Both of these teams were on the cusp of qualifying for the last eight of the FPt20. Northants snuck through, but Surrey just missed out. But now it's time for a totally different ball game. If anything, the hosts will go into this match the more confident of the two sides. The main concern for Northamptonshire is that if Bill Gordon has prepared a turning pitch, they might struggle to take full advantage. Even though slow left-armer Nicky Boje is injured, his victims have come at a cost of 53.06 runs apiece in the championship this term. Off-spinner James Middlebrook has fared better, though not by much. So far, the former Essex man has taken eight wickets at an average of 45.37. Desperate times give rise to desperate measures. As a result, Shaftab Khalid looks set to make his first appearance in the championship since September 2004, when he turned out for Worcestershire against Lancashire at New Road.

Another worry for the visitors is that although their line-up is likely to contain five players who have made hundreds in the championship this season, only three of them have shown any real consistency with the bat - Stephen Peters (976 runs at an average of 61.00), Alex Wakely and skipper Andrew Hall. Hall has also impressed with the ball, taking 24 wickets at 27.58 runs apiece in this year's competition. Lee Daggett is another who has bowled with credit, but after making an impressive start to the campaign Jack Brooks appears to be struggling with his line and length.

Usman Afzaal goes into this contest, against one of his former counties, with 2,902 first-class runs for Surrey and 97 wickets in all f-c cricket. Andre Nel, another former Northants player, starts with 45 f-c wickets for Surrey. Finally, two of the batsmen on show could mark this fixture by going past 1,000 f-c runs for the season - Mark Ramprakash has so far amassed 989 runs, while, for the visitors, Stephen Peters opens with 976 f-c runs in 2010.

Michael Brown (left elbow) and Chris Jordan (back) are still on the long-term injury list. Andrew Symonds and Younis Khan's associations with the Oval outfit have now come to an end, so Surrey go into this match without an overseas signing. Gareth Batty (broken finger) has proved his fitness, but Jade Dernbach (side strain) and Tim Linley (ankle) have both lost their battle to be shipshape in time for this contest. With Arun Harinath and Chris Schofield omitted, Tom Lancefield and Simon King could make their first championship appearances of the summer. 

Surrey have only lost once to Northants in the County Championship since 1995. So, the hosts have recent history on their side, But, sadly, the weather forecast for days two and four suggests this match will see time taken out of it by the elements. Surrey have already beaten Northants once this season, but the home hoodoo (no win in the championship at home since the end of 2007) will almost certainly continue if rain puts paid to more than half a day's play.

S Peters, N O'Brien (wk), M Loye, A Wakely, R White, A Hall (capt), E Chigumbura, J Middlebrook, L Daggett, J Brooks and Shaftab Khalid.

Nigel Cowley and Barry Dudleston.

GO TO:




BACK TO: