GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLADIATORS V SURREY LIONS at Bristol (TSL1), 16 MAY 2004

For the first time this season Surrey go into a game well and truly as underdogs – yes, even the bookies have woken up to the fact that the Oval outfit are in the mire. Mind you, Gloucestershire haven’t exactly set the world alight, with their solitary win to date being against Holland in the C&G Trophy. However, few people considered them serious contenders, so the preservation of top division status – in the County Championship as well as the National League – was always going to be their first priority. Who could have predicted that Surrey’s hopes for the 2004 season would now be in line with Mark Alleyne’s?

One crumb of comfort the visitors can take into tomorrow’s televised contest is that their recent record against the Gladiators is very good indeed. Six out of the last seven limited-overs match-ups between these two sides have gone the way of the South Londoners. Given what has been a wretched few weeks, the Lions will be desperately hoping that history keeps faith with them.

The wicket of Craig Spearman will be as crucial as ever. Last summer he made two centuries in this competition – against Warwickshire and Essex – and this term he has already gone straight to the top of Gloucestershire’s one-day batting averages with a tally of 148 runs in three innings, closely followed by Phil Weston and Matt Windows.

With the ball their plan is for Mike Smith and Jon Lewis to keep thing tight before James Averis and Martyn Ball come into their own. With Shoaib Malik not necessarily regarded a one-day player, the fifth bowler tomorrow is likely to be a combination of Alleyne and Gidman.


With no Butcher, no Thorpe, no Saqlain and no luck, sorry guys, but I have to favour Gloucestershire having something to say about their recent inability to beat the Ovalites.


As I have just indicated there will be some notable absentees from the Surrey line-up tomorrow. Assuming Butcher and Thorpe are in the squad for next Thursday’s Test match, they will be resting. Plus, despite battling on today, Saqlain is out for at least a month with a sore knee. Whilst Surrey are believed to be exploring the option of replacing him, no names are in the frame. Therefore, in come Alistair Brown, Rikki Clarke and Tim Murtagh. James Benning makes up the twelve, in case there are any last minute problems.


P Weston, C Spearman, A Gidman, M Windows, C Taylor, M Alleyne (capt), S Adshead (wk), M Ball, J Lewis, J Averis and M Smith.

5 Aug 2003 NL Won By 66 Runs The Oval
19 Jul 2003 T20 Won By 5 Runs Trent Bridge
25 May 2003 NL No Result Bristol
22 Sep 2002 NL Won By 79 Runs The Oval
19 May 2002 NL Lost By 1 Wicket Bristol
16 Sep 2001 NL Won By 36 Runs Bristol
12 Aug 2001 NL Won By 2 Wickets The Oval
14 Jul 2001 B&H Won By 47 Runs Lord's
27 Jun 1999 B&H Lost By 7 Wickets Bristol
26 Jul 1998 NL Lost By 22 Runs Cheltenham
8 Jul 1998 NWT Won By 52 Runs Bristol
30 Apr 1998 B&H Won By 7 Wickets The Oval
18 May 1997 NL Won By 5 Wickets The Oval
30 Apr 1997 B&H Won By 3 Wickets Bristol
26 May 1996 NL Won By 72 Runs Gloucester
30 Apr 1996 B&H Won By 3 Wickets The Oval
16 Jul 1995 NL Won By 19 Runs The Oval
29 May 1994 NL Won By 10 Runs Gloucester
18 Jul 1993 NL Won (Scoring Rate) Guildford
28 Jun 1992 NL Won By 17 Runs Bristol
5 May 1992 B&H Won By 2 Wickets The Oval
12 May 1991 NL Lost By 25 Runs The Oval
29 Jul 1990 NL Lost By 5 Wickets Cheltenham

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