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NOTTINGHAMSHIRE V SURREY at Trent Bridge (LVCC1), 15-18 MAY 2013

Surrey travel to Trent Bridge, where they haven't lost a championship game in over twenty years, needing what team director Chris Adams has described a "must win". Nottinghamshire, who lie two places above their opponents, in sixth, also have problems; not least the absence of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, who are on England duty, and all-rounder Andre Adams.

Other than Alex Hales and Samit Patel, Nottinghamshire's top order have all been productive without being spectacular in this season's championship. The pick has been James Taylor (287 runs at an average of 57.40), while Ed Cowan and Michael Lumb have both made over two hundred runs at forty plus.

Harry Gurney, who missed the defeat to Durham, returns to head up the Notts attack, which has benefited from the presence of Stuart Broad of late. Take Broad out of the equation, though, and their championship bowling averages look very sorry indeed. Gurney is averaging 21.14, Steven Mullaney 25.50 and Andre Adams, who is nursing an injured calf, has collected his wickets at a cost of 36.33 runs apiece. In short, the likes of Luke Fletcher and Ajmal Shahzad need to up their game for the Trent Bridge outifit to be competitive when shorn of their England stars.


Gareth Batty now has 494 first-class wickets to his name, while Chris Tremlett needs five more for 400. Gary Wilson has 928 f-c runs for Surrey. Of the Notts contingent, Andy Carter has 49 f-c career wickets and Chris Read 749 dismissals for Nottinghamshire.


No real surprises in today's squad announcement. A record of two championship wickets at an average of 120.50 could see new signing Gary Keedy demoted to the Second XI for quite some time. Jon Lewis, who offers a lot more with the bat than most of Surrey's tail, which, admittedly, isn't saying much, comes in to replace him. Jade Dernbach, who was rested for the loss to Durham, also returns. Interestingly, Chris Tremlett, who was said to be carrying a niggle last week, also travels to Trent Bridge, which tends to favour his brand of seam bowling.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Durham 10-13 May 2013 Lost By 5 Wickets The Oval 237 & 229 286 & 181-5
Middlesex 2-5 May 2013 Match Drawn Lord's 338 & 85-1 166 & 514-8d
Sussex 24-27 Apr 2013 Match Drawn The Oval 351 & 308-5d 526
Somerset 17-20 Apr 2013 Match Drawn The Oval 366-9d 384 & 251-9d
Lancashire 11-14 Sep 2012 Match Drawn Liverpool 367 142-2d


It's always worth starting with the weather forecast, which looks far from promising - rain and showers are predicted to lop a day and a half off this contest, which, even for Nottingham, would make it incredibly difficult to force a positive outcome. Surrey haven't lost a championship game at Trent Bridge since 1992, but if they perform as they did against Durham, that unbeaten run could be under serious threat, even against a misfiring Notts outfit. But I just can't ignore what the weathermen are saying. In short, I already have this one down as a draw.


E Cowan, A Hales, M Lumb, J Taylor, S Patel, S Mullaney, C Read (capt, wk), P Franks, A Shahzad, L Fletcher and H Gurney.


Martin Bodenham and Steve O'Shaughnessy.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY NOTTS
4-7 Sep 2012 Won By 195 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 269 & 304 227 & 151
18-21 Jul 2012 Match Drawn Trent Bridge Surrey Field 252-6 328
17-19 Sep 2008 Lost By An Inns & 143 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 267 & 122 532
11-14 Jul 2008 Match Drawn Trent Bridge Notts Field 403 218 & 372-6
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

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