SURREY V GLOUCESTERSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC2), 15-18 APRIL 2009

Well, Chris Adams promised changes, but despite some of them being forced upon him - with the injury to Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash's suspension - few could have predicted Adams's first 13-man squad omitting the name of Scott Newman. Consequently there is a distinct accent on youth. Or perhaps Surrey are just thumbing their noses at their highly unfancied visitors, who, like them, went through the entire 2008 championship campaign without winning so much as a single match.

Will John Bracewell follow suit? Given the age profile of his squad, one assumes Bracewell will be less likely to make such wholesale changes. The main thing Gloucestershire's batting line-up would appear to need is the freedom to express itself. In wicketkeeper-batsman Steve Snell, they appeared to unearth a real gem in 2008. But it hard to see Gloucestershire's attack taking 20 wickets on more than a handful of occasions this summer. Much will depend on the progress of Vikram Banerjee, David Brown, Ian Saxleby and Rob Woodman.

Michael Brown, Laurie Evans and Andre Nel look set to make their Surrey debuts. Usman Afzaal needs 25 more runs for 1,000 first-class runs for the Brown Caps. Chris Schofield requires four more wickets for his 200th in first-class cricket. Of the Gloucestershire contingent, David Brown currently has 975 first-class runs to his name, while Jon Lewis, with 595, needs five more scalps for 600 first-class wickets for the west country outfit.

As has already been said, the Brown Caps have named a new look squad for this game. Michael Brown, who will skipper the hosts in the absence of Butcher, will be making his Surrey debut. His opening partner will not be Scott Newman, but 21-year-old Laurie Evans. With Ramprakash suspended for two championship matches, Matthew Spriegel or Usman Afzaal will bat at three, while James Benning has been given the nod over Stewart Walters at six. The bowling attack will be led by new Kolpak signing Andre Nel, who is likely to open up with Jade Dernbach. Alex Tudor or Chris Jordan will be first change, while Chris Schofield will most likely provide the spin threat. 

Seeing as Chris Adams isn't making any predictions, how come you expect me to? Anyway, the four-day weather forecast gives us a good clue as to the likely outcome. The Met Office is saying that only day four will be uninterrupted. If that is how things turn out, you can bank on a draw, especially if the ructions over the Mike Gatting approved ball prove to have foundation.

G Hodnett, Kadeer Ali, H Marshall, C Taylor, A Gidman (capt), S Snell (wk), D Brown, J Franklin, J Lewis,  S Kirby and V Banerjee.

Steve Garratt and Neil Mallender. See also The Dreaded Finger

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