SURREY V SUSSEX at the Brit Oval (FCC1), 16-19 APRIL 2004

With Chris Adams fighting to be fit and James Kirtley unavailable, the only reason for optimism in the visitors' camp is that the home side are without Butcher, Clarke and Thorpe.

Although many doubt that Surrey's new opening partnership is up to giving them a foundation on which to build, one look at the other end of the card suggests that the Oval outfit are still likely to be one of the hardest sides to bowl out.  For that reason the absence of Kirtley could be the telling factor over the next four days, which thankfully promise to be rain-free.  But Surrey will not have forgotten that Mohammed Akram took 8-49 and ten in the match at The Oval when Essex took full advantage of a beleaguered host to round off the 2003 season.

Ian Ward will line-up against his former county for the first time.  Surrey's Ian (Salisbury) has now played Sussex in the championship on six occasions since leaving Hove.  He is yet to taste defeat against the seasiders.  In fact, with the possible exception of Adam Hollioake, all of Surrey's likely starting eleven seem to enjoy playing the Martlets.

Having lost just one of their last nine championship meetings with Sussex, Jonathan Batty's men are the clear favourites with the bookies, who also seem to think that the championship won’t start hotting up until August, when Surrey and Lancashire can no longer avoid playing each other. A good win to start the season here would augur well for the Oval outfit's less than exacting championship matches against Middlesex and Northants to come. The scenario sounds too good to be true, but it is the unpredictable nature of the weather at this time of year more than the nature of the opposition that is likely to stand in the way of three wins in the first three for the chocolates.

After flying in from Pakistan on Tuesday, both Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq are available.  So, it will be interesting to see which one or possibly two bowlers miss out from the side that almost beat Oxford UCCE.  With a slight doubt over Alex Tudor’s fitness, it would seem unnecessary to risk anyone at this early stage.  Nadeem Shahid could also be asked to step down despite top-scoring in Surrey’s second innings at The Parks.

I Ward, R Montgomerie, M Goodwin, C Adams (capt), T Ambrose (wk), R Martin-Jenkins, M Prior, M Yardy, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Akram and J Lewry.

30 Jul - 2 Aug 2003	Match Drawn	Hove
30 May - 2 Jun 2003	Won By 113 Runs	The Oval
8-11 Aug 2002	Lost By 4 Wickets	Hove
19-22 Apr 2002	Won By 10 Wickets	The Oval
18-21 Aug 1999	Won By 207 Runs	Hove
30 Jul - 1 Aug 1998	Won By An Innings & 69 Runs	The Oval
28-30 Aug 1997	Won By An Innings & 101 Runs	Hove
17-20 Jul 1996	Won By 135 Runs	Guildford
15-19 Jun 1995	Match Drawn	Horsham
28 Jul - 1 Aug 1994	Lost By An Innings & 34 Runs	The Oval
6-8 May 1993	Won By 10 Wickets	Hove
29 May - 1 Jun 1992	Match Drawn	The Oval
28-31 Aug 1991	Won By An Innings & 128 Runs	The Oval
2-4 Jul 1991	Match Drawn	Arundel
18-20 Jul 1990	Lost By 7 Wickets	Guildford
26-30 Apr 1990	Lost By 5 Wickets	Hove

GO TO:




BACK TO: