GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLADIATORS V SURREY BROWN CAPS at Bristol (C&G Trophy), 18 JUNE 2006

When Gloucestershire carried all before them in limited-overs cricket, winning five trophies in six seasons between 1999 and 2004, the only real thorn in their side was Surrey. By that token, now the Gladiators are going through a transitional phase, they should find the inconsistent Brown Caps tempting prey.

Surrey have now lost seven out of their last eleven one-day matches, ignoring the no result against Ireland, and have only made in excess of 260 on one occasion stretching back to the middle of July last year when they racked up 358 for six against Hampshire in the quarter-final of the C&G Trophy and still lost.

But it is not all doom and gloom. Gloucestershire's leading run-maker in this season's poorly conceived competition, Ian Harvey (238 runs at an average of 59.50), is suffering with a hamstring problem and is unlikely to feature tomorrow. The Gladiators' other overseas recruit, New Zealand's Hamish Marshall, has only managed nine runs in three one-day innings since arriving at Bristol.

The main danger with the bat will therefore be former skipper Chris Taylor. With the ball, the Brown Caps will have to pay due regard to the experience of Martyn Ball (12 wickets at 14.83 runs apiece) and Jon Lewis, although the expensive Mark Hardinges has proved to be a partnership breaker this summer with twelve victims of his own.


Gloucestershire's Craig Spearman is set to make his 250th appearance in List A cricket, while Mark Hardinges and Jon Lewis go into the contest with 47 and 199 List A wickets respectively.


Few changes to the side that lost to Middlesex at Southgate last Sunday are expected. If Mark Butcher feels up to chancing his back strain in a one-day game, the only change could be Richard Clinton making way. However, Ian Salisbury is also named in the squad of thirteen.

OPPONENT DATE COMP RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
MIddlesex 11 Jun 2006 C&G Lost By 108 Runs Southgate 149 (33.4) 257-9 (50)
Hampshire 4 Jun 2006 C&G Lost By 8 Wickets Whitgift School 166 (40.2) 167-2 (26)
Glamorgan 29 May 2006 C&G Won By 68 Runs The Oval 200 (45) 132 (31.3)
Ireland 14 May 2006 C&G No Result Stormont 100-2 (15) -
Somerset 7 May 2006 C&G Lost By 26 Runs The Oval 253 (47.5) 279-5 (50)


With the Bristol wicket looking full of runs, much will depend on the in-form Alistair Brown. Or, based on the evidence of last week's game, perhaps the question should be: will someone be able to keep him company? If that does happen I foresee a rare Surrey victory.


P Weston, C Spearman, H Marshall, C Taylor, A Gidman, M Hardinges, S Adshead (wk), I Fisher, J Lewis (capt), M Ball, S Kirby.


Neil Mallender and Roy Palmer.

DATE COMP RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY GLOS
17 May 2005 C&G Won By 3 Wickets Bristol Surrey Field 232-7 (49.3) 230-8 (50)
11 Jul 2004 NL Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 176 (43.5) 180-6 (38.1)
16 May 2004 NL Lost By 42 Runs Bristol Gloucestershire Bat 215-9 (45) 257-6 (45)
5 Aug 2003 NL Won By 66 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 297-6 (45) 231 (40)
19 Jul 2003 T20 Won By 5 Runs Trent Bridge Surrey Bat 147-9 (20) 142-6 (20)
25 May 2003 NL No Result Bristol No toss made - - -
22 Sep 2002 NL Won By 79 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 263-8 (45) 184 (39.2)
19 May 2002 NL Lost By 1 Wicket Bristol Gloucestershire Field 163-9 (45) 164-9 (43.3)
16 Sep 2001 NL Won By 36 Runs Bristol Surrey Bat 157-8 (45) 121 (42)
12 Aug 2001 NL Won By 2 Wickets The Oval Gloucestershire Bat 180-8 (40.4) 176 (40.1)
14 Jul 2001 B&H Won By 47 Runs Lord's Surrey Bat 244 (49.5) 197 (45.5)
27 Jun 1999 B&H Lost By 7 Wickets Bristol Gloucestershire Field 220-9 (50) 222-3 (48)
26 Jul 1998 NL Lost By 22 Runs Cheltenham Gloucestershire Bat 239 (38) 261-8 (40)
8 Jul 1998 NWT Won By 52 Runs Bristol Surrey Bat 215 (59.1) 163 (55)
30 Apr 1998 B&H Won By 7 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 270-3 (47.3) 266-7 (50)
18 May 1997 NL Won By 5 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 177-5 (40) 176-9 (40)
30 Apr 1997 B&H Won By 3 Wickets Bristol Gloucestershire Bat 282-7 (49.2) 280-7 (50)
26 May 1996 NL Won By 72 Runs Gloucester Gloucestershire Field 138-5 (15) 66 (12.2)
30 Apr 1996 B&H Won By 3 Wickets The Oval Gloucestershire Bat 308-7 (48.5) 307-4 (50)

GO TO:




BACK TO: