LEICESTERSHIRE V SURREY at Leicester (LVCC2), 16-19 JUNE 2009

Like Surrey, Leicestershire are currently building for the future, but they are starting from a lower base, as was immediately evident when the Foxes found themselves following on in their opening fixture, against Northants at Grace Road. Just one century has been struck by a Leicestershire batsman in four championship outings this term, which came when James Taylor made an unbeaten 122 to salvage a draw against Middlesex at Southgate. But, encouragingly, Boeta Dippenaar, with four half-centuries, and Tom New, who has struck three, are both averaging forty or more.

But if one thought the Foxes have had a bad time with the bat, how they have struggled with the ball. A.J.Harris, with 10 championship wickets at 34.80 runs apiece, is the only bowler currently averaging under 41.50. That said, Wayne White, in his first season at Grace Road after deciding to part company with Derbyshire, has bowled without much luck while 22-year-old seamer Harry Gurney is developing a reputation as being someone who gives the batsmen the hurry up.

Usman Afzaal needs 57 runs to reach 500 first-class runs for the season and goes into tomorrow's contest with 29 first-class career hundreds to his name. For the hosts, H.D.Ackerman has 39 f-c centuries, Matthew Boyce needs eight more runs for 1,000 runs in f-c cricket and Boeta Dippenaar has 29 f-c hundreds.

The Brown Caps will be without overseas signing, Ryan Harris who tweaked a knee ligament during the victory over Northants. His place will be taken by either Stuart Meaker or Chris Jordan; unless Surrey opt to play the extra batsman, in which case Stewart Walters is the next cab on the rank.

Surrey have not lost to Leicestershire over four days since being humiliated by the Foxes at the Oval in 1998, in the game that defined the Grace Road outfit's last championship-winning campaign. For the Brown Caps' last four-day defeat at Leicester you have to go all the way back to 1995. The momentum as the two sides approach this particular contest is most definitely with Surrey, who ended their barren run of 20 first-class matches without a win by scoring an innings victory at Northampton. But, will the weather play its part? The forecasters are saying there is a 30% chance of the opening two days being disrupted by rain. If that happens, the Brown Caps might have their work cut out to make it back to back successes.   

M Boyce, J Cobb, H Dippenaar, H Ackerman, J Taylor, T New, P Nixon (capt, wk), W White, C Henderson, A Harris and H Gurney.

Michael Gough and Jeremy Lloyds. See also The Dreaded Finger

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