SURREY V YORKSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC1), 21-24 MAY 2008

Last year, Yorkshire were Surrey's first opponents in the LV County Championship, which, at the time, seemed a good thing. The Tykes were coming out of an unsettling off-season, which all came right in the end when Darren Gough decided to leave Essex and return to the county of his birth. That, in turn, was enough to persuade Anthony McGrath, who was threatening to leave Headingley before his contract had run its course, to stay put after all. Nevertheless, Surrey had just romped Division Two, so Yorkshire went into the contest as the underdogs. Four days into the 2007 campaign, however, it was clear which side was the better prepared for a tilt at the championship title - and it certainly wasn't the Brown Caps.

Forward on a year and, once again, the formbook seems to suggest that it is a good time to be entertaining the Yorkies, who crumbled to a 295-run defeat at the hands of Durham last week. In both innings Darren Gough's men were skittled out for less than 200. There were warning signs in the previous match, against Nottinghamshire, which ended in a draw, although Yorkshire only collected two batting bonus points.

Given this backdrop it is refreshing to see Jacques Rudolph, Andrew Gale and Tim Bresnan all averaging over fifty with the bat in this year's competition. So far, the major disappointments have been opener Joe Sayers, who averages 10.20, Anthony McGrath (18.40) and Adil Rashid, who, like Sayers, is still regarded mainly as one for the future.

There is some good news for the Tykes, though. Their overseas fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is approaching full fitness and could well make his debut for the white rose county tomorrow. That would, at least, make up for Matthew Hoggard's absence, due not to his international commitments, but a broken thumb.

As with the bat, Bresnan has been an asset with the ball, taking 13 wickets at 19.00 runs apiece. Ajmal Shahzad, a 22-year-old seamer, bowled well in his one and only championship appearance so far, against Hampshire, and may, therefore, get the nod ahead of the steady Deon Kruis. But, if Yorkshire's fortunes are going to improve, Darren Gough will need to turn his form with the new cherry on its head.

Alistair Brown needs 74 runs for 15,000 career first-class runs. Matt Nicholson needs 2 wickets for 400 career f-c wickets and three wickets for 50 f-c for Surrey. Mark Ramprakash needs 18 runs for 31,000 career f-c runs and one hundred for 100 f-c hundreds. Of the Yorkshire contingent Tim Bresnan needs five wickets for 150 f-c wickets for Yorkshire. Gerard Brophy needs 6 catches for 200 career f-c catches and 37 runs for 1,000 f-c runs for Yorkshire. Darren Gough needs 2 wickets for 850 career f-c wickets and 4 wickets for 450 f-c wickets for Yorkshire. Anthony McGrath needs one wicket for 100 f-c wickets for Yorkshire.

Surrey look set to name an unchanged side, though Murtaza Hussain is included in the twelve for this game. 

The last three championship meetings at the Oval between these two sides have ended with one or the other winning in emphatic style. I don't, however, see that being the case on this occasion. The pitch at the Oval is so true, any loss of playing time due to weather will make anything but a draw difficult to achieve. Furthermore, for all of Yorkshire's lack of form with the bat, Surrey are currently relying far too heavily on the spin of Saqlain Mushtaq for my liking. I'll stick my neck out and say that the Brown Caps will score their first LVCC victory of the season, but, whatever happens, it should be an intriguing contest.

J Sayers, A Lyth, A McGrath, J Rudolph, A Gale, G Brophy, T Bresnan, A Rashid, A Shahzad, D Gough (capt), R Naved-ul-Hasan.

Graham Burgess and Nigel Cowley.

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