SURREY LIONS V GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLADIATORS at the Brit Oval (TSL1), 11 JULY 2004

When these sides met under lights in the corresponding fixture last summer it was a case of winner takes all. This time round it's a Division One basement battle. How fortunes fluctuate.

In complete contrast to their hosts, the start to Gloucestershire's Twenty20 Cup campaign has been somewhat indifferent while their totesport form appears to be turning the corner at long last.

Injuries dictate the Surrey line-up; not so the Gladiators'. Tim Hancock's match-winning 53 not out against Lancashire at Old Trafford last week poses them a selectorial dilemma. If Alex Gidman is to come back into the side, one of Phil Weston or Martyn Ball will probably have to make way.

Runs in the totesport League have been supplied by Craig Spearman and Matt Windows. Both have made over 300 runs in eight visits to the crease this summer. With Mark Alleyne and Jon Lewis taking important wickets plus Mike Smith and Ian Fisher keeping things tight, the Gloucestershire attack has the best of both worlds.

For the home side, Adam Hollioake needs 29 more runs to reach 5,000 runs for Surrey in List A limited-overs cricket, while Jonathan Batty requires thirty more for 1,000 List A runs in total.

The Lions might be going great guns in the Twenty20 Cup, but their lack of a proven new ball attack may well be exposed over 45 overs. Furthermore, Gloucestershire have thwarted Surrey at every turn so far this summer - so, psychologically, they will have the upper hand going into the game. Mind you, if the weather (and with it Duckworth-Lewis) has a say, who knows?

Jimmy Ormond is hoping to be fit for tomorrow's encounter, but there will still be no Azhar Mahmood (back), Martin Bicknell (groin) and Ian Salisbury (knee). Don't expect to see Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe either - both are recovering from minor injuries and are committed to represent the MCC against the West Indians this week at Arundel.

S Adshead (wk), C Spearman, A Gidman, M Windows, C Taylor, T Hancock, M Alleyne (capt), M Ball, I Fisher, J Lewis and M Smith.

16 May 2004	NL	Lost By 42 Runs	Bristol
5 Aug 2003	NL	Won By 66 Runs	The Oval
19 Jul 2003	T20	Won By 5 Runs	Trent Bridge
25 May 2003	NL	No Result	Bristol
22 Sep 2002	NL	Won By 79 Runs	The Oval
19 May 2002	NL	Lost By 1 Wicket	Bristol
16 Sep 2001	NL	Won By 36 Runs	Bristol
12 Aug 2001	NL	Won By 2 Wickets	The Oval
14 Jul 2001	B&H	Won By 47 Runs	Lord's
27 Jun 1999	B&H	Lost By 7 Wickets	Bristol
26 Jul 1998	NL	Lost By 22 Runs	Cheltenham
8 Jul 1998	NWT	Won By 52 Runs	Bristol
30 Apr 1998	B&H	Won By 7 Wickets	The Oval
18 May 1997	NL	Won By 5 Wickets	The Oval
30 Apr 1997	B&H	Won By 3 Wickets	Bristol
26 May 1996	NL	Won By 72 Runs	Gloucester
30 Apr 1996	B&H	Won By 3 Wickets	The Oval
16 Jul 1995	NL	Won By 19 Runs	The Oval
29 May 1994	NL	Won By 10 Runs	Gloucester
18 Jul 1993	NL	Won (Scoring Rate)	Guildford
28 Jun 1992	NL	Won By 17 Runs	Bristol
5 May 1992	B&H	Won By 2 Wickets	The Oval
12 May 1991	NL	Lost By 25 Runs	The Oval
29 Jul 1990	NL	Lost By 5 Wickets	Cheltenham

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