SURREY BROWN CAPS V ESSEX EAGLES at Whitgift School (Friends Provident Trophy), 3 JUNE 2007

Surrey have not won a one-day game at Whitgift since 2003, but there might be a good reason for that. The old school has staged eight limited-overs contests and, curiously, the winners of the toss have prospered on all but one occasion. With its shorter than average boundary, history also shows that it is difficult to defend anything less than six an over there.

Despite being four places below table toppers Surrey in the Friends Provident Trophy South Conference, Essex are still regarded one of the strongest one-day sides in county cricket. Winners of the National League for the two years, the Eagles would now be pushing hard for a place in the semi-finals had it not been for a surprise defeat at the hands of Gloucestershire on Bank Holiday Monday. But, chasing 223, they reached 151-2 only to go to pieces.

Their collapse was precipitated by the run out of England World Cup star Ravi Bopara, who, at 22, is one of the brightest batting prospects in the country. Another is Varun Chopra, 19, who, earlier this summer, scored a hundred in only his third one-day appearance. With 22-year-old England opener Alistair Cook also available to play for Essex, England's future batting line-up could be on display.

The Eagles attack has not been without its problems this term, due to the departure of Darren Gough and a glut of injuries. Andrew McGarry, who only rejoined Essex last month, to plug the gap left by Gough, is unlikely to bowl again this season after injuring his right hand against Notts. Mervyn Westfield and Maurice Chambers are also out of contention due to stress fractures of the back, while Darren Thomas (shoulder), Alex Tudor and Tony Palladino (abdominal strains) and Jahid Ahmed (back) have all had spells on the treatment table. Much will therefore rest on the shoulders of Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Alistair Brown has 19 List A hundreds and Chris Schofield has 96 wickets in one-day cricket. Of the Essex boys, Danish Kaneria has 99 one-day appearances. Ravi Bopara is set to be given his 75th List A outing and has 48 wickets to his name. James Middlebrook has 956 runs and 97 wickets in one-day cricket.

Azhar Mahmood has recovered sufficiently from his injured elbow to be included in Surrey's squad for tomorrow. Rikki Clarke is also named despite pulling a hamstring in the championship match against Kent.

Even though Surrey are riding high in the Friends Provident Trophy South Conference, there must come a time when their poor showing in the County Championship starts affecting their one-day form. Furthermore, Essex, like the Brown Caps' next two FP Trophy opponents, are not to be under-estimated. Sorry, but my head tells me to go for an Eagles win.

A Cook, M Pettini, V Chopra, R Bopara, R Irani (capt), J Foster (wk), R ten Doeschate, J Middlebrook, G Napier, Danish Kaneria and A Nel.

Peter Hartley and Peter Willey. Third umpire - Jeremy Lloyds.

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