DERBYSHIRE V SURREY
at Derby (LVCC2), 20-23 SEPTEMBER 2006
Ah well, all good things must come to an end. With the Division Two title in
the bag, I cannot see Surrey being up for this contest if Sunday's half-hearted
Pro40 performance at Taunton is any barometer. The Brown Caps' squad has its
fair share of youngsters, which will hopefully give the game a bit more of an
edge. But, if the weather forecast is to be believed (let's face it, they
haven't got much right
this summer), Surrey's first championship visit to Derby for six years is under
threat from cricket's greatest enemy - rain. The wet stuff in projected to
arrive on Friday, but what can we look forward to up to that point?
Without the runs supplied by the overseas trio of Travis Birt, Michael Di
Venuto and Marcus North, Derbyshire would not now be enjoying fourth place in
the Division Two table. The hosts will be disadvantaged in as much as Birt is
the only one likely to feature over the next few days. The scalp of Steve
Stubbings (949 championship runs at an average of 37.96) could therefore be the
key to Surrey winning this match. However, watch out for 23-year-old Greg Smith,
who made a promising 86 against Gloucestershire last month.
With the ball, the Nottingham Road outfit have relied heavily upon Steffan
Jones (56 championship wickets at 30.17 runs apiece), who will be moving back to
Somerset this winter and, therefore, may not play in this game. With skipper
Graeme Welch sidelined with an Achilles injury, the hosts will be looking to
Graham Wagg and Ian Hunter. Oh dear.
Rikki Clarke needs 30 runs to record his first 1,000-run season for Surrey and 5
wickets for 100 first-class career wickets. Nayan Doshi is two away from taking
50 f-c wickets for the season. For Derbyshire, Ian Hunter is on the brink of
making his 50th f-c appearance, Steffan Jones is poised to make his one
hundredth, while Graham Wagg is four away from his fiftieth f-c wicket.
Jade Dernbach, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Neil Saker and Stewart Walters are included
in a youthful-looking 13-man squad; as are James Benning and Ian Salisbury, who
missed last weekend's Pro40 fixtures due to finger and knee injuries
respectively. Rikki Clarke and Mark Ramprakash will sit this one out, while
Mohammad Akram has, not surprisingly, been dropped.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Gloucestershire |
6-9 Sep 2006 |
Match Drawn |
Bristol |
288 & 470-9 |
459 & 329-8d |
Glamorgan |
30 Aug - 1 Sep 2006 |
Won By 218 Runs |
The Oval |
433 & 309-5d |
269 & 255 |
Essex |
16-18 Aug 2006 |
Lost By An Inns & 2 Runs |
Colchester |
330 & 198 |
530 |
Worcestershire |
8-10 Aug 2006 |
Won By An Inns & 107 Runs |
Worcester |
576 |
304 & 165 |
Northamptonshire |
2-5 Aug 2006 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
669-5d & 65-3 |
347 & 386 |
The last time each of tomorrow's umpires officiated in championship games
involving Surrey, the Brown Caps won by an innings. On paper, even a weakened
Surrey side looks more than a match for Derbyshire, but weren't we all saying that
ahead of the season's opener, in which the visitors to the Brit Oval had their
illustrious hosts following-on in their first Division Two outing? When there's
nothing to play for I don't know that it's fair to expect me to come up with a
winner - that's if the weather doesn't have its say as well.
G Smith, S Stubbings (capt), C Taylor, T Birt, Hassan Adnan, A Botha, L
Goddard (wk), G Wagg, J Needham, K Dean and I Hunter.
Nigel Cowley and Jeremy Lloyds.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
DERBYSHIRE |
19-22
Apr 2006 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Derbyshire |
Bat |
308 &
476-8d |
492 |
16-17
Aug 2000 |
Won By An Inns & 45
Runs |
The Oval |
Derbyshire |
Bat |
260 |
118 &
97 |
7-9
Jun 2000 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Derby |
Surrey |
Bat |
138 &
218 |
191 &
167-3 |
24-27
Aug 1999 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
Derby |
Derbyshire |
Field |
350-9d
& 1-1 |
154 &
196 |
6-8
Aug 1998 |
Won By 226 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
333 &
238-9d |
139 &
206 |
7-10
May 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Derby |
Surrey |
Bat |
267 |
158-3 |
30
May - 3 Jun 1996 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Derbyshire |
Field |
477 &
345-3d |
469 &
246-9 |
24-26
Aug 1995 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Derby |
Derbyshire |
Field |
350 &
167-3 |
181 &
333 |
12-16
May 1994 |
Won By An Inns & 138
Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
570-6d |
208 &
224 |
19-21
Aug 1993 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Ilkeston |
Derbyshire |
Field |
205 &
332 |
438-9d
& 100-4 |
2-4
Jun 1992 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Derbyshire |
Bat |
253-9d
& 69-3 |
249 &
244-1d |
21-24
Jun 1991 |
Lost By 3 Wickets |
Derby |
Derbyshire |
Field |
137 &
184-4d |
80-3d
& 242-7 |
6-8
Jun 1990 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
152-2d
& 161-0 |
275 &
144-0 |
GO TO:
BACK TO:
|