SURREY V WARWICKSHIRE at Guildford (FCC1), 21-24 JULY 2004

Surrey's inexperienced attack have not really let their side down in the abridged versions of the game, but here comes the big test - the 10/11 County Championship favourites, Warwickshire.  This will be a third visit in a row to a so-called "out ground" for the Bears.  Their trip to Guildford follows four-day fixtures at Stratford-upon-Avon and Beckenham; both of which ended in draws that prevented this summer's surprise package stealing an even bigger march on their Division One rivals than they have done already.  But quite whether their lead is as unassailable as their odds would suggest remains to be seen.

The midlands county could be without Jonathan Trott, who suffered a calf injury in last Saturday’s C&G Trophy semi-final defeat to Worcestershire, but they will be led in every sense by Nick Knight (896 championship runs at an average of 99.55) and Michael Powell, who is averaging a very handy 91.50.  Just for good measure, the visitors can, and almost certainly will throw in five more batsmen with fifty-plus averages.  The immensely attractive Jim Troughton, who has struggled this year, is the one likely to miss out.

Dewald Pretorius's third stint as overseas replacement for Heath Streak, who has a stomach muscle problem, sees him go head-to-head with a batting line-up he will be pretty familiar with by now.  At Edgbaston earlier this term he had figures of 4-36 in the totesport League game and three second innings victims in the Frizzell County Championship match.

The Bears' leading wicket-taker in the championship, Neil Carter, will also be licking his lips at the prospect of renewing his rivalry with Mark Ramprakash, whom he dismissed in two out of his three digs in Birmingham; and who is yet to leave his mark in six championship knocks at Woodbridge Road.  But the unexpected success stories with the ball this season have been Ian Bell - who has done his chances of an England call-up no harm at all by claiming 12 four-day scalps at 21.83 runs apiece - and 20-year-old Naqaash Tahir, who is in close attendance with fourteen at 22.64.

Upcoming milestones for the Surrey boys - Mark Ramprakash will be making his 50th first-class appearance for the Oval outfit, while wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty needs four more victims for 300 first-class career dismissals.

Unlike a year ago, the weather forecast for Festival Week looks highly promising, which means that a result is on the cards.  Warwickshire have previously made two visits to Guildford, but haven't looked like being beaten on either occasion.  Given the weakness of Surrey's attack, one would expect the Bears to have things pretty much their own way this time as well.

It won't seem the same - Guildford without Bicknell - but Surrey's injury worries are such that rumour had it even Alex Tudor may have been risked.  What now seems more likely, however, is that the home side will keep faith with backup seamers Tim Murtagh and Philip Sampson - who has arguably been the pick of their one-day seam attack of late - whilst Nayan Doshi will perform the spinner's duties.  Unless Scott Newman fails a late fitness test on a strained calf, Rikki Clarke, who has a similar injury, looks set to miss out.  His place seems likely to go to James Benning, who has not played a championship game since turning his ankle over against Middlesex in mid-May.

N Knight (capt), M Wagh, I Bell, J Trott, M Powell, D Brown, B Hogg, T Frost (wk), N Tahir, A Richardson and D Pretorius.

12-15 May 2004	Lost By 7 Wickets	Edgbaston
9-12 Jul 2003	Won By 135 Runs	Edgbaston
30 Apr - 3 May 2003	Match Drawn	The Oval
27-30 Aug 2002	Match Drawn	Edgbaston
10-13 Jul 2002	Lost By 31 Runs	The Oval
21-23 Jul 1999	Won By An Innings & 123 Runs	Edgbaston
23-27 Apr 1998	Won By An Innings & 49 Runs	The Oval
2-5 Jul 1997	Lost By 5 Wickets	Edgbaston
29-31 Aug 1996	Won By An Innings & 164 Runs	The Oval
4-8 May 1995	Lost By 91 Runs	Edgbaston
14-18 Jul 1994	Lost By 256 Runs	Guildford
17-18 Jun 1993	Won By 8 Wickets	Edgbaston
17-20 Jul 1992	Match Drawn	Guildford
6-8 Aug 1991	Won By 67 Runs	Edgbaston
7-10 Jul 1990	Won By 168 Runs	The Oval

GO TO:




BACK TO: