SURREY V WARWICKSHIRE at Whitgift School (FCC1), 1-4 JUNE 2005

Last summer, Warwickshire, were the only county to defeat Surrey both at home and away. Perhaps that is one reason why they are still favourite with the bookies, at 15/8, to retain their title. The Ovalites are 13/2 to win the championship which, if Harbhajan comes off in a big way, could look like unbeatable value with the benefit of quite a bit of hindsight.

As Whitgift's festival coincides with the Second Test, the Bears are without Ian Bell and, even if he had been fit, Ashley Giles - their leading run-scorer and leading wicket-taker respectively in this year's County Championship. Were it not for these two the defending champions would have struggled this season.

Mark Wagh (knee) and Naqaash Tahir (back) have both been injured, Jonathan Trott has a highest score of 29 in eight championship innings, Jim Troughton is no longer deemed a four-day batsman and the ever dependable Dougie Brown was averaging 51.50 with the ball prior to the last game. After four matches the two sides were separated by one point, but Warwickshire now have 75 points to Surrey's 57, which is eight points less than it would have been due to their ball-tampering penalty.

As far as the visitors are concerned much will depend on their skipper Nick Knight (328 championship runs at an average of 41.00 so far this term), who will need to draw upon his vast experience --which includes 17 Tests and 100 one-day internationals for England. Knight has made three hundreds against Surrey and averages 54.80 against them in his career. Judging by his record to date, Zimbabwe's Heath Streak (16 victims at 24.68 runs apiece) will also have a say.

Other than Mark Ramprakash, Mark Butcher, who is still crocked, and Jonathan Batty, Surrey's batsmen have generally struggled against Warwickshire over the years. With the ball, however, Martin Bicknell has taken 61 wickets at an average of 23.18.

Those with approaching milestones include Mohammad Akram (99 f-c appearances), Jonathan Batty (9 f-c hundreds), Martin Bicknell (98 f-c catches) and Jimmy Ormond (397 f-c wickets).


This promises to be the match of the season, so hopefully the weather will have less of a say than the forecasters are predicting for tomorrow. The fact that Tim Murtagh cannot get into the Surrey side underlines just how strong a line-up the home side will have for a change, but Warwickshire notched up a morale boosting win against Shane Warne's Hampshire last week at Stratford. Dare I say it, but Harbhajan looks, on paper, to be the difference between the two sides.


Surrey definitely make two changes to the team that drew with Kent. The long awaited arrival of Harbhajan Singh and the return, from a knee injury of Jimmy Ormond will mean that Nayan Doshi and Ian Salisbury miss out. Murtagh looks unlikely to start despite taking 3-17 in Sunday's totesport League win over the Durham Dynamos. Clarke will be playing as a batsman only, due to a hamstring problem. The latest on the long-term injured is that Mark Butcher (left wrist) is making very slow progress and Azhar Mahmood (shins) is at least two weeks away from being ready to play.


N Knight (capt), I Westwood, M Powell, J Trott, A Loudon, J Troughton, D Brown, T Frost (wk), H Streak, N Carter and N Tahir.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY WARWICKS
21-24 Jul 2004 Lost By 7 Wickets Guildford Surrey Field 331 & 412 537 & 207-3
12-15 May 2004 Lost By 7 Wickets Edgbaston Warwickshire Bat 302 & 414 546 & 171-3
9-12 Jul 2003 Won By 135 Runs Edgbaston Surrey Bat 355 & 450-5d 245 & 425
30 Apr - 3 May 2003 Match Drawn The Oval Warwickshire Bat 390 413 & 221-7d
27-30 Aug 2002 Match Drawn Edgbaston Warwickshire Bat 544 345 & 404-9d
10-13 Jul 2002 Lost By 31 Runs The Oval Surrey Bat 475 & 137 293 & 350
21-23 Jul 1999 Won By An Innings & 123 Runs Edgbaston Surrey Bat 483 227 & 133
23-27 Apr 1998 Won By An Innings & 49 Runs The Oval Surrey Field 405-6d 207 & 149
2-5 Jul 1997 Lost By 5 Wickets Edgbaston Warwickshire Field 193 & 144 306 & 34-5
29-31 Aug 1996 Won By An Innings & 164 Runs The Oval Surrey Field 468 195 & 109
4-8 May 1995 Lost By 91 Runs Edgbaston Surrey Field 288 & 301 470 & 210-4d
14-18 Jul 1994 Lost By 256 Runs Guildford Surrey Field 143 & 246 246 & 399-9d
17-18 Jun 1993 Won By 8 Wickets Edgbaston Warwickshire Bat 175 & 71-2 88 & 157
17-20 Jul 1992 Match Drawn Guildford Warwickshire Bat 341-6d & 131-7 372-6d & 198-9d
6-8 Aug 1991 Won By 67 Runs Edgbaston Warwickshire Field 206 & 195-5d 167 & 167
7-10 Jul 1990 Won By 168 Runs The Oval Warwickshire Field 303-6d & 236-8d 177 & 194

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