NOTTINGHAMSHIRE OUTLAWS V SURREY at Trent Bridge (CB40), 1 AUGUST 2012

When the draw for the Clydesdale Bank 40 was made, Surrey knew they would have a job on their hands this season. Despite having lost just the once, it's Hampshire and tomorrow's opponents, Nottinghamshire who are beginning to look like the cream rising to the top in Group B.

James Taylor's inclusion in England's squad for the Second Test against South Africa weakens Nottinghamshire, potentially. But a top four in the batting order of Michael Lumb, Alex Hales, Samit Patel (265 CB40 runs at an average of 37.85) and Adam Voges (194 runs at 97.00) is still to be respected. And should the Outlaws lose a few early on, there's still the clean-hitting Chris Read to come.

With the ball, Nottinghamshire's rotation policy, whereby the likes of Jake Ball, Steven Mullaney and slow left-armer Graeme White get a run out in the CB40, appears to be working for them. But the key bowlers, to date, have been Samit Patel and Darren Pattinson, both of whom have 11 wickets apiece in this year's competition. The good news, from Surrey's perspective, is that Pattinson is struggling to be fit for this encounter.

Click here for the Surrey v Nottinghamshire List A Records sheet as at the start of the 2012 season.

Jade Dernbach, with 147, is three wickets away from 150 in all List A one-day cricket.

Great news - Rory Hamilton-Brown is set to return from compassionate leave; although Gareth Batty is still down to skipper. Zafar Ansari, Rory Burns, Matthew Spriegel and Gary Wilson are also named in the 13-man squad. With Zander de Bruyn struggling for form, it wouldn't be a surprise if three of those four featured. The other reason for cheer - Jade Dernbach has put his side strain behind him.

I'll let you into a secret - after their T20 exit, I backed Nottinghamshire to win the CB40. The bad news, for them, is that I also put a fiver on Surrey winning the FLt20 before the season got underway. Still, on paper, this appears to be a one-sided contest. Verdict - Notts win.

M Lumb, A Hales, S Patel, A Voges, R Wessels, C Read (capt, wk), P Franks, S Mullaney, G White, J Ball and H Gurney.

Mark Benson and Peter Willey. (Third umpire - Steve Gale).

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