SURREY V MIDDLESEX at the Brit Oval (FCC1), 19-22 MAY 2004

Having met just a few weeks ago there is unlikely to be much these two sides need to find out about each other - and little I can tell you, basically.  From the Oval outfit's point of view they will know that even without Andrew Strauss, the North Londoners have a very durable batting line-up and that Nantie Hayward's party trick - copied by his fellow South African Dewald Pretorius when Surrey travelled to Edgbaston - is tempting the openers to loft the ball to the third man boundary.  As far as Middlesex are concerned they will hopefully be aware that not since 1983 have they done the championship double over their South London rivals.

They surely won't getter a better chance than now.  With injuries and Test calls depleting their ranks, the home side, who are yet to win a game all season, will be severely tested.  Perhaps the biggest difference between this encounter and last month's one at Lord's is that Middlesex go in to it as the odds on favourites.

Surrey milestones for this match?  Well, conceivably, there could be quite a few.  It will be Adam Hollioake's 150th championship appearance for Surrey and Jonathan Batty's 100th appearance in all first-class cricket.  Batty is also 57 runs away from 3,000 in championship cricket.  Mark Ramprakash needs just one more catch to register 200 in his first-class career, while Jimmy Ormond is now one away from a hundredth championship scalp in chocolate trim.  Completing the list, Martin Bicknell is on 992 first-class wickets and Scott Newman needs 103 runs for 1,000 career first-class runs for Surrey. 


Since the weather forecast suggests very little time will be lost to the elements over the next four days, a Surrey attack that could not outperform a hobbling Saqlain Mushtaq on Saturday afternoon forces me to believe that the Ovalites poor run will continue.  Sorry, but reality has well and truly dawned in this part of South London. 


The absence of Butcher, Thorpe and the two overseas players (both of whom are injured) sees Rikki Clarke set to make his first championship appearance of the summer while James Benning, Alistair Brown and Tim Murtagh are recalled. Curiously, there is still no word on when Alex Tudor will be deemed ready again for first team action.


S Koenig, B Hutton, O Shah (capt), E Joyce, P Weekes, J Dalrymple, D Nash (wk), L Klusener, P Hutchison, C Keegan and N Hayward

21-24 Apr 2004 Lost By 6 Wickets Lord's
23-26 Jul 2003 Match Drawn Guildford
27-30 Jun 2003 Match Drawn Lord's
9-12 Sep 1999 Match Drawn Lord's
15-17 Jul 1998 Won By 280 Runs Guildford
15-17 Aug 1997 Won By An Innings & 125 Runs Lord's
4-8 Jul 1996 Won By 7 Wickets The Oval
29 Jun - 3 Jul 1995 Lost By An Innings & 76 Runs Lord's
25-29 Aug 1994 Lost By 2 Wickets The Oval
24-28 Jun 1993 Lost By 4 Wickets Lord's
12-15 Sep 1992 Match Drawn The Oval
23-26 May 1992 Match Drawn Lord's
10-13 Sep 1991 Lost By 60 Runs Lord's
20-22 Aug 1991 Match Drawn The Oval
12-15 Sep 1990 Match Drawn The Oval
23-25 May 1990 Match Drawn Lord's

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