SURREY V SUSSEX at the Brit Oval (LVCC1), 20-23 AUGUST 2008

A year ago the corresponding fixture to this one did not see a ball bowled in four days. The weather forecast is a bit better this time around, but not sufficiently optimistic to suggest that a positive result can be achieved. Time is running out on Surrey's attempt to stay in Division One of the LV County Championship, but with Sussex looking weak on paper the Brown Caps will be hoping the weathermen have got it wrong.

Murray Goodwin is Surrey's main danger. The 35-year-old Zimbabwean has made 905 runs at an average of 56.56 for Sussex in the championship this term. Other than him Robin Martin-Jenkins, Carl Hopkinson and Mike Yardy, of those who are available for this fixture, have had their moments in four-day cricket this summer, but Chris Adams and Chris Nash have been woefully out of form and it would not be a surprise if Nash's place goes to Rory Hamilton-Brown.

With the ball, nobody has so far taken 30 wickets for the Martlets in the champo. Veteran left-arm seamer Jason Lewry is leading the pack with 27 victims at 29.22 runs apiece. Twenty-two-year-old off-spinner Ollie Rayner (21 at 26.57) has tried to fill the gap left by Mushtaq Ahmed, who would, under normal circumstances, have about sixty wickets by now. On this occasion, though, Mushy is ruled out with a recurrence of his knee injury.


As far as I can tell there aren't any looming, but a 102nd f-c hundred from Mark Ramprakash would be nice.


On loan Alex Tudor is named in the Surrey squad, as are James Benning and new signing Robert Frylinck, so expect a few changes to the side that drew at Taunton. There's still no sign of the injured Mark Butcher (knee), though.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Somerset 12-15 Aug 2008 Match Drawn Taunton 406-9 401-3d
Yorkshire 30 Jul - 2 Aug 2008 Match Drawn Headingley 204 & 264-3 414-9d
Durham 16-19 Jul 2008 Lost By 10 Wickets Guildford 220 & 323 410 & 134-0
Nottinghamshire 11-14 Jul 2008 Match Drawn Trent Bridge 403 218 & 372-6
Kent 29 Jun - 2 Jul 2008 Lost By 4 Wickets The Oval 397 & 130 270 & 260-6


This is a match that Surrey can, and must win, especially as Sussex will be without Mushtaq Ahmed, Matt Prior and Luke Wright. But the weather forecast for days two and three suggests that a draw is the most probable outcome.


C Nash, M Thornely, M Goodwin, M Yardy, C Adams (capt), C Hopkinson, R Martin-Jenkins, A Hodd (wk), O Rayner, J Lewry and C Collymore.


Rob Bailey and John Steele.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY SUSSEX
30 Apr - 3 May 2008 Match Drawn Hove Surrey Field 400-5d 475 & 13-0
21-24 Aug 2007 Abandoned The Oval No toss made - - -
16-19 May 2007 Match Drawn Hove Surrey Bat 626-3d 365 & 372-3
3-5 Aug 2005 Lost By 5 Wickets Hove Surrey Bat 248 & 254 378 & 125-5
13-16 Apr 2005 Match Drawn The Oval Sussex Bat 402-5d 370
16-19 Sep 2004 Won By 37 Runs Hove Surrey Bat 283 & 311 271 & 286
16-19 Apr 2004 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Bat 304 & 254-9 493
30 Jul - 2 Aug 2003 Match Drawn Hove Sussex Bat 355 & 114-1 429 & 302-5d
30 May - 2 Jun 2003 Won By 113 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 480 & 233-3d 307 & 293
8-11 Aug 2002 Lost By 4 Wickets Hove Sussex Field 193 & 296 203 & 288-6
19-22 Apr 2002 Won By 10 Wickets The Oval Surrey Bat 575-8d & 116-0 308 & 379
18-21 Aug 1999 Won By 207 Runs Hove Surrey Bat 224 & 315-7d 115 & 217
30 Jul - 1 Aug 1998 Won By An Inns & 69 Runs The Oval Sussex Bat 364 125 & 170
28-30 Aug 1997 Won By An Inns & 101 Runs Hove Sussex Bat 400-7d 137 & 162
17-20 Jul 1996 Won By 135 Runs Guildford Surrey Bat 411 & 304-6d 265 & 315
15-19 Jun 1995 Match Drawn Horsham Surrey Bat 187 & 501-8d 304 & 230-9

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