SURREY V NORTHAMPTONSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC2), 8-11 APRIL 2011

So here it is - the 2011 season is almost upon us and, right on cue, the weather has warmed up considerably in the last couple of days. When Surrey saw that their opening day opponents would be Northants, they will have crossed their fingers for a dry opening to the season, for the Wantage Road outfit have been their bunnies in what has been a lean period in the championship since the arrival, as manager, of Chris Adams.

In the championship, after finishing the 2008 and 2009 seasons in the top half of Division Two, Northants dropped to sixth place last summer; garnering the fewest bowling points of any county. Sri Lankan seamer Chaminda Vaas has been drafted as overseas player to perk up a less than exacting attack, which continues to be short of a decent spinner. With the bat, much will depend, once again, on opener Stephen Peters who amassed 1,296 championship runs at an average of 48.00 last term. But it should not be overlooked that Mal Loye hit 164 against the Oval outfit in the first of last season's two meetings between these two.


Tom Maynard is set to make, not only his first-class debut for Surrey, but also his 25th f-c appearance.


Jade Dernbach will be missing from the Surrey line-up due to a slight calf strain. Mark Ramprakash and Kevin Pietersen are also sidelined, but for much longer. The aim is for both of them to be back in action in six weeks time. Gary Wilson is named as opener, but it remains to be seen whether he showed enough with the bat in pre-season to get the nod tomorrow. If the hosts choose to field two spinners - Gareth Batty and Chris Schofield - Tim Linley could be the man who misses out. 

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Gloucestershire 13-16 Sep 2010 Won By 10 Runs Bristol 186 &180-3d 106-5d & 250
Glamorgan 7-10 Sep 2010 Match Drawn The Oval 380 & 206-7d 276
Leicestershire 24-27 Aug 2010 Match Drawn Leicester 483 & Forfeited 123-0d & 338-8
Worcestershire 16-19 Aug 2010 Lost By 238 Runs Worcester 259 & 130 308 & 319
Sussex 9-12 Aug 2010 Match Drawn Guildford 292 217 & 275-6d


Surrey have won five of the last six championship meetings between these two sides, a couple of them by an innings, and have only lost to Northants once in 14 four-day match-ups. So, the Oval outfit should go into this contest feeling as positive as the weather forecast is promising over the next four days. Given their record against Northants, coupled with everyone telling me they are nailed on for promotion this season, I've got to go for Surrey.


S Peters, N O'Brien (wk), M Loye, R White, A Wakely, D Sales, A Hall (capt), J Middlebrook, C Vaas, D Lucas and L Daggett.


Jeff Evans and Steve Garratt.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY NORTHANTS
20-23 Jul 2010 Won By An Inns & 175 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 620-7d 240 & 205
24-27 May 2010 Won By 7 Wickets Northampton Surrey Field 386 & 241-3 397 & 229
9-12 Sep 2009 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Bat 376 & 282-9d 492
11-14 Jun 2009 Won By An Inns & 95 Runs Northampton Surrey Field 530 209 & 226
2-5 Aug 2006 Won By 7 Wickets The Oval Northants Bat 669-5d & 65-3 347 & 386
14-17 Jul 2006 Won By 229 Runs Northampton Surrey Bat 328 & 424-6d 300 & 223
29 Jul - 1 Aug 2004 Lost By 6 Wickets Northampton Surrey Bat 402 & 147 332 & 220-4
28 Apr - 1 May 2004 Match Drawn The Oval Northants Field 403-7d 64-2d
18-20 Jul 2001 Won By An Inns & 55 Runs Guildford Northants Bat 368 120 & 193
9-12 May 2001 Match Drawn Northampton Northants Bat 607 476 & 304-1
28 Apr - 1 May 1999 Won By 8 Wickets Northampton Northants Bat 286 & 301-2 248 & 338
17-21 Apr 1998 Match Drawn The Oval Northants Field 351-5d 44-2d & 46-1
23-26 Jul 1997 Match Drawn Northampton Surrey Bat 581-7d 401 & 241-2d
3-6 Sep 1996 Won By 225 Runs The Oval Northants Field 395 & 298-9d 235 & 233
18-20 May 1995 Lost By 9 Runs Northampton Northants Bat 263 & 190 403 & 59

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