SURREY V LANCASHIRE at the AMP Oval (CC1), 18-21 APRIL 2003

Andy Flintoff played in just one championship game last year and Lancashire lost.  But when you scratch the surface of that 'stat', one discovers that he struck what should have been a match-winning hundred and the opponents were the eventual champions Surrey.  This time around the the Oval outfit will be hoping Flintoff fails to take advantage of the short boundary on the gasholder side, with Paul Brind, the Surrey groundsman, electing to serve up 'Browney's pitch' for starters.

The acquisition of proven performers Mal Loye (from Northants) and Iain Sutcliffe (from Leicestershire) addresses the weaknesses in Lancashire's batting order which, on paper, goes all the way down to number nine.  But the main dangers from Surrey's point of view will be Flintoff and Aussie Stuart Law, who unusually failed against them last summer, proving unable to reach forty in four visits to the crease.

Surrey can take heart in the fact that Lancashire have lost on three out of their last four championship visits to The Oval.  Had the game fallen later in the season, they would be even further encouraged that both Ian Salisbury and Saqlain Mushtaq have good records against the red rose county.  With Bicknell and Ormond missing, much will rest on the bowling of Alex Tudor.  But he too has happy memories of facing Lancashire in the championship - 30 wickets at 23.93 runs apiece - except the time when Andy Flintoff took 34 off one over!


A good pitch, the threat of changeable weather as the match unfolds, but, more than these, a wealth of batting on show from both sides points to a likely draw.


With five key players missing, the sides will be evenly matched.  Azhar Mahmood misses the game to complete his marriage celebrations, while Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart are rested at the request of the England management.  Injuries?  Yes, there are already a few.  Martin Bicknell has a sore hip, Jimmy Ormond is out with a side strain and Philip Sampson is coming back from a shoulder injury.


A Swann, I Sutcliffe, M Loye, S Law, M Chilton, A Flintoff, W Hegg (capt, wk), G Chapple, C Schofield, K Hogg and J Anderson.

31 May - 3 Jun 2002 Match Drawn Old Trafford
8-11 May 2002 Won By 3 Wickets The Oval
29 Jun - 2 Jul 2001 Match Drawn The Oval
25-28 Apr 2001 Abandoned Old Trafford
13-16 Sep 2000 Match Drawn Old Trafford
2-5 Aug 2000 Won By 272 Runs The Oval
15-18 Jun 1999 Won By 4 Wickets The Oval
18-21 Jun 1998 Lost By 6 Wickets Old Trafford
10-12 Sep 1997 Lost By An Innings & 55 Runs The Oval
7-9 Aug 1996 Won By 140 Runs Southport
29 Aug - 1 Sep 1995 Lost By 9 Wickets The Oval
5-9 May 1994 Won By 10 Wickets Old Trafford
3-7 Jun 1993 Lost By 96 Runs The Oval
4-6 Aug 1992 Lost By 86 Runs Lytham
17-20 Sep 1991 Lost By 1 Wicket Old Trafford
22-24 May 1991 Won By 8 Wickets The Oval
29-31 Aug 1990 Match Drawn Blackpool
3-7 May 1990 Match Drawn The Oval

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