SURREY V NORTHAMPTONSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC)
5-8 MAY 2022

Surrey remain top of Division One with a 6-point advantage, thanks, in part, to the weather denying second-placed Hampshire the chance to bowl out Lancashire last Sunday. Meanwhile, Northants, back in the top flight for the first time since 2014, are joint sixth, having drawn all three of their games thus far.

The key man for Northants remains 33-year-old seamer Ben Sanderson, who, with 15 wickets at a highly respectable 19.26 runs apiece this season, now has 302 first-class scalps at 20.81, all but six of which have come since his move down from Yorkshire in 2015. Sanderson will be supported by Gareth Berg, who is averaging 26.36 with the ball after three outings, and off-spinner Rob Keogh (27.75).

The top-order batting looks in good shape with Keogh (278 runs at 55.60) and Luke Proctor (82.00) having already made hundreds, plus Will Young (64.00) proving consistent. If the visitors have a bit of a worry it's the form - or, to be precise, lack of it - of skipper Ricardo Vasconcelos (14.80) coupled with what would appear to be a relatively lengthy tail.

Surrey v Northamptonshire - First-Class Records Sheet

Hashim Amla (18,913), Rory Burns (10,910) and Sam Curran (2,909) are all approaching landmark first-class career run-tallies, while Colin de Grandhomme (198) and Jamie Overton (196) both have the mark of 200 f-c wickets in their sights. Of the visitors' contingent, Lewis McManus (1,983) is eyeing a 2,000th first-class run. 

Surrey have named a 15-man squad, with Jamie Smith (hamstring) and James Taylor (stress fracture of the lower back) notably absent. But Ben Foakes, who missed the trip to Bristol due to a stiff back, looks likely to slot back in at number five. 

While Northants have shown they're hard to beat, Surrey look a quality outfit, plus the forecast is for the next four days to be pretty much rain-free. So, I'm expecting a win for the championship leaders; particularly as the last time Surrey lost a 4-day game at The Oval starting in May was back in 2013. Also, Northants have not won a championship match in SE11 since 1994, when, thanks to Nigel Felton (87) and Mal Loye (66), they chased down a target of 316 to triumph by 3 wickets.

R.Vasconcelos (capt), W.Young, E.Gay, L.Procter, R.Keogh, S.Zaib, L.McManus (wk), T.Taylor, M.Kelly, G.Berg and B.Sanderson.

Nick Cook and Russell Warren.

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