SUSSEX V SURREY at Hove (LVCC1), 30 APRIL - 3 MAY 2008

When Ryan Harris burst on to the county scene in this season's curtain-raiser between Sussex and MCC at Lord's he went straight into my fantasy side. Now, following his decision to sign a contract to play for Queensland as a local player, I'm left with a squad of 12 for this season. So, I'm not happy. Nor, should I imagine are Sussex.

My fear for the Martlets was that they too would struggle to bowl sides out this summer without the Aussie all-rounder. However, when you have got Mushtaq Ahmed, you've always got a chance of picking up wickets. Consequently, Chris Adams's men have had the better of two draws so far in the County Championship, but the weather has denied them, certainly against Kent who would almost certainly have failed to score 337 batting last.

With the ball Mushy has received useful support from Robin Martin-Jenkins, who had appeared in recent seasons to be turning into a batsman who could bowl, rather than the other way round. Also, if he plays against Surrey, watch out for Sussex's 23-year-old seamer Ragheb Aga, who hails from Kenya, but has a British passport.

Now we come to Sussex's weakness - their batting. Only Luke Wright, Matt Prior and Murray Goodwin can be pleased with the starts they have made to the 2008 campaign. As often seems to be the case, Adams has begun the season slowly, averaging just 15.40 in five f-c innings. Carl Hopkinson also needs to find his feet. The 26-year-old remains a good prospect, but he is no longer a youngster. He has made over forty f-c appearances, but averages only 23.40. 

Jonathan Batty needs 73 runs for reach 7,000 first-class runs for the Brown Caps. Matt Nicholson is three wickets away from notching up 400 career f-c wickets and is four short of 50 f-c wickets for Surrey.Mark Ramprakash needs 167 runs for 31,000 f-c career runs and two centuries for a hundred hundreds in f-c cricket. Chris Schofield needs five wickets for 200 career f-c scalps.

Surrey's twelve is Chris Schofield added to the side that secured a draw up at Durham. Also, in case it's escaped your notice, Stewart Walters will be out of action of at least a month after suffering a triple fracture of his cheekbone, while batting, in last week's twos game against Essex at Southend-on-Sea.

I cannot see Surrey losing to Sussex, however have you seen the weather forecast for tomorrow, let alone the rest of the week? If the pitch is anything like the shirtfront last year's game was played on, there is no chance of a result if the first day's play is lost. This one has got "draw" written all over it.  

C Nash, C Hopkinson, M Yardy, M Goodwin, C Adams, M Prior, L Wright, R Martin-Jenkins, R Aga, Mushtaq Ahmed and J Kirtley.

Richard Kettleborough and Neil Mallender.

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