SURREY V NORTHAMPTONSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC2), 22-25 SEPTEMBER 2015

To end the 2015 season, it's the battle of the year's losing finalists. The Oval outfit hold an eight-point advantage over fellow promotees Lancashire. Realistically, Lancashire need to beat Essex at Chelmsford and hope Northants do them a favour in order to snatch the Division Two title out of Surrey's clutches. But if it is going to be a thoroughly miserable week for Surrey, it would only be Lancashire's first victory in four matches in the County Championship; which must be a concern to the red roses knowing they won't be able to rely upon Ashwell Prince next summer.

Looking at this contest, though, the former Yorkshire seamer Ben Sanderson appears set to return to the fold in place of the injured Olly Stone, who has really caught the eye for Northamptonshire this season. But the donkey work will continue to be shared by Rory Kleinveldt (55 championship wickets at 26.80 runs apiece, including 5 five-wicket hauls) and Azharullah (43 scalps at 28.32).

Northants' batting looks in finer fettle now that Ben Duckett has been given an extended run in the first team. The 20-year-old tearaway has 727 championship runs at an average of 45.43 to his name this season. But one feels, in the absence of Richard Levi (663 at 44.20) and David Willey, both skipper Alex Wakely (744 runs, average 33.81) and leading run-scorer Rob Keogh (844 runs at an average of 33.76) will have to place a higher price on their own wickets if the Wantage Road outfit are to be an obstacle to Surrey claiming the Division Two crown.

Rory Burns (989) needs 11 more runs for a 1,000-run season in the County Championship. Gary Wilson is set to make his 75th first-class appearance and Northamptonshire's Rob Newton goes into this clash with 2,918 f-c career runs.

James Burke, Arun Harinath and Freddie van den Bergh have all been named in a 13-man squad that's missing Zafar Ansari (dislocated left thumb) and Jade Dernbach. If van den Bergh was to play it would be a debut in the County Championship for the 23-year-old slow left-armer.

What was all that talk about an Indian summer to round off the season? Click here. As with the corresponding match at Northampton in May, the weather looks certain to play a major part. If it does, we're looking at a draw. But, if it doesn't, Surrey haven't lost to Northants over four days since 2004.

R Newton, B Duckett, A Wakely (capt), R Keogh, J Cobb, A Rossington, D Murphy (wk), R Kleinveldt, Azharullah, B Sanderson and M Chambers.

To be advised.

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