SURREY V ESSEX at the Kia Oval (LVCC2), 20-23 APRIL 2014
One of Surrey's many failings in
recent years, in the championship, has been poor starts with the bat.
Essex, in their opening game of the season, were skittled out for just
94 by Derbyshire. However, Alistair Cook's 181 in the second innings
at Chelmsford turned the contest on its head and the hosts ran out
winners by 53 runs. Surrey, by contrast, saved their horror show for
late on, against Glamorgan. After being blown away for 81, their
all-pace attack was made to look popgun as the Welshmen cantered
home - knocking off the target of 153 without offering up even a whiff
of a chance. In short, Essex go into tomorrow as the hot favourites,
provided the weather in London remains dry and sunny.
With Ryan ten Doeschate (Kolkata
Knight Riders) on IPL duty and Reece Topley nursing a bad back,
Essex's bowling options look a tad limited. David Masters (51
championship wickets at 22.80 runs apiece in 2013) and Graham Napier
(48 scalps at an average of 31.58 last term) provide the dependability while slow left-armer Monty Panesar and speedster Tymal Mills,
both of whom struggled with the ball last summer, constitute the solid
support.
The batting is Essex's strongest
suit. Cook needs no introduction, nor does Ravi Bopara, who, on his
day, can take apart any attack in the country. Napier always seems to
do well against Surrey, whether it's with the bat or the ball. The
fact that he comes into bat below Greg Smith and skipper James Foster speaks
for itself. But, above all, tomorrow's visitors will be hoping
24-year-old opener, Jaik Mickleburgh, who made 829 championship runs
at an average of 41.45 last summer, continues going from strength to
strength.

Essex's Graham Napier heads into this match with
349 f-c wickets to his name.

Surrey have made one change to the side that lost to Glamorgan -
Jade Dernbach replaces Tim Linley. Meanwhile, Vikram Solanki remains
out of the picture, after being granted indefinite leave for family
reasons, and a certain Kevin Pietersen is participating in the Indian
Premier League.

OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Glamorgan |
6-9 April 2014 |
Lost By 10 Wickets |
The Oval |
280 & 81 |
209 & 156-0 |
Yorkshire |
24-27 Sep 2013 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
634-5d |
434 & 265-6 |
Warwickshire |
17-20 Sep 2013 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Edgbaston |
400-5d & Forfeited |
120-0d & 281-4 |
Somerset |
11-14 Sep 2013 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Taunton |
195 & 197 |
260 & 133-3 |
Middlesex |
3-5 Sep 2013 |
Lost By 146 Runs |
The Oval |
145 & 238 |
294 & 235-9d |

According to the weather forecasters, we'll be looking to the
heavens over the next four days - not for inspiration, but for signs
of blue. They're predicting we'll lose at least a day and a half,
out of the four, to rain. Coincidentally, they said that two weeks
ago and we're pretty much spot on. I, however, said draw on that occasion and
got it as badly wrong as Surrey's batsmen did in the second dig. But
I'm sticking to my guns. This one will be a draw.

J Mickleburgh, A Cook, T Westley, R Bopara, G Smith, B Foakes, J
Foster (capt, wk), G Napier, D Masters, M Panesar and T Mills.

Jeremy Lloyds and Peter Willey.

DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
ESSEX |
7-10 Sep 2011 |
Won By 109 Runs |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
315 & 286 |
253 & 239 |
18-21 May 2011 |
Match Drawn |
Whitgift Sch |
Surrey |
Field |
506 & 65-1 |
548 & 324 |
19-22 Aug 2009 |
Lost By 9 Wickets |
Colchester |
Surrey |
Bat |
428 & 190 |
545 & 74-1 |
15-18 Jul 2009 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
Essex |
Bat |
352-8d |
401 & 201-3 |
16-18 Aug 2006 |
Lost By An Inns & 2 Runs |
Colchester |
Surrey |
Bat |
330 & 198 |
530 |
31 May - 3 Jun 2006 |
Won By 6 Wickets |
Whitgift Sch |
Essex |
Bat |
433 & 178-4 |
365 & 244 |
17-19 Sep 2003 |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
318 & 194 |
464 & 49-2 |
21-24 May 2003 |
Won By 258 Runs |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
376 & 381-7d |
252 & 247 |
13-16 Jun 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Ilford |
Surrey |
Bat |
198 & 306 |
296 & 153-2 |
25-28 May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
498 & 206-5d |
300 & 312-4 |
14-17 May 1999 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
The Oval |
Essex |
Bat |
195 & 272-6 |
262 & 204 |
11-15 Jun 1998 |
Match Drawn |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
373 |
203 & 75-4 |
4-7 Jun 1997 |
Lost By 147 Runs |
The Oval |
Essex |
Bat |
280 & 222 |
347 & 302 |
27 Jun - 1 Jul 1996 |
Match Drawn |
Southend |
Surrey |
Bat |
476-8d & 167-2 |
425-9d |
6-10 Jul 1995 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
Essex |
Field |
437 & 203 |
493 & 151-3 |
11-15 Aug 1994 |
Lost By An Inns & 87 Runs |
Colchester |
Essex |
Bat |
88 & 203 |
378 |
13-17 May 1993 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
330 & 178-4 |
418 & 153 |
18-20 Aug 1992 |
Match Drawn |
Colchester |
Essex |
Field |
292 & 10-0 |
229 |
5-8 Jul 1991 |
Won By 5 Wickets |
The Oval |
Essex |
Bat |
299 & 230-5 |
338-5d & 185-7d |
27 Apr - 1 May 1991 |
Match Drawn |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
268 |
211-4 |
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