Carter in Stanford Crusade

Middlesex: Twenty20 champions

This time last year I was going to be playing for Henley CC and then a bit of minor counties for Berkshire and now to be leading Middlesex out for the Antigua Twenty20 classic and then the Champions League is absolutely remarkable

Shaun Udal
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Middlesex Crusaders have included two new recruits in their 15-man squad for the upcoming Stanford Super Series in Antigua.

Neil Dexter and Neil Carter have both agreed to join Middlesex just weeks before the Twenty20 winners prepare to take on Trinidad & Tobago, England, and the Stanford Super Stars in the Caribbean.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, skipper Shaun Udal revealed that former Kent batsman Dexter has been signed on a permanent deal.

However, Warwickshire all-rounder Carter has been brought in on loan to replace the departing Dirk Nannes.

New faces

"Neil Dexter has signed for Middlesex on a two-year contract, professionally starting from this tournament so he is with us for the next couple of years," Udal said.

"He's a really exciting signing, he's 24 years of age leaving Kent and he's signed for us permanently.

"Neil Carter has signed for us on loan as a direct replacement for Dirk Nannes who has gone back to Victoria, Australia, and unfortunately we can't have his services so we are going for a straight like-for-like."

A loan signing in the off-season is previously unheard of on the county circuit, however Udal is confident the deal is all above board.

"I'm not sure the legalities of it all but I'm sure it is all above board," he said. "We have got him on loan just for this tournament and there is no guarantee of him playing in the Champions League or anything after that.

"We've lost the services of Owais Shah (playing for England) unfortunately, and we've lost Dirk Nannes so we have signed Neil Dexter permanently and Neil Carter on a loan basis."

Udal, 39, is enjoying a remarkable twilight spell to his career after initially retiring from first-class cricket at the end of the 2007 campaign.

Remarkable

After returning to domestic action this season, Udal was recently named as temporary captain of Middlesex, continuing what the veteran admits has been a sensational journey.

"It's ridiculous, it's been crazy really," he said.

"This time last year I was going to be playing for Henley CC and then a bit of minor counties for Berkshire and now to be leading Middlesex out for the Antigua Twenty20 classic and then the Champions League is absolutely remarkable."

Udal also revealed that, although not included in the squad, club captain Ed Smith may feature in the Caribbean after a long injury lay-off.

"We have also got a fitness test on Ed Smith on that 15 as well so he may well be with us if his broken ankle recovers so there could be 16 names going out there," Udal confirmed.

Middlesex Crusaders squad: Shaun Udal (capt), Neil Carter, Neil Dexter, Steven Finn, Billy Godleman, Tyron Henderson, Ed Joyce, Murali Kartik, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Tim Murtagh, David Nash, Alan Richardson, Ben Scott, Andrew Strauss.