LANCASHIRE V SURREY at Old Trafford (CC1), 26-29 AUGUST 2003

No matter what time of the year teams go to Manchester, they have one eye on the weather forecast. Unfortunately, it looks highly likely that at least one of the next four days will see the arrival of some wet stuff. There will definitely be more play than when Surrey visited the "Venice of the north" in 2001, but for a positive result to be reached the game will need to be fairly well advanced by the end of day two.

The main danger with the bat is Stuart Law who averages 83.31 in this season's championship and has struck 186, 15, 96, 7 and 144 in his last five innings. Lancashire's other overseas player Carl Hooper has been in good nick too, making 201 off 193 balls, including an amazing 11 sixes, in their most recent match against Middlesex at Old Trafford. Chilton, Sutcliffe and Loye provide support, but the fact that skipper Warren Hegg has dropped himself down to eight speaks volumes for the proficiency Chapple and Schofield have shown this summer. If nothing else, then, the red roses bat all the way down.

The good news for the visitors is that Lancashire have struggled to bowl sides out, even over four full days. Their bowlers have only managed seven five-wicket hauls in 12 matches, and five of them are shared by Gary Keedy (38 wickets at an average of 27.31) and Carl Hooper, who has been a model of economy. James Anderson (who is unavailable) and Peter Martin have taken one each, but John Wood cannot be far away from his first in the County Championship since 2000 - his last season with Durham. 

For Surrey, Jimmy Ormond is just one away from capturing his 50th first-class wicket of the season. Martin Bicknell needs five more for his fiftieth against Lancashire and seven victims away from matching T.Rushby's haul of 954 f-c wickets for Surrey. If Mark Ramprakash does play he needs 129 runs to reach a thousand against the red rose county. But, assuming he doesn't, Alistair Brown will have another crack at making his first hundred against Lancashire, having scored at least one against all of the other 16 first-class counties.

With two closely matched sides it should be difficult to predict, but the forecast for Thursday tells me that this one could well end in a wet and disappointing draw.

Azhar Mahmood and Adam Hollioake will definitely play, despite the fitness concerns which surfaced during the match at Leicester. Surrey wait to see if Martin Bicknell will be available following his exertions in the Fourth Test at Headingley, but Mark Ramprakash is doubtful following the blow he received on the shoulder from Brad Hodge when fielding at short leg.

M Chilton, I Sutcliffe, M Loye, S Law, C Hooper, C Schofield, G Chapple, W Hegg (capt, wk), P Martin, J Wood and G Keedy.

18-21 Apr 2003	Match Drawn	The Oval
31 May - 3 Jun 2002	Match Drawn	Old Trafford
8-11 May 2002	Won By 3 Wickets	The Oval
29 Jun - 2 Jul 2001	Match Drawn	The Oval
25-28 Apr 2001	Abandoned	Old Trafford
13-16 Sep 2000	Match Drawn	Old Trafford
2-5 Aug 2000	Won By 272 Runs	The Oval
15-18 Jun 1999	Won By 4 Wickets	The Oval
18-21 Jun 1998	Lost By 6 Wickets	Old Trafford
10-12 Sep 1997	Lost By An Innings & 55 Runs	The Oval
7-9 Aug 1996	Won By 140 Runs	Southport
29 Aug - 1 Sep 1995	Lost By 9 Wickets	The Oval
5-9 May 1994	Won By 10 Wickets	Old Trafford
3-7 Jun 1993	Lost By 96 Runs	The Oval
4-6 Aug 1992	Lost By 86 Runs	Lytham
17-20 Sep 1991	Lost By 1 Wicket	Old Trafford
22-24 May 1991	Won By 8 Wickets	The Oval
29-31 Aug 1990	Match Drawn	Blackpool
3-7 May 1990	Match Drawn	The Oval

GO TO:




BACK TO: