NOTTINGHAMSHIRE V SURREY at Trent Bridge (LVCC1), 11-14 JULY 2008

With the added threat of a wet welcome, the Surrey faithful will be travelling to Nottingham more in hope than expectation in more ways than one tomorrow. Mind you, you have to go back to 1992 to find the last time the Brown Caps were outplayed at Trent Bridge in the championship.

Now, I thought Surrey were short of runs, but looking at Nottinghamshire's four-day batting averages one has to wonder how they are currently top of Division One. Only Mark Wagh (558 runs at an average of 50.72, including seven half-centuries) and the Outlaws' skipper, Chris Read are averaging over 38 with the bat this term. Will Jefferson (with an average of 12.16) and Bilal Shafayat (17.33) have been particularly disappointing. Furthermore, only Read and Mark Ealham have made reached three figures.

Ah, but the Notts bowling has really been firing on all cylinders this summer. New aquisition Darrin Pattinson, a 28-year-old seamer from Victoria, has taken 24 wickets at 22.20 runs apiece, while Charlie Shreck has bagged 28 at a cost of 29.14. With Andre Adams averaging 13.50 with the ball and Graeme Swann's off-spin picking up wickets at 20.16 runs apiece, it will be an achievement if the Brown Caps muster more than 250 in their first innings. 


Jonathan Batty needs 7 dismissals for 500 first-class dismissals in total. Matt Nicholson needs one wicket for 400 career f-c wickets and 2 wickets for his 50th for Surrey. Mark Ramprakash is, of course, one away from his 100th f-c hundred.


Chris Jordan and Stewart Walters are both returning from injury and expected to replace Alistair Brown and Chris Schofield (groin). Chris Murtagh is also in the Brown Caps squad, though.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Kent 29 Jun - 2 Jul 2008 Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval 397 & 130 270 & 260-6
Somerset 30 May - 2 Jun 2008 Lost By 8 Wickets Whitgift Sch 326 & 227 446 & 111-2
Yorkshire 21-24 May 2008 Match Drawn The Oval 466-8d & 299-6d 525
Hampshire 14-17 May 2008 Match Drawn Rose Bowl 278 & 229-8d 227 & 247-8
Sussex 30 Apr - 3 May 2008 Match Drawn Hove 400-5d 475 & 13-0


Rain, rain, rain - or so the forecasters are saying. Only day four looks like it will see much cricket. But if the wet stuff stays away from Trent Bridge I would be misguided to suggest that Surrey will to do anything but struggle. Still, we need to see who has got character and who hasn't.


W Jefferson, M Wood, M Wagh, A Voges, S Patel, C Read (capt, wk), G Swann, M Ealham, A Adams, D Pattinson and C Shreck.


Martin Bodenham and Peter Willey.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY NOTTS
26-29 Jul 2005 Match Drawn Trent Bridge Surrey Bat 136 & 292-6d 226 & 169-8
6-9 May 2005 Lost By An Inns & 71 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 217 & 404 692-7d
13-15 Aug 2003 Won By An Inns & 211 Runs Whitgift School Surrey Bat 693 240 & 242
9-11 May 2003 Won By An Inns & 6 Runs Trent Bridge Notts Bat 393 211 & 176
1-2 Sep 1999 Won By 10 Wickets The Oval Notts Bat 199 & 153-0 115 & 233
19-21 Aug 1998 Won By 7 Wickets Trent Bridge Surrey Field 270 & 72-3 213 & 125
27-30 Jun 1997 Won By 131 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 201-9d & 123-6d 73-1d & 120
22-26 Aug 1996 Match Drawn Trent Bridge Notts Bat 128-4d & 53-0 446-9d & Forfeited
20-24 Jul 1995 Won By 171 Runs Guildford Notts Field 239 & 528-9d 324 & 272
21-23 Jul 1994 Won By An Inns & 231 Runs Trent Bridge Notts Bat 604-4d 125 & 248
29-31 Jul 1993 Won By 3 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 228 & 147-7 68 & 306
7-10 Sep 1992 Lost By 5 Wickets Trent Bridge Surrey Bat 207 & 411 357 & 262-5
21-23 Jul 1992 Lost By 3 Wickets The Oval Notts Field 333-4d & 219-7d 201-2d & 352-7

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