SURREY V SUSSEX at Guildford (LVCC2), 9-12 AUGUST 2010

The retirement of Robin Martin-Jenkins appears to leave a big hole to fill with the ball for Sussex. Also, he didn't fair all that bad with the bat in what proved to be his final stint - making 629 championship runs from ten completed innings. But in Murray Goodwin, Sussex posses a man who has and still can hurt Surrey, especially on a ground with such short boundaries square on the wicket.

So far, the Zimbabwean has gone past three figures on three occasions in this summer's County Championship. But, other than Martin-Jenkins, no one else has made more than one ton for the Martlets. So, if Sussex elect to rest Luke Wright, who is averaging 40.33, the visitors might, on paper at least, start a little light in the batting department.

With the ball, Corey Collymore has been in inspired form this season, taking 44 championship wickets at 18.15 runs apiece. Second in the list of Sussex wicket-takers is Monty Panesar, who appears to have benefited from his move, last winter, from Northamptonshire to the south coast. If he plays, watch out for 20-year-old left-arm seamer Lewis Hatchett, who took 5-47 against Leicestershire in the innings victory at Grace Road. 


Rory Hamilton-Brown has 992 first-class career runs, while Matthew Spriegel has 980 f-c runs for Surrey. Jason Roy is set to make his championship debut, while Chris Tremlett is on the verge of his 100th f-c appearance. For Sussex, Murray Goodwin goes into this contest with 895 championship runs this season.


With Usman Afzaal's name missing from the announced squad, there will be at least one change to the side that lost to Middlesex by an innings at Lord's; which could mean that Jason Roy is set to make his championship debut. Stuart Meaker is fit again, following a slight side strain, but Michael Brown (left elbow), Chris Jordan (back) and Andre Nel (hamstring) are all thought unlikely to feature again this summer.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Middlesex 29 Jul - 1 Aug 2010 Lost By An Inns & 44 Runs Lord's 167 & 212 423
Northamptonshire 20-23 Jul 2010 Won By An Inns & 175 Runs The Oval 620-7d 240 & 205
Derbyshire 28 Jun - 1 Jul 2010 Won By 42 Runs Chesterfield 391 & 253 237 & 365
Leicestershire 4-7 Jun 2010 Lost By An Inns & 60 Runs The Oval 236 & 183 479
Glamorgan 29 May - 1 Jun 2010 Match Drawn Cardiff 303-9d 372 & 7-0


The weather forecast for Tuesday combined with reputation Guildford has acquired of being a bowlers' graveyard is screaming "draw" - and that's what I am going with. Murray Goodwin will be the key man over the next four days. With a first-class record of 1,111 runs at an average of 58.47, including four hundreds against Surrey, Goodwin needs to be nipped out early on if the hosts are going to force a surprise victory.


M Yardy (capt), C Nash, E Joyce, M Goodwin, L Wright, L Hatchett, A Hodd (wk), Yasir Arafat, C Liddle, M Panesar and C Collymore.


Steve Garratt and John Steele.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY SUSSEX
15-18 Apr 2010 Lost By 10 Wickets Hove Sussex Field 205 & 243 416 & 33-0
20-23 Aug 2008 Match Drawn The Oval Surrey Bat 455 & 171-7d 328 & 154-3
30 Apr - 3 May 2008 Match Drawn Hove Surrey Field 400-5d 475 & 13-0
21-24 Aug 2007 Abandoned The Oval No toss - - -
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

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