NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V SURREY at
Northampton (FCC1),
29
JULY - 1 AUGUST 2004 A 'must win' game
for both these sides, of whom only could have envisaged being in the relegation
zone come the end of July when the season first got underway. Not surprisingly,
Northamptonshire are still searching for their first championship win of the
summer. Mind you, Surrey have only gone one better. In a strange sort of way,
though, the hosts will have the bragging rights - at least they managed to beat
Ireland in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.
Other than Usman Afzaal (772 championship runs at an
average of 64.33), David Sales and Gerard Brophy, none of Northants' batsmen go
into this encounter in any real four-day form. Therefore they will be hoping to
see more from Australia's Martin Love than they had from South African, Martin
van Jaarsveld.
At least the bowlers have come to the party now and again.
Johann Louw, Ben Phillips and Graeme Swann have all taken over twenty wickets in
the County Championship this campaign. The pick has been Swann (23 victims at
32.86 runs apiece), who could have done with more assistance from fellow spinner
Jason Brown. However, both are likely to be a handful on home territory.
The game could see one or two milestones being reached.
Mark Ramprakash and Jonathan Batty are one hundred away from achieving special
landmarks - their 70th and 10th first-class centuries respectively. Ramprakash
and Newman are both within sight of 1,000 f-c runs for the season. Azhar Mahmood
needs 101 more runs for 1,000 first-class in chocolate trim. Rikki Clarke has
now taken 46 f-c wickets in his career, while Batty also needs two more victims
for 300 first-class career dismissals.
It has been nine years since Surrey have lost to Northants in the championship
and on paper they would appear to stand a chance of recording their second
championship success of the season. But so much depends on the pitch at
Northampton and how the spinners use it. Sadly, for my money, the home side will
possess the fitter and arguably more proficient clutch of twirlers.
After making 103 in the second innings against Warwickshire, Alistair Brown
(hamstring) becomes the latest name on the casualty list. Ian Salisbury (knee)
returns, though, slightly earlier than expected - maybe the prospect of bowling
an a turning wicket gave him an added incentive to be fit in time. Rikki Clarke
looks set to continue as opener, but Mark Butcher (neck) and Alex Tudor (back)
are not going to be risked. Meanwhile, there is still no news on when Brett Lee
will become an Ovalite.
T Roberts, R White, M Love, U Afzaal, D Sales (capt), G Swann, G Brophy (wk), B
Phillips, J Louw, C Greenidge and J Brown.
28 Apr - 1 May 2004 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
18-20 Jul 2001 |
Won By An Innings & 55 Runs |
Guildford |
9-12 May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
28 Apr - 1 May 1999 |
Won By 8 Wickets |
Northampton |
17-21 Apr 1998 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
23-26 Jul 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
3-6 Sep 1996 |
Won By 225 Runs |
The Oval |
18-22 May 1995 |
Lost By 9 Runs |
Northampton |
19-23 May 1994 |
Lost By 3 Wickets |
The Oval |
22-26 Jul 1993 |
Lost By 304 Runs |
Northampton |
30 Jun - 2 Jul 1992 |
Won By 5 Wickets |
The Oval |
7-11 May 1992 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
23-26 Aug 1991 |
Lost By 138 Runs |
Northampton |
3-6 Jul 1990 |
Won By 147 Runs |
The Oval |
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