TWENTY20 CUP 2008 - SOUTH GROUP PREVIEW

ESSEX
Ravi Bopara's call-up for the England one-day squad appears to have put a bit of dent in Essex's chances in this year's Twenty20 Cup. On the plus side the Eagles have an efficient, if less than sexy one-day bowling attack, which boasts the guile of Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneira. Masters and Napier have a decent Twenty20 pedigree with the ball. If James Middlebrook can make more of an impression this term, Essex might not need Bopara to knock off the runs. The Eagles' skipper Mark Pettini and wicketkeeper James Foster have a habit of scoring quickly in this form of the game and with Middlebrook coming in at eight or nine, the Chelmsford outfit will still back themselves even if they make a bad start to their innings.
On England duty: Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara
Surrey clash: 11 June (Wed) at the Brit Oval & 20 June (Fri) at Chelmsford
Twenty20 Cup odds: 17-1
Best finish: Semi finalists (2006)
Biggest total: 196-6 v Sussex at Chelmsford 2006
Highest score: 100* by Ronnie Irani v Sussex at Hove 2006
Best bowling: 4-20 by Scott Brant v Kent at Maidstone 2004.

HAMPSHIRE
Hampshire haven't much of a record in this competition. The Hawks will be hit by having three players on international duty, including their influential skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas. On top of that Shane Watson, who was signed with the Twenty20 Cup in mind, has just been called up by Australia to replace the injured Matthew Hayden. Based on their Twenty20 records, much is therefore likely to rest on the shoulders of Michael Carberry and Michael Lumb, with the bat, and the economic Billy Taylor with the ball. Perhaps their latest Kolpak recruit, all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt, will hit the ground running and keep Hampshire in the competition long enough for Mascarenhas to be factor. If the Hawks reach the last four they will, of course, be playing at home on Finals Day.
On England duty: Dimitri Mascarenhas, Kevin Pietersen and Chris Tremlett
Surrey clash: 18 June (Wed) at the Brit Oval & 23 June (Mon) at the Rose Bowl
Twenty20 Cup odds: 16-1
Best finish: Quarter finalists (2004)
Biggest total: 225-2 v Middlesex at the Rose Bowl 2006
Highest score: 97* by Shane Watson v Kent at the Rose Bowl 2004
Best bowling: 5-14 by Dimitri Mascarenhas v Sussex at Hove 2004.

KENT
When the odds for this year's Twenty20 Cup were first released, Kent looked good value at 10-1. But it is hard to see why last year's winners are as short as 5-1 favourites going into the competition. True, their bowling is almost second to none and in Azhar Mahmood they now have one of the most destructive lower order hitters in Twenty20 Cup history. But who is going to score the bulk of their runs? Of the Spitfires' batsmen, captain Rob Key (32.00) has the best Twenty20 career batting average. Who knows, perhaps it will be a case, once again, of everyone chipping in rather than one or two batsmen playing a starring role? Like Surrey. Kent do not have anyone on England duty, but unlike the Brown Caps they look good enough to progress from the South Group.
Surrey clashes: 13 June (Fri) at the Brit Oval & 25 June (Wed) at Canterbury
Twenty20 Cup odds: 5-1 fav
Best finish: Winners (2007)
Biggest total: 186-6 v Essex at Beckenham 2006
Highest score: 112 by Andrew Symonds v Middlesex at Maidstone 2004
Best bowling: 4-14 by Darren Stevens v Essex at Chelmsford 2007.

MIDDLESEX
The odds setters clearly don't think Middlesex will make any impression at all on this year's Twenty20 Cup. Even though Owais Shah will be absent for much of the initial phase, the Crusaders are certainly in better shape than Hampshire. Furthermore, if one or two players warm to the format, the North Londoners might just be a test for the likes of Essex and Surrey, who appear to be vying for third place in the Group. Billy Godleman and Eoin Morgan have shown they have the potential to succeed with the bat in 20-over cricket, Smith and Strauss will act as the glue, but now really is the time for Ed Joyce to step up to the plate. With the ball, Tim Murtagh, who holds the record for the best analysis in Twenty20 Cup history, leads the line.
On England duty: Owais Shah
Surrey clashes: 16 June (Mon) at Lord's & 27 June (Fri) at the Brit Oval
Twenty20 Cup odds: 23-1
Best finish: Quarter finalists (2005)
Biggest total: 210-6 v Hampshire at the Rose Bowl 2005
Highest score: 85 by Ed Smith v Kent at Beckenham 2005
Best bowling: 5-13 by Murali Kartik v Essex at Lord's 2007.

SURREY
Having failed in their attempts to sign Glenn McGrath and Shaun Pollock for this competition, what do you suppose Surrey's main weakness is? With Chris Schofield, last summer's joint leading wicket-taker in the Twenty20 Cup, likely to miss the opening two fixtures at least, due to injury, perhaps spin should be included alongside seam as a worry. Looking on the bright side, the Brown Caps do not have any players on international duty and they have talked the former Oval favourite and England all-rounder Chris Lewis into coming out of retirement. In short, Surrey will need James Benning, Ali Brown and Mark Ramprakash to make some big scores, with Usman Afzaal, Jonathan Batty and Scott Newman being called upon to give it the long handle treatment on occasions. Mark Butcher may, however, have to sit out the Twenty20 Cup if he wants to be fit for the second half of the season.
Twenty20 Cup odds: 14-1
Best finish: Winners (2003)
Biggest total: 224-5 v Gloucestershire at Bristol 2006
Highest score: 88 by James Benning v Kent at the Oval 2006
Best bowling: 6-24 by Tim Murtagh v Middlesex at Lord's 2005.

SUSSEX
Even without Luke Wright, Sussex will command the respect of their fellow South Group rivals, especially if the secret to Twenty20 success is having good spinners and hard-hitting batsmen. But for a disastrous final over in last year's semi-final against Kent, the Sharks would have squared up to Gloucestershire in the final. Looking to ensure they go one better this term are Chris Adams, Matt Prior and Michael Yardy with the bat - though don't rule out some useful cameos from Goodwin, Hopkinson and Martin-Jenkins - and Mushtaq Ahmed with the ball, assuming the wily Pakistan leg-spinner overcomes a recurrence of his knee problem.
On England duty: Luke Wright
Surrey clashes: 15 June (Sun) at the Brit Oval & 22 June (Sun) at Hove
Twenty20 Cup odds: 10-1
Best finish: Semi Finalists (2007)
Biggest total: 205-5 v Hampshire at Hove 2007
Highest score: 103 by Luke Wright v Kent at Canterbury 2007
Best bowling: 5-11 by Mushtaq Ahmed v Essex at Hove 2005.

RECORDS
Twenty20 Cup - Surrey records 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Surrey results 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Records at a glance 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Career runs 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Career batting average 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Career strike rate 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Career wickets 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Career bowling average 2003-2007 
Twenty20 Cup - Career economy rate 2003-2007 

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