MIDDLESEX V SURREY at Lord's (LVCC2),
30 JUNE - 3 JULY 2009
Although Surrey's recent championship visits to Lord's have not ended in
success for the Brown Caps they have managed first innings totals of 400-plus in
each of their last five four-day matches in NW8; in addition to enjoying first
innings leads on all five of those occasions. Given the make-up of Surrey's
attack for this fixture - Jade Dernbach is sidelined and Harbhajan Singh has not
arrived (as everyone seemed to be predicting a month ago) - they might need all
the runs they can get.
That said, even though Middlesex are still without Tim Murtagh, it will not
be easy. Steve Finn (17 championship victims at 31.82 runs apiece) has been
picking up wickets regularly, David Burton's first championship appearance since
the end of 2006 - at Bristol a fortnight ago - went well for the 23-year-old
seamer and in Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik the North Londoners have one of the
best spin duos in the country.
On a positive note, Middlesex, on paper at least, look short of runs with no
Phil Hughes, Eoin Morgan - who is on England Lions duty - and of course no
Andrew Strauss. That just leaves one batsman - Owais Shah - averaging over 32 in
this season's LV County Championship. David Nash keeps his place behind the
timbers despite making just 77 runs in four championship innings this term and
the much-vaunted Billy Godleman, who averages 13.00, is also struggling for
batting form.
Mark Butcher has never made a hundred against Middlesex. His only centuries at
Lord's were for England - against Sri Lanka in 2002 and Zimbabwe in 2003. Mark
Ramprakash's f-c career run tally against his former employers currently stands
at 873 (average 97.00). If he plays, Alex Tudor, who has been recalled to the
Surrey squad, will go into this contest with 347 first-class wickets. For the
home side, Dawid Malan has 906 f-c career runs, while Chris Silverwood has
2,998.
Jade Dernbach is out with a shin injury and Stuart Meaker has been dropped, so
Chris Jordan is the only survivor from the youthful seam attack that bowled
Leicestershire out for 165 on the opening day at Grace Road a fortnight ago. So,
with Andre Nel fit again (from what was believed to be a stiff back) and one of
Tudor and Collins filling the other spare seamers' spot it is almost a case of
out with the new and in with the old. The Brown Caps are thought likely to go
with two spinners again. Chris Schofield and Murtaza Hussain are the probable
starters, but Simon King has been placed on standby just in case. If he does
play, though, it will be his first-class debut.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Leicestershire |
16-19 Jun
2009 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
329 |
165 & 487-5d |
Northamptonshire |
11-14 Jun
2009 |
Won By An Inns & 95 Runs |
Northampton |
530 |
209 & 226 |
Glamorgan |
6-9 Jun
2009 |
Match Drawn |
Cardiff |
368 & 82-3d |
271 |
Middlesex |
6-9 May
2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
388 & 242 |
445 & 184-9 |
Derbyshire |
22-25 Apr
2009 |
Lost By 5 Wickets |
Derby |
131 & 360 |
274 & 220-5 |
Given Middlesex's spin threat, the home side will be hoping for a real bunsen.
But although it is not unknown for spin to have a decisive say in a championship
match at Lord's - like when Worcestershire won there last year and when the
North Londoners trounced Glamorgan by an innings in August 2007 - positive
results have been hard to come by at the home of cricket. If Andre Nel is firing
on all cylinders again - like at Northampton - Surrey will win. If he isn't,
expect this one to end in a draw.
N Compton, B Godleman, O Shah, N Dexter, D Malan, D Nash (wk), S Udal (capt), M
Kartik, C Silverwood, S Finn and D Burton.
Mark Benson and Barry Dudleston. See also The
Dreaded Finger
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
MIDDLESEX |
6-9
May 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
388 &
242 |
445 &
184-9 |
21-24
Sep 2005 |
Won By An Inns & 39
Runs |
The Oval |
Middlesex |
Bat |
686-5d |
404-5d
& 243 |
8-11
Jun 2005 |
Match Drawn |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
460 |
437 &
353-6d |
19-22
May 2004 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
359 &
300-4d |
487-9d |
21-24
Apr 2004 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Field |
418 &
203 |
325 &
300-4 |
23-26
Jul 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
Middlesex |
Field |
411 &
94-0 |
385 |
27-30
Jun 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
568 |
370 &
218-2d |
9-12
Sep 1999 |
Match Drawn |
Lord's |
Surrey |
Bat |
585 |
284 &
499-5 |
15-17
Jul 1998 |
Won By 280 Runs |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Bat |
150 &
420 |
115 &
175 |
15-17
Aug 1997 |
Won By An Inns & 125
Runs |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
531-9d |
205 &
201 |
4-8
Jul 1996 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
Middlesex |
Bat |
366 &
61-3 |
232 &
194 |
29
Jun - 3 Jul 1995 |
Lost By An Inns & 76
Runs |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
209 &
140 |
425 |
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