SURREY V GLAMORGAN at Swansea (LVCC2), 20-23 JUNE 2006

The odds for this match make interesting reading. For what is a two-horse race the Welshmen are 5/2 against. Mind, you're unlikely to strike it rich if you back Surrey, who are 2/7 on. But there will be no pay out for a draw, which might otherwise have been the best bet looking at the weather forecast for Swansea for the next four days. That said, when the St.Helen's ground played host to Glamorgan v Somerset a few weeks ago, the game lasted just two days.

Glamorgan's batting has not held too many fears this summer. Once Mark Cosgrove (607 championship runs at an average of 60.70) has gone it has tended to be downhill thereafter. Cosgrove, who will play his last game for Glamorgan before flying home to represent Australia A, and Michael Powell have been the only batsmen to enjoy any sort of form this season. Coach, John Derrick's patience with opener Dan Cherry has run out, so Cherry has been dropped for this match in favour of Richard Grant.

The bowling attack could see the re-introduction of Ryan Watkins, who has done a job in the absence, due to injury, of Simon Jones and Huw Waters. But it has been the spinners, Robert Croft (27 championship wickets at 24.11 runs apiece) and Dean Cosker who have led the way in terms of wickets taken.

Mohammad Akram needs 6 wickets for 400 first-class. Jonathan Batty needs two catches for 350 for Surrey. Martin Bicknell also needs two catches, this time for his 100th for Surrey. Nayan Doshi is three wickets away from 100 first-class. Finally, Mark Ramprakash needs 32 runs for 1,000 runs for the season and one hundred for his 30th for Surrey.

Surrey look set to field the same eleven that beat Somerset at Bath. Nayan Doshi has been placed on standby, though. Azhar Mahmood's ankle injury will keep him sidelined for at least another week, but the knee injury picked up by Jimmy Ormond last week, when he returned to action for the Surrey 2nd XI against Warwickshire, has responded to treatment, so he will be turning out for the twos again, this time against Glamorgan at Cheam.   

Surrey have not lost a championship match in Wales since 1983. Given that it is also a case of top versus bottom in the table, you would have to question my sanity if I said anything other than a Surrey win. But the weather could be a factor if the five-day forecast is to be believed.

M Cosgrove, R Grant, D Hemp, M Powell, N Peng, M Wallace (wk), J Franklin, A Wharf, R Croft (capt), D Harrison and D Cosker.

Neil Bainton and Roy Palmer.

GO TO:




BACK TO: