NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V SURREY at Northampton (LVCC2), 14-17 JULY 2006

Before I started penning this preview I was wondering why I couldn't really remember what had happened between these two sides recently. The fact they have only met twice (both times being in 2004) in the last four seasons probably had something to do with it.

Now I remember, the last head to head was Adam Hollioake's final County Championship appearance. Not that Smokey graced it particularly. If one wants to perfectly frank, by then he appeared to have lost interest - or was it the brainless attempt at a slog sweep on a turning pitch, to bring the curtain down on such a memorable first-class career, that suggested he was ready to throw in the towel. That encounter, also at Northampton, was one of a number of matches two summers ago in which Surrey conceded a healthy first innings advantage.

Assuming the strip at Wantage Road still rewards anyone who can play themselves in, the visitors appear to be the better equipped. Northamptonshire only have one batsman averaging over fifty in first-class cricket this term - their latest Kolpak signing Lance Klusener, who has struck 626 runs at an average of 69.55. Surrey, on the other hand, boast six, all of whom are expected to play tomorrow with the choice of who to leave out seemingly coming down to two out of Azhar Mahmood, Martin Bicknell, Mohammad Akram and Jimmy Ormond.

In terms of the hosts' options with the ball, the seam of Klusener, Phillips and Nicholson and the off-spin of Brown have so far made for a reliable four-pronged threat. But if it is a decent pitch, they may rue the lack of a fifth front-line operator.

Surrey's Rikki - Mr Clarke - has 92 first-class wickets, while Northamptonshire's Riki - Mr Wessels - has 936 first-class runs to his name. Jimmy Ormond requires four more wickets for 200 first-class for Surrey; and by the way, Mark Ramprakash needs 67 more runs for 1,000 first-class against the Wantage Road oufit.

Anil Kumble will hook up with the Surrey squad next week, at Guildford. In the meantime the Brown Caps are said to be at full strength, which could give the Butchers something of a selection headache. 

Surrey's record at Northampton has not been much to write home about in the last fifteen years or so, but with Ian Salisbury and Nayan Doshi in top form with the ball right now the Brown Caps should be more than a match for Northants in the all-important spin department. If the visitors can make short work of the middle order quartet of Afzaal, Sales, Ganguly and Klusener one can only foresee one winner - and that's the 'rey!

S Peters, R White, B Shafayat, U Afzaal, D Sales (capt), S Ganguly, L Klusener, R Wessels (wk), B Phillips, M Nicholson and J Brown. 

Barry Dudleston and John Steele.

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