NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V SURREY
at Northampton (LVCC2), 14-17 JULY 2006
Before I started penning this preview I was wondering why I couldn't really
remember what had happened between these two sides recently. The fact they have
only met twice (both times being in 2004) in the last four seasons probably had
something to do with it.
Now I remember, the last head to head was Adam Hollioake's final County
Championship appearance. Not that Smokey graced it particularly. If one wants to
perfectly frank, by then he appeared to have lost interest - or was it the
brainless attempt at a slog sweep on a turning pitch, to bring the curtain down
on such a memorable first-class career, that suggested he was ready to throw in
the towel. That encounter, also at Northampton, was one of a number of matches
two summers ago in which Surrey conceded a healthy first innings advantage.
Assuming the strip at Wantage Road still rewards anyone who can play
themselves in, the visitors appear to be the better equipped. Northamptonshire
only have one batsman averaging over fifty in first-class cricket this term -
their latest Kolpak signing Lance Klusener, who has struck 626 runs at an
average of 69.55. Surrey, on the other hand, boast six, all of whom are expected
to play tomorrow with the choice of who to leave out seemingly coming down to
two out of Azhar Mahmood, Martin Bicknell, Mohammad Akram and Jimmy Ormond.
In terms of the hosts' options with the ball, the seam of Klusener, Phillips
and Nicholson and the off-spin of Brown have so far made for a reliable
four-pronged threat. But if it is a decent pitch, they may rue the lack of a
fifth front-line operator.
Surrey's Rikki - Mr Clarke - has 92 first-class wickets, while
Northamptonshire's Riki - Mr Wessels - has 936 first-class runs to his name.
Jimmy Ormond requires four more wickets for 200 first-class for Surrey; and by
the way, Mark Ramprakash needs 67 more runs for 1,000 first-class against the
Wantage Road oufit.
Anil Kumble will hook up with the Surrey squad next week, at Guildford. In the
meantime the Brown Caps are said to be at full strength, which could give the
Butchers something of a selection headache.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Glamorgan |
20-23 Jun
2006 |
Match Drawn |
Swansea |
348 & 448-8d |
410 & 168-2 |
Somerset |
14-16 Jun
2006 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
Bath |
266 & 356-6 |
342 & 276 |
Leicestershire |
7-10 Jun
2006 |
Won By An Inns & 158 Runs |
The Oval |
668-7d |
251 & 259 |
Essex |
31
May - 3 Jun 2006 |
Won By 6 Wickets |
Whitgift School |
433 & 178-4 |
365 & 244 |
Worcestershire |
17-20 May
2006 |
Lost By 2 Wickets |
The Oval |
501-7d & 136-3d |
353-9d & 287-8 |
Surrey's record at Northampton has not been much to write home about in the last
fifteen years or so, but with Ian Salisbury and Nayan Doshi in top form with the
ball right now the Brown Caps should be more than a match for Northants in the
all-important spin department. If the visitors can make short work of the middle
order quartet of Afzaal, Sales, Ganguly and Klusener one can only foresee one
winner - and that's the 'rey!
S Peters, R White, B Shafayat, U Afzaal, D Sales (capt), S Ganguly, L
Klusener, R Wessels (wk), B Phillips, M Nicholson and J Brown.
Barry Dudleston and John Steele.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
NORTHANTS |
29
Jul - 1 Aug 2004 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Bat |
402 & 147 |
332 & 220-4 |
28
Apr - 1 May 2004 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Northants |
Field |
403-7d |
64-2d |
18-20
Jul 2001 |
Won By An Inns & 55 Runs |
Guildford |
Northants |
Bat |
368 |
120 & 193 |
9-12
May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
607 |
476 & 304-1 |
28
Apr - 1 May 1999 |
Won By 8 Wickets |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
286 & 301-2 |
248 & 338 |
17-21
Apr 1998 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Northants |
Field |
351-5d |
44-2d & 46-1 |
23-26
Jul 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Bat |
581-7d |
401 & 241-2d |
3-6
Sep 1996 |
Won By 225 Runs |
The Oval |
Northants |
Field |
395 & 298-9d |
235 & 233 |
18-20
May 1995 |
Lost By 9 Runs |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
263 & 190 |
403 & 59 |
19-23
May 1994 |
Lost By 3 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
181 & 322-8d |
188 & 316-7 |
22-26
Jul 1993 |
Lost By 304 Runs |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Field |
189 & 108 |
238 & 363 |
30
Jun - 2 Jul 1992 |
Won By 5 Wickets |
The Oval |
Northants |
Bat |
164-2d & 252-5 |
312-8d &
102-6d |
7-11
May 1992 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
279-6d & 142-5 |
375 & 147-3d |
23-26
Aug 1991 |
Lost By 138 Runs |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
150-4d & 218 |
401-9d &
105-4d |
4-6
Jul 1990 |
Won By 147 Runs |
The Oval |
Northants |
Field |
347-2d &
Forfeited |
Forfeited &
200 |
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