William Hill Sports
SURREY V GLOUCESTERSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC2), 11-14 MAY 2014

Seventh plays eighth in Division Two. Indeed this is only contest taking place in this round of matches between two sides seeking their first championship victory of the season.

Gloucestershire have had more to be optimistic about than Surrey. 24-year-old Will Tavare has already made 299 runs at an average of 74.75, including hundreds against Hampshire and Essex. Former skipper, Alex Gidman has also been in the runs, having just hit an undefeated 119 in the second dig against Essex at Bristol. The main concern, as regards the batting, is the form of current captain and overseas player, Michael Klinger, who has only mustered 91 runs from five visits to the crease in the championship.

With the ball, Will Gidman continues to be the model of consistency. The former Durham man already has 14 championship wickets at 16.00 runs apiece. 19-year-old all-rounder, Matt Taylor (10 wickets at an average of 20.50) has been a revelation, while Graeme McCarter and Ian Saxleby have also chipped in. Assuming both McCarter and Saxleby are fit, James Fuller and Tom Smith will most likely be vying over the remaining berth. If the pitch looks as if it could take spin, Smith, who had a brief period on loan at Surrey in 2009, should get the nod.


Surrey's Stuart Meaker (945) is approaching 1,000 first-class career runs.


Jade Dernbach and Stuart Meaker have both been asked to stand down for this match, to prepare for the Twenty20, which begins on Friday. Neither had much luck with the ball in last week's soul-destroying loss to Kent. Besides, Tim Linley could not be more deserving of a recall. Also recalled are Chris Tremlett, who sat out the last two games with a back complaint, and Tom Curran, who had exams last week. Gary Wilson returns from international duty. The big question is, who will be left out for Aneesh Kapil, who was one of the few plusses to come out of the Canterbury trip?

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Kent 4-7 May 2014 Lost By 8 Wickets Canterbury 285 & 203 435 & 54-2
Hampshire 27-30 Apr 2014 Match Drawn Rose Bowl 99-2 400-6d
Essex 20-23 Apr 2014 Match Drawn The Oval 237 306 & 258-4d
Glamorgan 6-9 Apr 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


Each of the last five championship clashes between Surrey and Gloucestershire have produced a positive outcome. However, if the weather forecast for this week is to be believed, we could lose up to a day's play, overall, to the weather, which makes the draw the likeliest result. Surely, Surrey must start winning soon. If not, it could well be a long hard season for all concerned. Prediction - if this one goes the distance, Surrey win.


M Klinger (capt), C Dent, W Tavare, A Gidman, H Marshall, W Gidman, C Herring (wk), M Taylor, T Smith, I Saxelby, G McCarter.


Rob Bailey and Martin Bodenham.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY GLOUCS
27-30 Jul 2011 Won By 2 Wickets Cheltenham Gloucs Bat 423 & 186-8 286 & 320
19-21 Jun 2011 Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval Gloucs Field 225 & 195 261 & 161-6
13-16 Sep 2010 Won By 10 Runs Bristol Surrey Bat 186 &180-3d 106-5d & 250
4-6 May 2010 Lost By 77 Runs The Oval Gloucs Bat 178 & 222 229 & 248
2-5 Sep 2009 Lost By An Inns & 1 Run Bristol Gloucs Field 183 & 339 523-7d
15-18 Apr 2009 Match Drawn The Oval Gloucs Bat 160 & 64-2 333
6-9 Sep 2006 Match Drawn Bristol Surrey Field 288 & 470-9 459 & 329-8d
3-5 May 2006 Won By An Inns & 297 Runs The Oval Gloucs Bat 639-8d 207 & 135
16-19 Aug 2005 Match Drawn The Oval Gloucs Bat 463 350 &294-6
8-11 Jul 2005 Match Drawn Bristol Surrey Bat 603 & 84-3 288 & 494
18-21 Jun 2004 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Field 598 368 & 255-9
2-4 Jun 2004 Lost By 6 Wickets Bristol Surrey Bat 298 & 213 406 & 106-4
13-16 Apr 1999 Match Drawn The Oval Gloucs Field 342 & 229-7d 213 & 209-5
22-24 Jul 1998 Lost By 2 Wickets Cheltenham Surrey Bat 297 & 135 167 & 266-8
14-16 May 1997 Lost By 9 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 115 & 269 371 & 15-1
23-27 May 1996 Match Drawn Gloucester Gloucs Bat 228-6d & 174-8 373 & 163-2d
27-30 Apr 1995 Won By 93 Runs The Oval Gloucs Bat 217 & 475 392 & 207
26-30 May 1994 Won By 1 Wicket Gloucester Surrey Field 72-3d & 354-9 319-7d & 106-4d
15-17 Jul 1993 Won By An Inns & 66 Runs Guildford Surrey Field 381 153 & 162
26-29 Jun 1992 Won By 4 Wickets Bristol Surrey Field 300-5d & 232-6 352-9d & 178

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