If Middlesex's unexpected success in the Twenty20 Cup raised eyebrows, their invitation to Antigua to play in the Stanford Super Series would have caused most county chairman to faint in exasperation.
The Crusaders will play Stanford 20/20 champions Trinidad and Tobago on 27 October for the chance to win £104,000.
Considering they earned £42,000 for their domestic success, the Stanford carrot is irresistible - and the man of the match will walk away with £12,000 for his endeavours.
With absolutely no previous form to suggest they were likely title contenders, the Crusaders defied expectations against the defending Twenty20 champions Kent at the Rose Bowl in July.
Armed with a combination of talented top-order batsmen (Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Owais Shah), spinners with hatfuls of experience (Shaun Udal, Murali Karthik), along with Twenty20's all-time leading wicket-taker (Tyron Henderson), Middlesex have hit a winning short-form formula.
The trip to Antigua is likely to be one of the greatest money-spinners ever known in county cricket.
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