GLOUCESTERSHIRE V SURREY at Bristol (LVCC2), 6-9 SEPTEMBER 2006

Before this season, Surrey had not beaten Gloucestershire in the County Championship since 1995. When they did, boy did the Brown Caps rub the Bristolians' noses in the dirt. Shorn of skipper Jon Lewis - as is the case for this contest - Gloucestershire fell victim to Surrey's most decisive win since overcoming Glamorgan by an innings and 331 runs at Cardiff Arms Park in 1936.

Were it not for the weather forecast, the visitors could be forgiven for fancying their first double over Gloucestershire since 1964. The Nevil Road outfit hardly covered themselves in glory on their last championship outing, when they were bowled out for 161 and 172 by Somerset at Taunton, to go down by an innings and 76 runs.

Only James Averis, with figures of 4-79, had cause to look back on that game with any degree of affection; although 22-year-old slow left-armer Vikram Banerjee bowled with a fair degree of control. The former Yorkshire fast bowler Steve Kirby fills the gap created by Lewis's England call-up. Although Kirby has taken 42 championship wickets at 39.97 runs apiece, he is currently lying fourth in Gloucestershire's bowling averages behind Lewis, Ian Harvey (who is out with an pulled hamstring) and veteran off-spinner Martyn Ball.

The hosts' batting does not appear to be in much better shape. Only three of the Gloucestershire batsmen likely to be on show in this match have scored more than one championship hundred this term. Hamish Marshall has notched up five in nine outings and Craig Spearman - 1195 runs at an average of 44.25 - has been far more consistent this summer. Perhaps that's because he was in my fantasy side last year, but not this! 


Jonathan Batty needs 33 runs for 1,000 in first-class cricket this year and three dismissals for 50 this term. Nayan Doshi needs 3 wickets for 100 f-c wickets for Surrey. For Gloucestershire, Alex Gidman is 38 runs away from 1,000 f-c in 2006, while Hamish Marshall has 934.


Of the side that beat Glamorgan at the Brit Oval by 218 runs, Mohammad Akram and Ian Salisbury are rested, which opens the door for Stewart Walters, Jade Dernbach and, perhaps, Tim Murtagh to get a game. As for news on Jimmy Ormond's fight to get fit, there is no news. 

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Glamorgan 30 Aug - 1 Sep 2006 Won By 218 Runs The Oval 433 & 309-5d 269 & 255
Essex 16-18 Aug 2006 Lost By An Inns & 2 Runs Colchester 330 & 198 530
Worcestershire 8-10 Aug 2006 Won By An Inns & 107 Runs Worcester 576 304 & 165
Northamptonshire 2-5 Aug 2006 Won By 7 Wickets The Oval 669-5d & 65-3 347 & 386
Somerset 19-22 Jul 2006 Match Drawn Guildford 717 688-8d


If rain does prove to be a factor in this match - the forecast for Thursday through to Saturday is less than encouraging - it will take an unswerving bowling performance from one these sides to force a result. In the last three championship matches played at Bristol this summer, two of which have ended in draws, only one team has failed to gain maximum first innings batting points. That was when the hosts made 394 all out against Essex. Sorry, you wanted my prediction, didn't you. Well, I think I'll go for the draw.


P Weston, C Spearman, H Marshall, Kadeer Ali, A Gidman (capt), S Adshead (wk), M Hardinges, M Ball, J Averis, S Kirby and
V Banerjee.


Neil Bainton and David Constant.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY GLOUCS
3-5 May 2006 Won By An Inns & 297 Runs The Oval Gloucestershire Bat 639-8d 207 & 135
16-19 Aug 2005 Match Drawn The Oval Gloucestershire Bat 463 350 &294-6
8-11 Jul 2005 Match Drawn Bristol Surrey Bat 603 & 84-3 288 & 494
18-21 Jun 2004 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Field 598 368 & 255-9
2-4 Jun 2004 Lost By 6 Wickets Bristol Surrey Bat 298 & 213 406 & 106-4
13-16 Apr 1999 Match Drawn The Oval Gloucestershire Field 342 & 229-7d 213 & 209-5
22-24 Jul 1998 Lost By 2 Wickets Cheltenham Surrey Bat 297 & 135 167 & 266-8
14-16 May 1997 Lost By 9 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 115 & 269 371 & 15-1
23-27 May 1996 Match Drawn Gloucester Gloucestershire Bat 228-6d & 174-8 373 & 163-2d
27-30 Apr 1995 Won By 93 Runs The Oval Gloucestershire Bat 217 & 475 392 & 207
26-30 May 1994 Won By 1 Wicket Gloucester Surrey Field 72-3d & 354-9 319-7d & 106-4d
15-17 Jul 1993 Won By An Inns & 66 Runs Guildford Surrey Field 381 153 & 162
26-29 Jun 1992 Won By 4 Wickets Bristol Surrey Field 300-5d & 232-6 352-9d & 178
16-18 Jul 1991 Won By 2 Wickets Guildford Gloucestershire Bat 250-3d & 252-8 304-9d & 197-3d
28-31 Jul 1990 Match Drawn Cheltenham Surrey Field 200-6d & 302-9 301 & 202-4d

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