SURREY BROWN CAPS V GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLADIATORS at the Brit Oval (Friends Provident Trophy), 29 APRIL 2007

During Gloucestershire's magnificent run of one-day success, it seemed that the only team able to square up to the Gladiators was Surrey. But, strangely, ever since the Bristolians became just another side they have been dishing out a certain degree of revenge. Last season, the Brown Caps blew them away in the Twenty20 Cup, but in the longer form of the one-day game, Gloucestershire broke Surrey hearts. At Bristol in the C&G Trophy, it was James Benning's heart that was broken. He made a career best 189 not out only to end up on the losing side. The last meeting of these two teams saw the Gladiators throw their opponents push for promotion in the Pro40 League into reverse.

Last season Gloucestershire relied for runs on the overseas signings Ian Harvey and Hamish Marshall. Harvey is now plying his trade at Derbyshire, while Marshall in on his way back from World Cup duty with New Zealand. So, the form book would suggest that Chris Taylor (who made 527 runs in List A matches last year at an average of 40.53) will be tomorrow's main batting danger. But things are rarely as straightforward. Marcus North, who is deputising for Marshall, averaged 45.37 in List A cricket for Western Australia this winter just ended and Grant Hodnett, a tall 24-year-old right-handed batsman, whom the Gladiators rate highly enough to sign on a Kolpak, is just beginning to find his feet.

For economy the visitors will, as ever, look to England seamer Jon Lewis and the experienced slow left-armer Ian Fisher. Alex Gidman and Mark Hardinges will operate more as partnership-breakers. But the key man, unsurprisingly, will be overseas signing Ashley Noffke, who has already featured strongly in the championship and who also has just had his best season in Australian domestic one-day cricket for five years.

To follow... sorry.

For the Surrey thirteen, James Benning, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Steve Magoffin and Chris Schofield are added to the side that lost narrowly to Hampshire in the County Championship. Jimmy Ormond and Ian Salisbury are rested ahead of this week's trip to Old Trafford.

As in the championship, Surrey's second outing in the FP Trophy comes against a side making their first competition appearance of the season. Don't ask me why, but two runs separated these two sides in the Trophy last year and I can see it being another close one. Surrey showed today that people are wrong to question their fighting spirit, but, for me, their spin bowling and ground fielding are major concerns. If the Gladiators can take advantage of these weaknesses, I can see them taking the spoils.

C Spearman, Kadeer Ali, G Hodnett, M North, A Gidman, C Taylor, S Adshead (wk), M Hardinges, I Fisher, A Noffke and J Lewis (capt).  

Graham Burgess and Vanburn Holder.

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