LEICESTERSHIRE V
SURREY at Leicester (CC1), 21-24 AUGUST 2003
With four front-line batsmen out through injury the home
side's upper order is likely to have a somewhat youthful look about it. But what
better stage than a contest with Surrey to announce your arrival in first-class
cricket?
Brad Hodge and Darren Maddy must feel as though the weight
of the world is resting on their shoulders. Apart from these two, nobody else
with a championship average over thirty this season is available to the Foxes.
Perhaps it's time for 22-year-old left-handed opener John Maunders to really
come of age.
The Leicestershire attack lacks bite. Skipper, Phil
DeFreitas has bowled manfully, but Maddy's nagging medium pace has been the next
best option. Having said that, Vasbert Drakes is just getting into his stride
after flying in from the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago. But after
getting shot of the promising Carl Crowe at the end of last summer, one has to
question who the Grace Road outfit see as their spin threat these days.
Surrey, who have not lost at Leicester since 1995, have
Martin Bicknell one match away from his 250th championship appearance as well as
7 wickets away from matching T.Rushby's haul of 954 f-c wickets for the county.
Finally, if Alistair Brown does start, he needs just ninety more championship
runs to pass a thousand against Leicestershire.
Winless Leicestershire need the impossible to happen if they are to stay up.
Should the taste victory in this game it would register as something approaching
a miracle. Let's just say that the weather cannot save them twice in the same
season against Surrey - can it?!
Alistair Brown seems likely to be stood down for this game, but Surrey will be
waiting to see if Martin Bicknell is needed by England. If he is, expect Alex
Tudor (who took seven for 77 at Grace Road in 1999) as well as Jimmy Ormond to
come into the side that trounced Nottinghamshire by an innings and 211 runs at
Whitgift last week.
J Maunders, A Wright, D Maddy, B Hodge, J Sadler, P Nixon (wk), D Brandy, P
DeFreitas (capt), V Drakes, D Masters and M Whiley.
14-17 May 2003 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
18-21 Sep 2002 |
Won By 483 Runs |
The Oval |
14-16 Aug 2002 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Leicester |
4-7 Jul 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
16-19 May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
19-21 Jul 2000 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
Guildford |
7-9 Jul 2000 |
Won By An Innings & 178 Runs |
Oakham School |
9-12 Jun 1999 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
17-19 Sep 1998 |
Lost By An Innings & 211 Runs |
The Oval |
21-24 May 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
13-17 Jun 1996 |
Won By 108 Runs |
The Oval |
27-31 Jul 1995 |
Lost By An Innings & 37 Runs |
Leicester |
23-27 Jun 1994 |
Won By An Innings & 50 Runs |
The Oval |
29 Apr - 2 May 1993 |
Won By 89 Runs |
Leicester |
14-17 Aug 1992 |
Lost By 72 Runs |
The Oval |
14-17 Jun 1991 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
11-14 Aug 1990 |
Won By An Innings & 5 Runs |
The Oval |
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