LEICESTERSHIRE V SURREY at Leicester (CC1), 21-24 AUGUST 2003

With four front-line batsmen out through injury the home side's upper order is likely to have a somewhat youthful look about it. But what better stage than a contest with Surrey to announce your arrival in first-class cricket?

Brad Hodge and Darren Maddy must feel as though the weight of the world is resting on their shoulders. Apart from these two, nobody else with a championship average over thirty this season is available to the Foxes. Perhaps it's time for 22-year-old left-handed opener John Maunders to really come of age.

The Leicestershire attack lacks bite. Skipper, Phil DeFreitas has bowled manfully, but Maddy's nagging medium pace has been the next best option. Having said that, Vasbert Drakes is just getting into his stride after flying in from the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago.  But after getting shot of the promising Carl Crowe at the end of last summer, one has to question who the Grace Road outfit see as their spin threat these days.   

Surrey, who have not lost at Leicester since 1995, have Martin Bicknell one match away from his 250th championship appearance as well as 7 wickets away from matching T.Rushby's haul of 954 f-c wickets for the county. Finally, if Alistair Brown does start, he needs just ninety more championship runs to pass a thousand against Leicestershire.

Winless Leicestershire need the impossible to happen if they are to stay up. Should the taste victory in this game it would register as something approaching a miracle. Let's just say that the weather cannot save them twice in the same season against Surrey - can it?!

Alistair Brown seems likely to be stood down for this game, but Surrey will be waiting to see if Martin Bicknell is needed by England. If he is, expect Alex Tudor (who took seven for 77 at Grace Road in 1999) as well as Jimmy Ormond to come into the side that trounced Nottinghamshire by an innings and 211 runs at Whitgift last week.

J Maunders, A Wright, D Maddy, B Hodge, J Sadler, P Nixon (wk), D Brandy, P DeFreitas (capt), V Drakes, D Masters and M Whiley.

14-17 May 2003	Match Drawn	The Oval
18-21 Sep 2002	Won By 483 Runs	The Oval
14-16 Aug 2002	Won By 7 Wickets	Leicester
4-7 Jul 2001	Match Drawn	Leicester
16-19 May 2001	Match Drawn	The Oval
19-21 Jul 2000	Won By 10 Wickets	Guildford
7-9 Jul 2000	Won By An Innings & 178 Runs	Oakham School
9-12 Jun 1999	Match Drawn	Leicester
17-19 Sep 1998	Lost By An Innings & 211 Runs	The Oval
21-24 May 1997	Match Drawn	Leicester
13-17 Jun 1996	Won By 108 Runs	The Oval
27-31 Jul 1995	Lost By An Innings & 37 Runs	Leicester
23-27 Jun 1994	Won By An Innings & 50 Runs	The Oval
29 Apr - 2 May 1993	Won By 89 Runs	Leicester
14-17 Aug 1992	Lost By 72 Runs	The Oval
14-17 Jun 1991	Match Drawn	Leicester
11-14 Aug 1990	Won By An Innings & 5 Runs	The Oval

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