There was some good news for Middlesex fans this week, despite Gloucester holding out for an unlikely draw in the latest County Championship match.
Ed Joyce and Dawid Malan are going nowhere, according to chief executive Vinny Codrington, despite reports over the weekend linking the Seaxes duo with moves away from Lord's.
Acting captain Joyce is rumoured to be being courted by Surrey,who are known to be after a long-term successor to Alan Butcher as captain.
It's a role Joyce has excelled in since standing in for injured skipper Ed Smith, and one he recently made clear in the Chronicle he wants to do on a permanent basis in the future.
But Codrington insisted Joyce had promised him there is no substance in the story. "Ed (Joyce) has told me not to pay any attention to what is written in the papers," he said.
"He's done a fantastic job since stepping in as skipper and he seems very upbeat about Middlesex. We would hope to keep him with us for the rest of his career."
Malan, meanwhile, has come onto the radar from nowhere following his debut championship hundred against Northants, and in particular his match-winning century in the Twenty20 quarter-final win last week against Lancashire at the Oval.
However, Codrington was quick to issue a hands-off warning to prospective poachers, confirming a new deal for the 20-year-old was on the table.
"We have offered David an extension to his current contract and he has promised to come and talk to me in the next two weeks," said Codrington.
"He has said he is happy at Middlesex, and I'm confident he is a man of his word. For him to make a breakthrough in the way he has is terrific.
"He's got bags of ability and is a fine example to any young cricketers. He has showed that with a bit of confidence and a few good scores, there's no limit to what you can achieve."
