For the first time since 1985, Surrey open their County Championship campaign against Glamorgan. It's been 13 years since the Welshmen last beat the Oval outfit over four days. A word of caution, though - of the last eleven curtain-raisers, Surrey have kicked the new championship season off with a victory just once.

If Glamorgan are going to make a bid for promotion this season, their two veterans, Jim Allenby and Murray Goodwin - both of whom averaged well over fifty with the bat last summer - need to keep producing the goods. Gareth Rees, whose 2014 campaign was held up by injury is as consistent an opener as you'll find in Division Two and don't be fooled by the fact that Chris Cooke is yet to make a first-class hundred - the 27-year-old South African, who has made two one-day tons, definitely has talent.

With the ball, Michael Reed starts the season on the physio's bench and 20-year-old off-spinner Andrew Salter will become more of the feature as the summer progresses. But the good news for the Welshmen is that Western Australian seamer Michael Hogan - who bagged 67 championship wickets at 20.53 runs apiece last term - is back. Also, much is expected of Ruaidhri Smith, who impressed in the closing weeks of last season.

For Glamorgan, Will Bragg starts this contest with 2,924 f-c runs to his name, Graham Wagg has 299 f-c wickets and keeper Mark Wallace - who is set to make his 200th successive championship appearance - has 595 f-c dismissals.

Twelve months ago, Surrey were ridiculed for starting the season with two specialist spinners in their side. This time there aren't any, which means occasional slow left-armer Zafar Ansari is nailed on to play. Tom Curran and Dominic Sibley are the two surprise inclusions in the 12-man squad - not because they lack experience, but because they're meant to be studying for their A-Levels. That said, it is half-term. Chris Tremlett, who came in for criticism on England's disastrous Ashes trip, for lacking pace, also makes the squad; as do Surrey's quickest bowlers - Matt Dunn and Stuart Meaker. Jade Dernbach misses out, presumably because Graham Ford hasn't had the chance to run the rule over the 28-year-old seamer, who has been on tour with England since the South African coach's arrival.

It has been dry for the last week in London, but, right on cue, the weather forecasters are saying that will change come the opening day of the new championship season. In fact, they are predicting that more than a day out of the four will be lost to rain. But for the forecast, Surrey would have been favourites to make it two wins out of two, having trounced Cambridge MCCU by 302 runs last week. In a word - Draw.

G Rees, W Bragg, S Walters, C Cooke, M Goodwin, J Allenby, M Wallace (capt and wk), G Wagg, W Owen, M Hogan and D Cosker.

Peter Hartley and Steve O'Shaughnessey.

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