GLAMORGAN V SURREY at Cardiff (FCC1), 27-30 APRIL 2005

Given the forecasters are predicting rain, rain and more rain, it is interesting to see that Surrey and Glamorgan have invariably cancelled one another out in recent years. The last time a championship match between the two at Cardiff ended positively was back in July 1987 when Keith Medlycott followed up his second innings 65 with figures of 4-70 to hand the visitors victory in an unusually low-scoring contest.

The manner of the next success matters little to both of these teams. A win will be a win and hopefully it will kick-start a season that has not begun the way it was meant to. It is far too premature to bill the 100th first-class meeting between Surrey and Glamorgan as an early season relegation battle, but the stakes could not be higher right now.

The Welshmen are still highly embarrassed about their opening round defeat by an innings and 43 runs at the hands of the defending champions. Yesterday the Glamorgan skipper, Robert Croft said: "It was a poor effort all round at Warwickshire and the guys know that; they don't need the captain to tell them." Meanwhile, Surrey have gone from being favourites to win Division Two of the totesport League to the side that now finds itself propping up the table and who, last week, suffered the ignominy of losing to the Bradford/Leeds University Centre of Cricketing Excellence.

The dangermen Surrey need to have plans for are undoubtedly Matthew Elliott, who struck 84 and 69 against Warwickshire and was the Welshmen's best batsman in the championship last summer with 1,245 runs at an average of 54.13. David Hemp just missed out on a second innings hundred at Edgbaston and Michael Powell was a member of last winter's England A squad, which, in short, means he is none too shabby. With the ball, not one of Glamorgan's bowlers came out of the Warwickshire game with their head held high. Last season, however, 23-year-old seamer David Harrison and the experienced Robert Croft both took over fifty wickets for the Cardiff based outfit.

Approaching milestones for the travelling contingent: Jonathan Batty needs one more hundred for his tenth, Nayan Doshi is 3 wickets away from the 50th of his career, Tim Murtagh requires one wicket for 50 f-c wickets for Surrey, Mark Ramprakash is 61 runs away from 25,000 first-class runs and Graham Thorpe - who has made 985 championship runs in 8 appearances against Glamorgan - currently has 49 centuries to his name.


If the weather forecast is to be believed there will be precious little play in this match before Friday. If that does prove to be the case it will be virtually impossible to obtain a positive result. If it turns out to be a race for bonus points, Surrey should finish slightly ahead thanks to the depth they have in their batting.


Due to the injuries sustained by Azhar Mahmood (shin) and Ian Salisbury (intercostal muscle) since the opener against Sussex, Tim Murtagh and Nayan Doshi are set to make their first championship outings of the season. James Benning is on standby in case Rikki Clarke (ankle) fails a late fitness test.


M Elliott, I Thomas, D Hemp, M Powell, J Hughes, M Wallace (wk), R Croft (capt), D Thomas, A Wharf, D Harrison and S Jones.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY GLAMORGAN
12-15 Sep 2001 Match Drawn Cardiff Glamorgan Bat 701-9d 258 & 69-1
8-11 Aug 2001 Lost By 3 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 281 & 141 223 & 201-7
4-5 Aug 1999 Won By An Innings & 124 Runs The Oval Glamorgan Bat 309 101 & 84
1-3 Jul 1998 Won By 6 Wickets Swansea Glamorgan Bat 199 & 214-4 197 & 212
2-5 Sep 1997 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Bat 204 & 487 438 & 107-3
12-16 Sep 1996 Match Drawn Cardiff Glamorgan Bat 471-9d & 205-7 364 & 442-9d
22-26 Jun 1995 Match Drawn The Oval Glamorgan Bat 397 & 302-9 450 & 329
2-6 Jun 1994 Match Drawn Swansea Surrey Bat 429 77-2
10-14 Jun 1993 Match Drawn The Oval Glamorgan Field 282 & 310-6d 166 & 93-4
3-6 Jul 1992 Won By 50 Runs Neath Glamorgan Field 316-6d & 232-5d 250-6d & 248
26-29 Jul 1991 Match Drawn The Oval Glamorgan Bat 250-7d & 288-8 321-9d & 248-4d
30 Jun - 3 Jul 1990 Match Drawn Cardiff Surrey Field 150-1d & 139-6 299 & 127-5d

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