KENT V SURREY at Canterbury (LVCC2), 10-13 AUGUST 2011

With Kent keen to avoid claiming the wooden spoon in this year's County Championship and Surrey still entertaining hopes of promotion to Division One, the last thing both of these sides need is a weather forecast that points to a day and a half of play being lost to the elements.

I recall making this point prior to the corresponding encounter at the Oval, but one glance at Kent's batting averages tells you everything you need to know if you're baffled by the hop county lowly standing in Division Two. Only Rob Key (717 championship runs at an average of 37.73) and Azhar Mahmood, who misses this match through injury, are currently averaging over 31.00. Geraint Jones (17.95) has been particularly disappointing, but bearing in mind that Joe Denly and Sam Northeast are in the final year of their current contracts, batting averages in the mid-twenties give them precious little bargaining power.

The absence of Azhar Mahmood is a double blow for he is also heading Kent's bowling averages. Off-spinner James Tredwell is currently the hop county's leading wicket-taker with 30 victims at 32.90 runs apiece. David Balcombe impressed during his loan spell from Hampshire, but he's also out of the picture. So, the only other bowler of note, who is likely to play tomorrow, is the veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens, who was 17 championship wickets at an average of 28.41. 


Mark Ramprakash is set to make his 150th first-class appearance for Surrey. Of the likely Kent line-up, James Tredwell currently has 297 first-class wickets, while Wahab Riaz has 246.


Surrey are likely to field an unchanged side from the one that tasted success against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. With Stuart Meaker representing the England Lions, Chris Jordan has been named as cover in Surrey's 12-man party.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Gloucestershire 27-30 Jul 2011 Won By 2 Wickets Cheltenham 423 & 186-8 286 & 320
Middlesex 20-23 Jul 2011 Lost By 6 Wickets Guildford 117 & 379 308 & 190-4
Kent 10-13 Jul 2011 Won By 21 Runs The Oval 387 & 184 250 & 300
Gloucestershire 19-21 Jun 2011 Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval 225 & 195 261 & 161-6
Derbyshire 29 May - 1 Jun 2011 Won By 7 Wickets Derby 358 & 142-3 400-9d & 99


Surrey's last five championship outings have alternated between wins and losses. On that basis this one is heading for an upset. However, that's pretty tenuous stuff. Kent's record against the Oval outfit at Canterbury in recent years, suggests they have the edge. While I don't always have much faith in weather forecasts, even if this one's half wrong I don't see a positive outcome being reached. Call me boring (many do), but I'm backing the draw.


R Key (capt), J Denly, S Northeast, M van Jaarsveld, D Stevens, G Jones (wk), A Ball, J Tredwell, M Coles, S Cook and Wahab Riaz.


Steve Gale and John Steele.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY KENT
10-13 Jul 2011 Won By 21 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 387 & 184 250 & 300
28-31 Aug 2009 Lost By 6 Wickets Canterbury Surrey Bat 423 & 293 517 & 200-4
10-13 Jul 2009 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Bat 386 & 170-3 620-7d
4-7 Sep 2008 Match Drawn Canterbury Kent Field 307-9d 160-1
29 Jun - 2 Jul 2008 Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 397 & 130 270 & 260-6
8-9 Aug 2007 Won By 4 Wickets Canterbury Kent Bat 215 & 108-6 150 & 171
30 May - 2 Jun 2007 Lost By An Inns & 79 Runs Whitgift School Kent Field 166 & 319 564-5d
20-23 Jul 2005 Lost By 4 Wickets Guildford Surrey Bat 452-8d & 350 572 & 232-6
25-28 May 2005 Match Drawn T'bridge Wells Kent Bat 324 & 333-4 262 & 467-4d
18-21 Aug 2004 Match Drawn Canterbury Kent Bat 402-8d 226 & 234-8
25-28 May 2004 Won By 7 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 479 & 174-3 239 & 413
4-6 Sep 2003 Lost By An Inns & 155 Runs Canterbury Kent Bat 125 & 255 535
2-5 Jul 2003 Won By 186 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 401 & 251-3d 352-5d & 114
19-22 Jul 2002 Won By 2 Wickets Canterbury Kent Bat 225 & 410-8 374 & 260
12-14 Jun 2002 Won By 9 Wickets The Oval Surrey Field 361 & 61-1 153 & 268

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