graeme Swann and a workmanlike 50 from the Australian-reared but England-qualified Jeff Cook there was little else to report back to the think tank of English cricket. The most significant performances in Middlesex's 26-run victory were put in by players unavailable to England's selectors.

The game's most telling contribution came from Ed Joyce, Middlesex's gifted left-hander, who compiled an accomplished 72. It deservedly won him the man-of-the match award on a dry pitch which stifled free scoring and highlighted what potential he has. Born and bred in Dublin, Joyce made a big impression during 2002 when he scored over a thousand runs in his first full season as a pro. Such form has continued this summer and it would have been with a view to watching the 24-year-old that Miller had made his journey.

The problem for the selectors and Joyce is that, as of yet, he is ineligible to play for England for another two years, despite Middlesex's efforts to have his qualification period reduced. The wait would be over had he attended an English University rather than Trinity College in Dublin – to study his degree in Economics and Geography – or not played for Ireland in the 2001 ICC Trophy.

On yesterday's form, the delay could be worth it. Arriving at the crease with his side on 53 for 2, after Michael Cawdron had taken two early wickets in an excellent opening spell, Joyce was watchful to begin with but started to raise the tempo at just the right time. There is a touch of David Gower in his effortless style and it was the spinners, from whom he collected the majority of his runs with controlled sweeps.

Just as he was about to take the game away from Northamptonshire he became the third of Swann's four victims when he was deceived by a fine piece of slow bowling and was stumped. Joyce need not have worried because Simon Cook took over and smashed an entertaining 33, which contained two sixes, off 28 balls.

Whether 214 would be enough was debatable. After 10 overs, however, it became clear it would be as Middlesex's opening attack of Chad Keegan – an EU-qualified player – and Joe Dawes – overseas player – took four wickets in a 20-ball spell that reduced Northamptonshire to 29 for 4. Cook and Swann attempted to repair the damage, but, with the run-rate rising, the home side were always under pressure against a Middlesex bowling attack containing a promising new recruit in Pakistani leg-spinner Imran Tahir.