SURREY V WARWICKSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC1), 23-26 MAY 2012

Can you believe it's been five years since these two sides last met in the County Championship? In effect, Surrey's nine wicket victory at Edgbaston, late in 2007, relegated Warwickshire. Since then, the Midlanders and the Ovalites have been like ships passing in the night.

One look at the Division One table highlights how tough an examination this contest will be for the home side. Warwickshire currently sit top of the pile with three wins from five. Surrey, meanwhile, have enjoyed just one success in six. History isn't on the side of the Oval outfit either - Surrey haven't beaten Warwickshire at the Oval since 1998.

At Jim Troughton's disposal is an in-form bowling attack, led by Keith Barker (23 championship wickets at 16.65 runs apiece), the former Middlesex and Essex seamer, Chris Wright (20 at an average of 21.35) and New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel (16 at 22.43).

The batsmen have been less productive, though. With Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott on England duty, the only danger, on paper, is former Surrey all-rounder Rikki Clarke, who has scored 372 championship runs at an average of 93.00. Mind you, Chris Wright, who is down to come in at number eleven, really frustrated Surrey at Whitgift last summer. Troughton, the skipper, is definitely the weak link, having made just 47 runs from six completed innings.


Jade Dernbach has 195 first-class wickets and Jason Roy 946 f-c runs. For Warwickshire, Ian Westwood, with 4,952, is approaching 5,000 first-class career runs.


Surrey have named the same 13-man squad as lined-up prior to last week's fixture with Somerset. However, at least one change is expected with Jade Dernbach almost certain to come off the "rested" list.

OPPONENT DATE RESULT VENUE SURREY OPPONENT
Somerset 16-19 May 2012 Match Drawn The Oval 388 & 239-7 512-9d & 180
Worcestershire 9-12 May 2012 Match Drawn Worcester 113 & 431-7d 285 & 150-8
Durham 26-29 Apr 2012 Abandoned The Oval - -
Worcestershire 19-22 Apr 2012 Match Drawn The Oval 140 & 224 119 & 94-1
Middlesex 12-15 Apr 2012 Lost By 3 Runs Lord's 222 & 137 256 & 106


Warwickshire win. Why? They bat all the way down, and how many times in the last few years have we seen Surrey's bowlers spark a top order collapse only to encounter difficulties polishing off the tail.


V Chopra, I Westwood, W Porterfield, J Troughton (capt), D Maddy, T Ambrose (wk), R Clarke, C Woakes, K Barker, J Patel and C Wright.


Jeff Evans and David Millns.

DATE RESULT VENUE TOSS DECISION SURREY WARWICKS
6-9 Sep 2007 Won By 9 Wickets Edgbaston Warwicks Bat 373 & 179-1 285 & 264
9-12 May 2007 Match Drawn The Oval Warwicks Bat 400-1d 329 & 5-0
10-13 Sep 2005 Match Drawn Edgbaston Warwicks Field 225 & 313-5d 338 &26-0
1-4 Jun 2005 Match Drawn Whitgift School Surrey Bat 340 & 310-7d 209 & 222-3
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 Warwicks 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 Warwicks Bat 390 413 & 221-7d
27-30 Aug 2002 Match Drawn Edgbaston Warwicks 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 Inns & 123 Runs Edgbaston Surrey Bat 483 227 & 133
23-27 Apr 1998 Won By An Inns & 49 Runs The Oval Surrey Field 405-6d 207 & 149
2-5 Jul 1997 Lost By 5 Wickets Edgbaston Warwicks Field 193 & 144 306 & 34-5
29-31 Aug 1996 Won By An Inns & 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

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