SURREY BROWN CAPS V MIDDLESEX CRUSADERS at the Brit Oval (FPT), 20 APRIL 2008

If the antepost odds for the South East Division are anything to go by, the side that loses this contest is set to find qualifying for the quarter finals an uphill task. The Crusaders are quoted as 13-2 to win a division, which, in my view, is the most competitive of the four. On their day, anyone really is capable of beating anybody else.

Unfortunately, tomorrow's weather forecast suggests that we will have to wait another week to see whether or not I am right; which is a shame since these two sides were involved in a nail-biter of a one-day game in pre-season. But in recent years inclement weather has often been a factor when Surrey and Middlesex have met in one-day cricket. Since 1995 six out of 17 all London List A clashes have not produced a result.

The Crusaders have a strong one-day batting line-up. Last summer Owais Shah and Nick Compton both averaged over forty in List A cricket, and Shah, Joyce, Morgan and Smith all notched up 400 runs or more. The departure of Jamie Dalrymple, to Glamorgan, has created a slot for Ben Godleman to step into and, by all accounts, the 19-year-old has really improved over the winter. 

Middlesex are not so hot with the ball, but, like Godleman, everybody seems to be talking about 19-year-old Steven Finn. With no overseas player available for this match, Finn will have to step up to the plate in support of Tim Murtagh - who took 38 wickets at an average of 14.50 in List A cricket in 2007 - if the visitors are going to contain the likes of Brown, Benning and Newman.

Click here for the Surrey v Middlesex List A Records sheet

James Benning is 20 runs away from 2,000 List A career runs. Alistair Brown has 19 one-day centuries to his name, while Mark Ramprakash has notched up fourteen.

Chris Lewis - yes, Chris Lewis - Jade Dernbach, Stuart Meaker and Chris Schofield have been added to the team that drew with Lancashire today, while Jimmy Ormond and Saqlain Mushtaq are rested.

Looking at the weather forecast, rain could play its part. All things being equal, Middlesex will be no pushovers, plus I am not convinced that Surrey are set-up as well for one-day cricket as they were last year; due mainly to the departure of Azhar Mahmood, who seems to have been quick to settle in at Kent.

A Strauss, B Godleman, O Shah, E Smith (capt), E Joyce, N Compton, B Scott (wk), T Murtagh, S Udal, C Silverwood and S Finn.

Peter Hartley and George Sharp.

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