SURREY V LEICESTERSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC2), 7-10 JUNE 2006

In the championship, Surrey have not conceded to Leicestershire since suffering the agony of losing the final game of 1998 to them; and with it the chance of carrying off the County Championship title that year. That said, the Brown Caps were made to work hard in order to earn a draw up at Leicester in 2001, which, for me, was one of the unforgettable matches of Surrey's championship-winning years under Adam Hollioake.

Over the coming days Mark Butcher and his men will be out to exploit a one-dimensional attack, which has been carried by seamers Mohammad Asif (24 championship wickets at 30.75 runs apiece), David Masters and Stuart Broad. Even new face, 23-year-old Steven Clark, is a seam-up merchant. If, as I feel they probably will, the Foxes fail to win promotion in the County Championship this season, a huge factor will be the lack of a penetrative spinner. Slow left-armer Claude Henderson is averaging 35.11 with the ball, while injured skipper Jeremy Snape has not taken a wicket in four four-day outings.

At least the Foxes have been consistent with the bat, even if they do have something of a tail. Dinesh Mongia (525 championship runs at an average of 65.62), HD Ackerman and John Maunders have proved very reliable this term. Veteran keeper Paul Nixon may not be getting any younger, but with a four-day batting average this summer of 107.33, he is hard to leave out in favour of Tom New. So, the Grace Road outfit have decided to get round this by giving the 21-year-old New first team experience as a batsman only; at least for the time being. However, this has meant sacrificing Darren Maddy, who made 43 and 97 when these sides met last but has done little else this season.

For Surrey, Jonathan Batty has 393 first-class dismissals; Martin Bicknell has 993 career championship wickets; over the years Alistair Brown has made 910 first-class runs against Leicestershire; and Nayan Doshi has 94 f-c wickets. For the visitors, Stuart Broad has taken 49 f-c wickets, including 44 for the Foxes, and Paul Nixon has 595 f-c catches.

If James Benning's toe/ankle injury keeps him out, the only change to the Surrey side that beat Essex by six wickets at Whitgift School will be the return to first team action of Alistair Brown, who made an unbeaten 181 against Leicestershire's 2nd XI last week. 

If the wicket at The Oval has been prepared with the intention of helping the spinners, only a fool would bet against a Surrey win, even though Leicestershire are one of the stronger sides in Division Two. 

T New, J Maunders, HD Ackerman, J Sadler, D Mongia (capt), P Nixon (wk), S Clark, C Henderson, S Broad, D Masters and Mohammad Asif.

Jeremy Lloyds and Neil Mallender.

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