KENT V SURREY at Canterbury
(LVCC2),
10-13 AUGUST 2011
With Kent keen to avoid claiming the wooden spoon
in this year's County Championship and Surrey still entertaining
hopes of promotion to Division One, the last thing both of these
sides need is a weather forecast that points to a day and a half of
play being lost to the elements.
I recall making this point prior to the
corresponding encounter at the Oval, but one glance at Kent's
batting averages tells you everything you need to know if you're
baffled by the hop county lowly standing in Division Two. Only Rob
Key (717 championship runs at an average of 37.73) and Azhar Mahmood,
who misses this match through injury, are currently averaging over
31.00. Geraint Jones (17.95) has been particularly disappointing,
but bearing in mind that Joe Denly and Sam Northeast are in the
final year of their current contracts, batting averages in the
mid-twenties give them precious little bargaining power.
The absence of Azhar Mahmood is a double blow for
he is also heading Kent's bowling averages. Off-spinner James
Tredwell is currently the hop county's leading wicket-taker with 30
victims at 32.90 runs apiece. David Balcombe impressed during his
loan spell from Hampshire, but he's also out of the picture. So, the
only other bowler of note, who is likely to play tomorrow, is the
veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens, who was 17 championship wickets
at an average of 28.41.
Mark Ramprakash is set to make his 150th first-class appearance for
Surrey. Of the likely Kent line-up, James Tredwell currently has 297
first-class wickets, while Wahab Riaz has 246.
Surrey are likely to field an unchanged side from the one that
tasted success against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. With Stuart
Meaker representing the England Lions, Chris Jordan has been named
as cover in Surrey's 12-man party.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Gloucestershire |
27-30
Jul 2011 |
Won By 2 Wickets |
Cheltenham |
423
& 186-8 |
286
& 320 |
Middlesex |
20-23
Jul 2011 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Guildford |
117
& 379 |
308
& 190-4 |
Kent |
10-13
Jul 2011 |
Won By 21 Runs |
The Oval |
387
& 184 |
250
& 300 |
Gloucestershire |
19-21
Jun 2011 |
Lost By 4 Wickets |
The Oval |
225
& 195 |
261
& 161-6 |
Derbyshire |
29
May - 1 Jun 2011 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Derby |
358
& 142-3 |
400-9d
& 99 |
Surrey's last five championship outings have alternated between wins
and losses. On that basis this one is heading for an upset. However,
that's pretty tenuous stuff. Kent's record against the Oval outfit
at Canterbury in recent years, suggests they have the edge. While I
don't always have much faith in weather forecasts, even if this
one's half wrong I don't see a positive outcome being reached. Call
me boring (many do), but I'm backing the draw.
R Key (capt), J Denly, S Northeast, M van Jaarsveld, D
Stevens, G Jones (wk), A Ball, J Tredwell, M Coles, S Cook and Wahab
Riaz.
Steve Gale and John Steele.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
KENT |
10-13
Jul 2011 |
Won By 21
Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
387
& 184 |
250
& 300 |
28-31
Aug 2009 |
Lost By 6
Wickets |
Canterbury |
Surrey |
Bat |
423
& 293 |
517
& 200-4 |
10-13
Jul 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
386
& 170-3 |
620-7d |
4-7
Sep 2008 |
Match Drawn |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Field |
307-9d |
160-1 |
29
Jun - 2 Jul 2008 |
Lost By 4
Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
397
& 130 |
270
& 260-6 |
8-9
Aug 2007 |
Won By 4
Wickets |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
215
& 108-6 |
150
& 171 |
30
May - 2 Jun 2007 |
Lost By An
Inns & 79 Runs |
Whitgift
School |
Kent |
Field |
166
& 319 |
564-5d |
20-23
Jul 2005 |
Lost By 4
Wickets |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Bat |
452-8d
& 350 |
572
& 232-6 |
25-28
May 2005 |
Match Drawn |
T'bridge
Wells |
Kent |
Bat |
324
& 333-4 |
262
& 467-4d |
18-21
Aug 2004 |
Match Drawn |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
402-8d |
226
& 234-8 |
25-28
May 2004 |
Won By 7
Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
479
& 174-3 |
239
& 413 |
4-6
Sep 2003 |
Lost By An
Inns & 155 Runs |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
125
& 255 |
535 |
2-5
Jul 2003 |
Won By 186
Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
401
& 251-3d |
352-5d
& 114 |
19-22
Jul 2002 |
Won By 2
Wickets |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
225
& 410-8 |
374
& 260 |
12-14
Jun 2002 |
Won By 9
Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
361
& 61-1 |
153
& 268 |
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