GLOUCESTERSHIRE V SURREY at Bristol (FCC1), 2-5 JUNE 2004

Just one victory has resulted in Surrey's odds on winning back the County Championship title being slashed from 18-1 to 8-1.  The seven-wicket success over Kent, not to mention some record breaking stuff from Martin Bicknell and Jonathan Batty really seemed to put a spring into Surrey's step.  The "strut" hasn't quite returned yet, but another result like last week's and it will only be a matter of time before it does.

I thought it had been a while since Surrey played a championship match at Bristol, and I wasn't wrong.  1992 was the last such encounter.  However, the Oval outfit have had a lean time against Gloucestershire in the meetings the two have had more recently.  That said, tomorrow's game will be their first head-to-head for more than five years.  Much has happened since then, but still those Surrey supporters who recall the loss at Cheltenham in 1998 will want to see their side belatedly make amends for the defeat they believe cost the Brown Caps the championship that year.

This term, Gloucestershire have found it hard adapting to life in the top flight of the championship.  Craig Spearman (347 championship runs at an average of 57.83), skipper Chris Taylor and Steve Adshed are all averaging over forty with the bat.  However, Matt Windows's dip in form has been alarming. the two overseas players have not hit their straps and apart from Jon Lewis (14 wickets at 20.92 runs apiece), the 'Shire's attack has been found wanting.

Approaching milestones as far as the visitors are concerned include a 200th first-class catch, which both Alistair Brown and Mark Ramprakash are one away from pouching.  Scott Newman needs 77 more runs to pass 1,000 in the County Championship.  Martin Bicknell requires one more wicket to record 50 f-c career scalps against Gloucestershire.  Finally, Jimmy Ormond is three wickets away from a 300th in his championship career.


A first win over the west countrymen since 1995 would appear to be on the cards, however the weather could be a significant factor.  The forecast is for unbroken sunshine on Wednesday, but cloud and possibly rain on days two, three and four.


With James Benning and Ian Salisbury expected to return from injury, Nadeem Shahid and Zaheer Khan appear the most likely to miss out on opportunities to play in Bristol.


C Spearman, P Weston, T Hancock, M Windows, C Taylor (capt), A Gidman, Shoaib Malik, S Adshead (wk), J Averis, Shabbir Ahmed and J Lewis.

13-16 Apr 1999 Match Drawn The Oval
22-24 Jul 1998 Lost By 2 Wickets Cheltenham
14-16 May 1997 Lost By 9 Wickets The Oval
23-27 May 1996 Match Drawn Gloucester
27-30 Apr 1995 Won By 93 Runs The Oval
26-30 May 1994 Won By 1 Wicket Gloucester
15-17 Jul 1993 Won By An Innings & 66 Runs Guildford
26-29 Jun 1992 Won By 4 Wickets Bristol
16-18 Jul 1991 Won By 2 Wickets Guildford
28-31 Jul 1990 Match Drawn Cheltenham

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