HAMPSHIRE V SURREY at the Rose Bowl (LVCC1), 30 AUGUST - 2 SEPTEMBER 2007

Surrey have only ever beaten Hampshire in the championship since the latter's move to the Rose Bowl. The Brown Caps will be buoyed further by the absence of key players from the hosts' line-up.

With Dimitri Mascarehas and Chris Tremlett on England duty and Shane Warne out with an injured rib, Hampshire go into this encounter with only one bowler with more than twelve championship wickets under their belt this term, namely James Bruce. Daren Powell heads the championship bowling averages list with an average of 18.83. 21-year-old seamer David Griffiths has made a useful start to his championship career by taking 12 wickets at 25.91 runs apiece in four appearances. If Shaun Udal doesn't play - he has had only three 4-day outings this season - the England Under 19 spinner Liam Dawson will make his first-class debut. Sean Ervine's medium pace will complete the picture. However, Ervine's championship bowling average is currently 145.50, with two wickets.

Hampshire's batting is in better shape, even though the are missing Kevin Pietersen. But as Pietersen hasn't played in the championship since June 2005, his absence is something the Rose Bowl outfit have long since come to terms with. Jimmy Adams. Chris Benham and Michael Lumb's lack of runs have been a concern this summer, but Michael Brown (787 championship runs at an average of 43.72) appears to have come of age, while Michael Carberry, John Crawley and Nic Pothas have all contributed on a regular basis. 


Scott Newman needs 15 runs for 5,000 first-class runs for Surrey. Jimmy Ormond has made 995 runs for the Brown Caps. Mark Ramprakash needs 45 runs for 30,000 f-c career runs. For Hampshire, Michael Lumb has 4,872 f-c career runs.


Surrey appear set to replace Alistair Brown with Chris Schofield, otherwise their side will be unchanged from the one that earned a draw against Durham at the Riverside. However, Mohammad Akram and Matthew Spriegel have been added to the squad as cover. Rikki Clarke had hoped to feature in the second eleven game that started today at Guildford, but he has not been passed fit after undergoing tests for Hepatitis. Rory Hamilton-Brown is playing in that match, though, despite rumours that he is parting company with the Brown Caps.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Sussex 21-24 Aug 2007 Match Abandoned The Oval - -
Durham 13-16 Aug 2007 Match Drawn Riverside 183 & 198-3 232 & 397-7d
Kent 8-9 Aug 2007 Won By 4 Wickets Canterbury 215 &108-6 150 & 171
Worcestershire 25-28 Jul 2007 Match Drawn Guildford 369 217 & 307-5
Yorkshire 20-23 Jul 2007 Match Drawn Headingley 229 307 & 2-1


I don't want to say Surrey win, in case the game goes the other way and leaves Mark Butcher's men needing a mountain to climb. But one has to say that, other than Hampshire's new-ball pair, their attack is unlikely to worry the visitors. The weather forecast is for four dry days. They could well be some of the crucial days in Surrey's season.


M Carberry, M Brown, J Adams, J Crawley, M Lumb, N Pothas (capt, wk), S Ervine, S Udal, D Powell, J Bruce and D Griffiths.


Mike Harris and Neil Mallender.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY HAMPSHIRE
25-28 Apr 2007 Lost By 35 Runs The Oval Hampshire Bat 203 & 467 481 & 224-1
24-27 Aug 2005 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Bat 378 & 302 361-6d
15-17 Jun 2005 Won By An Innings & 55 Runs Rose Bowl Surrey Bat 361 146 & 160
11-14 Sep 2002 Won By 123 Runs Rose Bowl Surrey Bat 418 & 422-8d 327 & 390
22-25 Aug 2002 Won By An Innings & 60 Runs The Oval Hampshire Bat 576 190 & 326
29 Jun - 2 Jul 2000 Won By 120 Runs Southampton Surrey Bat 331 & 228-6d 167 & 272
1-4 Jun 2000 Won By 2 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 333 & 142 210 & 263
14-17 Jul 1999 Won By 156 Runs Guildford Surrey Bat 171 & 482 322 & 175
13-15 May 1998 Won By An Innings & 184 Runs Southampton Surrey Bat 591 189 & 218
16-19 Jul 1997 Won By 9 Wickets Guildford Surrey Bat 477 & 78-1 303 & 251
25-29 Jul 1996 Won By 5 Wickets Southampton Hampshire Bat 331 & 332-5 359 & 301-4d
14-18 Sep 1995 Match Drawn The Oval Hampshire Bat 71-2d & 175-2 185 & 152

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