SURREY V DERBYSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC2), 19-22 APRIL 2006

The first meeting between these two sides for nearly six years has seen a last minute venue switch in order to get a game. Unfortunately, the weather forecast suggests it will not be enough to achieve a positive outcome. Still, bonus points are better than no points, so bring on the the first ball of the new championship season...

If the odds-setters know what they are talking about, this fixture pits the likely Division Two winners against the team destined to prop the table up this summer. But on the basis that complacency has been Surrey's biggest enemy in the last two and a half years, the Brown Caps would be well advised to show tomorrow's visitors the utmost respect; if, for no other reason, because the dangerous Kevin Dean is fit for a change. Steffan Jones, now at his third county, will also looking to make a favorable early impression with the ball. However, Surrey's decision to field two spinners suggests that the pitch is not going to suit the seamers as much as some others might at this time of the year.

As well as Jones, the visitors are likely to have three more players making their first championship appearances for Derbyshire - Travis Burt (a 24-year-old left-handed batsman from Tasmania), Chris Taylor (who has moved down from Yorkshire in the hope of seeing regular first team action), plus new keeper David Pipe (who has been on Worcestershire's books for the last eight summers).

Pipe replaces the former Derbyshire skipper, Luke Sutton, but only with the gloves. Dependable all-rounder Graeme Welch will be the man pulling the strings for them this term. It looks as if he will have his work cut out, but if Di Venuto can show the way with the bat and Dean can stay fit for two thirds of the season (it would be a pleasant surprise if he manages more than that), Derbyshire may well cause one or two upsets this summer. 

The 2,000th first-class fixture to be played at The Oval should see Alistair Brown making his 100th f-c appearance at the famous ground. Mohammad Akram (49 f-c wickets for Surrey), Jonathan Batty (4,993 f-c runs for the county), Jimmy Ormond (190 f-c wickets for Surrey) and Ian Salisbury (298 wickets for the county) are also on the verge of achieving notable landmarks. In career terms Azhar Mahmood currently has 4,966 f-c runs to his name, while Mark Butcher has 14,928.

Martin Bicknell's (groin) is the only name on Surrey's injury list going into the new season. So, the only changes to the line-up that faced Durham UCCE over the Easter break are James Benning and Tim Murtagh making way for Azhar Mahmood and Rikki Clarke. 

Having seen the weather forecast for the next four days, one side would need to play particularly badly for this match not to be a draw. 

M Di Venuto, S Stubbings, C Taylor, T Birt, Hassan Adnan, A Botha, G Welch (capt), D Pipe (wk), K Dean, I Hunter and S Jones.

Trevor Jesty and Neil Mallender

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