SURREY LIONS v UNICORNS
at the Brit Oval (CB40 League), 2 MAY 2010
Whilst not a total unknown quantity,
the Unicorns, who will be making their debut in List A cricket
tomorrow (weather permitting), have no real track record. On paper
they would appear to be a collection of some useful batsmen, one or
two economical bowlers and a handful of players who have had their
time; and who may, therefore, be too rusty to still be effective at
this level.
Cricket, as we all know, is a team
game and if the Unicorns are going to cause a few upsets this summer
it is vital they pull together under the leadership of ex-Somerset
stalwart Keith Parsons. But because, in Parsons's own words, the
formation of the Unicorns helps put fringe players "in the shop
window" the worry must be that some will put their own
interests ahead of the team's.
Most of the Unicorns' batsmen were
regarded as grafters when they were playing county cricket, so
chasing big totals could well prove to be beyond them. Consequently,
the focus will be on the bowlers keeping opposition batsmen honest.
Sadly, other than the former Essex seamer Jahid Ahmed, their attack
does not appear to possess much firepower. It is likely, therefore,
that a number of overs will be fiddled from all-rounders such as
Mark Hardinges, who made 85 one-day appearances for Gloucestershire
between 1999 and 2008.
Mark Ramprakash is set to make his 400th appearance in List A
one-day cricket. The Unicorns' Wes Durston has 952 List A career
runs going into this contest.
Surrey name an unchanged squad from last weekend's opening CB40 game
victory over Lancashire, however Andre Nel is banned for this match,
as well as Monday's visit to Worcester, after disagreeing with the
decision that saw him run out in the closing stages last Sunday.
| OPPONENT |
DATE |
COMP |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
| Lancashire |
25
Apr 2010 |
NL |
Won By 2 Wickets |
Whitgift Sch |
285-8
(38.5) |
290-6
(40) |
| Leicestershire |
27
Sep 2009 |
NL |
Won By 4 Wickets |
Leicester |
228-6
(39.1) |
225-4
(40) |
| Warwickshire |
16
Sep 2009 |
NL |
Lost By 9 Wickets |
The Oval |
200-8
(40) |
201-1
(35) |
| Northamptonshire |
13
Sep 2009 |
NL |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
Northampton |
134
(35.2) |
135-2
(15.3) |
| Kent |
27
Aug 2009 |
NL |
Lost By 8 Runs |
Canterbury |
110-5
(19.4) |
167-6
(27) |
The weather forecast suggests the Unicorns will claim their first
points in this summer's CB40 League, but if the rain stays away you
cannot foresee anything other than a victory for Surrey.
M O'Shea, J Thompson, W Durston, K Parsons (capt), M Hardinges, Z
Sharif, J Knappett (wk), C Peploe, T Mees, J Ahmed and J Miles.
Jeremy Lloyds and Peter Willey.
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