|
|
|
|
|
Surrey go into this game with an unblemished record in the National Cricket League. But Warwickshire will be buoyed by last week's eight-wicket victory over Worcestershire Royals, achieved with nearly four overs to spare, which came on the back of wins over last year's NCL Division One champions Glamorgan and, before that, Essex. It seems as though everyone has contributed at some stage during the Bears' recent run of national league success. Ian Bell made 125 off 109 balls against Essex and 97 from 79 deliveries against Worcestershire. Against Glamorgan, they had a well-judged 75 from Nick Knight to thank. Ian Trott has chipped in with two half-centuries and Dougie Brown has played his part with the bat too. The spinners Collins Obuya and Neil Smith have been Warwickshire's key bowlers, but, as if the underline the team ethic it was Bell's figures of five for 41 that, more than anything else, sank Essex. Surrey's cricket manager, Keith Medlycott, told www.ovalworld-online.com: "Warwickshire have had a little bit of a lean trot, but you see the quality of names they’ve got there, the history they’ve had in recent years – they’re the only side to win three competitions in a season – we get on well, so there’s a good bit of competition. I’d expect to see a really good game." On the point of the two sides getting along, it was notable that a number of Warwickshire players attended last year's Thanksgiving Service for Ben Hollioake. As Medlycott went on to add: "You should make friends. There’s very few in the game of cricket. You have a very short lifespan within cricket. For example, the Surrey boys are all good friends of Craig White. On Sunday they played it rough and tough, but when he got hurt you saw our two batsmen straight there. Nothing should get in the way of that. But you know, the next ball, you’re out there and you’re taking the guy on again."
GO TO: |
