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PREVIEW: FRIENDS PROVIDENT T20 - SOUTH GROUP
by Marcus Hook
ESSEX
The only team in the ultra-competitive South yet to win the domestic
T20, Essex strike me as a team that could just as easily finish
bottom of their group as clinch the title. I suspect it will all
come down to that M word - momentum. Despite the absence of Ravi
Bopara and Alistair Cook, who will be on international duty, the
Eagles have some proven hitters. Graham Napier is the key man,
perhaps, but the likes of ten Doeschate, Pettini, Shah and Wheater
are potential dangers. With Scott Styris switching allegiances and
signing for Sussex, Essex have plumped for another Kiwi all-rounder
- James Franklin - to help boost their FLt20 campaign. Throw in
David Masters and the slow left-arm of Tim Phillips, who took 26
wickets at an average of 13.23 in last year's T20, and the Eagles'
attack looks very handy indeed.
Surrey clashes: 13 June (Wed) at the Kia Oval & 22 June (Fri) at
Chelmsford
Twenty20 Cup odds: 14-1
Best finish: Semi finalists (2006, 2008 and 2010)
Biggest total: 242-3 v Sussex at Chelmsford 2008
Highest score: 152* - GR Napier v Sussex at Chelmsford 2008
Best bowling: 6-16 - TG Southee v Glamorgan at Chelmsford 2011
HAMPSHIRE
Bidding for a third successive appearance at T20 finals day, Hampshire
will be keen to make up for their frustrating start in the County
Championship. Michael Katich is likely to sit out the FLt20, but in
Glenn Maxell, an explosive young batsman and occasional off-spinner,
and Shahid Afridi, who needs absolutely no introduction, the Royals
are strong as anyone in the overseas department. Michael Carberry has
been a revelation in this year's Clydesdale Bank 40, making a fifty
each time he has taken guard to outshine James Vince, who has often
looked at home in the shorter forms of the game. If the CB40 is
anything to go by, the fresh-faced spin duo of Danny Briggs and Liam
Dawson should be difficult to get after. But, as much as anyone,
Dimitri Mascarenhas, who is back from the IPL, and Neil McKenzie, who
returns from taking a sabbatical, are key.
Surrey clashes: 20 June (Wed) at the Kia Oval & 30 June (Sat) at the
Rose Bowl
Twenty20 Cup odds: 14-1
Best finish: Winners (2010)
Biggest total: 225-2 v Middlesex at the Rose Bowl 2006
Highest score: 124* - MJ Lumb v Essex at The Rose Bowl
2009
Best bowling: 5-14 - AD Mascarenhas v Sussex at Hove 2004
KENT
The emergence of Sam Billings in the opening weeks of the Clydesdale
Bank 40 suggests that the loss of Martin van Jaarsveld, who topped the
Spitfires' batting averages in last year's FLt20, might not be felt as
keenly. Azhar Mahmood's return, from the IPL, will give Kent an added
dimension with the bat, alongside the hard-hitting Darren Stevens and
dependable Rob Key. But Brendan Nash is an unknown quantity in this
form of cricket and Sam Northeast really could do with shaking off his
"promising" tag. The bowling has benefited from the arrival of Mark
Davies, from Durham. Azhar is a wily campaigner and, as he showed by
taking 6-32 against Yorkshire in a recent CB40 game, Matt Coles is
coming on in leaps and bounds. If the Spitfires have a weakness, it's
their fielding, which, in such a strong group, is likely to come under
pressure.
Surrey clashes: 17 June (Sun) at Beckenham & 5 July (Thu) at the Kia
Oval
Twenty20 Cup odds: 20-1
Best finish: Winners (2007)
Biggest total: 217 v Gloucestershire at Gloucester 2010
Highest score: 112 - A Symonds v Middlesex at Maidstone 2004
Best bowling: 5-17 - Wahab Riaz v Gloucestershire at Beckenham 2011
MIDDLESEX
The Panthers' price of 25-1 reflects not only the lack of an overseas
player - Lasith Malinga was lined-up, but has picked up an injury -
but, more importantly, the absence of Steve Finn and Eoin Morgan, who
are wanted by England, plus the added blow of losing Tim Murtagh and
Paul Stirling to Ireland; who have three ODIs during the group phase
of the domestic T20. Middlesex will therefore rely on Joe Denly and
Chris Rogers with the bat, unless, of course, Neil Dexter and Dawid
Malan can put indifferent starts to this year's Clydesdale Bank 40
behind them. The bowling is an even bigger concern. With all due
respect, Gareth Berg, Steven Crook and slow left-armer Tom Smith are
not obvious match-winners. The Panthers have done little before or
since their title-winning season in 2008. I don't expect that to
change.
Surrey clashes: 14 June (Thu) at Lord's & 6 July (Fri) at the Kia Oval
Twenty20 Cup odds: 25-1
Best finish: Winners (2008)
Biggest total: 213-4 v Glamorgan at Richmond 2010
Highest score: 106 - AC Gilchrist v Kent at Canterbury 2010
Best bowling: 5-13 - M Kartik v Essex at Lord's 2007
SURREY
Given the weapons Surrey possess, it's somewhat surprising that Jade
Dernbach is the only Ovalite wanted by England for the forthcoming
one-day series against the West Indies and Australia. Kevin
Pietersen's decision to retire from ODI cricket means that, at times,
the South Londoners will possess the most explosive top five on show -
Hamilton-Brown, Davies, Pietersen, Roy and Maynard. If, for some
reason, they should all fail, the resourceful duo of Matthew Spriegel
and Zafar Ansari are due in at six and seven. With the ball, Surrey
have two overseas players - Murali Kartik and Dirk Nannes - with heaps
of T20 experience, a soon to be fit again Chris Tremlett and no end of
spin options. It's little wonder Surrey are expected to reach their
finals day since 2005, when they crashed out to Lancashire in the
first semi-final.
Twenty20 Cup odds: 6-1 joint favourites (with Somerset)
Best finish: Winners (2003)
Biggest total: 224-5 v Gloucestershire at Bristol 2006
Highest score: 101* - JJ Roy v Kent at Beckenham 2010
Best bowling: 6-24 by TJ Murtagh v Middlesex at Lord's 2005
SUSSEX
In addition to being one of only two unbeaten teams in this year's
Clydesdale Bank 40, Sussex have reached the last eight in the domestic
T20 in four out of the previous five tournaments; winning it in 2009.
Last year's surprise package was left-arm seamer Chris Liddle, who
took 21 wickets at 17.19 runs apiece. But if their CB40 form is
anything to go by, spin - in the shape of Beer, Nash, Panesar and
Yardy - could be the Sharks' secret weapon. Having gone for two
overseas all-rounders - New Zealand's Scott Styris and South Africa's
Rusty Theron - what the Martlets lack in terms of a gun batsman is
compensated for in batting depth. Matt Prior and Luke Wright have been
omitted from England's ODI squad, which is an added boost. But the
likes of Gatting, Goodwin and Joyce will also need to produce.
Surrey clashes: 3 July (Tue) at the Kia Oval & 8 July (Sun) at Hove
Twenty20 Cup odds: 10-1
Best finish: Winners (2009)
Biggest total: 239-5 v Glamorgan at Hove 2010
Highest score: 117 - MJ Prior v Glamorgan at Hove 2010
Best bowling: 5-11 - Mushtaq Ahmed v Essex at Hove 2005.
RECORDS
Twenty20
Cup - Surrey records 2003-2011
Twenty20
Cup - Surrey results 2003-2011
Twenty20
Cup - Records at a glance 2003-2011
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