NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V SURREY at Northampton (LVCC2), 11-14 JUNE 2009

With Ireland’s Niall O’Brien on ICC World Twenty20 duty and Riki Wessels suffering from suspected gastric flu, Northamptonshire face something of a wicketkeeping crisis going into this contest. In addition, the absence of David Sales, who picked up a serious knee injury during the off-season, means that the hosts will only be fielding four batsmen with a batting average over twenty-eight in this season's County Championship. It could have been just three, but they welcome back opening batsman Stephen Peters after five weeks out with a broken thumb.

Big-hitting Robert White, along with all-rounders Nicky Boje and Andrew Hall have been the mainstays of Northants' batting of late. Hall has made the most explosive start, scoring a hundred and two half-centuries in six championship innings. The 33-year-old South African also tops Northamptonshire's bowling averages with 14 wickets at 15.71 runs apiece, including a best of 5-29 on the opening day of his side's eight wicket victory over Essex.

With the surfaces at Northampton offering more assistance these days, seamers David Lucas and David Wigley have also been amongst the wickets. However, England slow left-armer, Monty Panesar has only claimed four scalps so far at a cost of 75.50 each.  


Ryan Harris goes into tomorrow's game with 969 first-class career runs to his name. Andre Nel will start with 396 f-c wickets. Of the Northants' contingent, Robert White is set to make his 75th first-class appearance, while 19-year-old Loughborough UCCE student David Murphy will be making his championship debut if Riki Wessels is unable to play.


Surrey are unlikely to start with the extra batsman they fielded against Glamorgan, which puts Stewart Walters's place in jeopardy. Murtaza Hussain would also appear to be in danger of losing out due to Chris Jordan, Stuart Meaker and Chris Schofield all pushing for inclusion.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Glamorgan 6-9 Jun 2009 Match Drawn Cardiff 368 & 82-3d 271
Middlesex 6-9 May 2009 Match Drawn The Oval 388 & 242 445 & 184-9
Derbyshire 22-25 Apr 2009 Lost By 5 Wickets Derby 131 & 360 274 & 220-5
Gloucestershire 15-18 Apr 2009 Match Drawn The Oval 160 & 64-2 333
Nottinghamshire 17-20 Sep 2008 Lost By An Inns & 143 Runs The Oval 267 & 122 532


With both of this season's championship matches at Wantage Road reaching a positive conclusion and dry weather being forecast for the next four days, Surrey can go into this game fancying their chances of ending a run of 20 first-class matches on the trot without a victory - the second worst barren run in the county's history. With Butcher back in charge as well as amongst the runs, I really fancy them to do it. Recent history is also on the Brown Caps' side - they have lost just once to Northants in the last ten meetings between the two protagonists.


R White, S Peters, D Willey, N Boje (capt), M Nelson, A Hall, S Crook, D Lucas, D Murphy (wk), M Panesar and D Wigley.


Steve Garratt and Neil Mallender. See also The Dreaded Finger

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY NORTHANTS
2-5 Aug 2006 Won By 7 Wickets The Oval Northants Bat 669-5d & 65-3 347 & 386
14-17 Jul 2006 Won By 229 Runs Northampton Surrey Bat 328 & 424-6d 300 & 223
29 Jul - 1 Aug 2004 Lost By 6 Wickets Northampton Surrey Bat 402 & 147 332 & 220-4
28 Apr - 1 May 2004 Match Drawn The Oval Northants Field 403-7d 64-2d
18-20 Jul 2001 Won By An Inns & 55 Runs Guildford Northants Bat 368 120 & 193
9-12 May 2001 Match Drawn Northampton Northants Bat 607 476 & 304-1
28 Apr - 1 May 1999 Won By 8 Wickets Northampton Northants Bat 286 & 301-2 248 & 338
17-21 Apr 1998 Match Drawn The Oval Northants Field 351-5d 44-2d & 46-1
23-26 Jul 1997 Match Drawn Northampton Surrey Bat 581-7d 401 & 241-2d
3-6 Sep 1996 Won By 225 Runs The Oval Northants Field 395 & 298-9d 235 & 233
18-20 May 1995 Lost By 9 Runs Northampton Northants Bat 263 & 190 403 & 59

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