NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V SURREY at
Northampton (LVCC2), 11-14 JUNE 2009
With Ireland’s Niall O’Brien on ICC World Twenty20 duty and Riki Wessels
suffering from suspected gastric flu, Northamptonshire face something of a
wicketkeeping crisis going into this contest. In addition, the absence of David Sales, who picked up a
serious knee injury during the off-season, means that the hosts will only be
fielding four batsmen with a batting average over twenty-eight in this season's
County Championship. It could have been just three, but they welcome back
opening batsman Stephen Peters after five weeks out with a broken thumb.
Big-hitting Robert White, along with all-rounders Nicky Boje and Andrew Hall
have been the mainstays of Northants' batting of late. Hall has made the
most explosive start, scoring a hundred and two half-centuries in six
championship innings. The 33-year-old South African also tops Northamptonshire's
bowling averages with 14 wickets at 15.71 runs apiece, including a best of 5-29
on the opening day of his side's eight wicket victory over Essex.
With the surfaces at Northampton offering more assistance these days, seamers
David Lucas and David Wigley have also been amongst the wickets. However,
England slow left-armer, Monty Panesar has only claimed four scalps so far at a
cost of 75.50 each.
Ryan Harris goes into tomorrow's game with 969 first-class career runs to his
name. Andre Nel will start with 396 f-c wickets. Of the Northants' contingent, Robert White is set to make his 75th first-class
appearance, while 19-year-old Loughborough UCCE student David Murphy will be making his
championship debut if Riki Wessels is unable to play.
Surrey are unlikely to start with the extra batsman they fielded against
Glamorgan, which puts Stewart Walters's place in jeopardy. Murtaza Hussain would
also appear to be in danger of losing out due to Chris Jordan, Stuart Meaker and
Chris Schofield all pushing for inclusion.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
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 |
Gloucestershire |
15-18 Apr
2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
160 & 64-2 |
333 |
Nottinghamshire |
17-20 Sep
2008 |
Lost By An Inns & 143 Runs |
The Oval |
267 & 122 |
532 |
With both of this season's championship matches at Wantage Road reaching a
positive conclusion and dry weather being forecast for the next four days,
Surrey can go into this game fancying their chances of ending a run of 20
first-class matches on the trot without a victory - the second worst barren run
in the county's history. With Butcher back in charge as well as amongst the
runs, I really fancy them to do it. Recent history is also on the Brown Caps'
side - they have lost just once to Northants in the last ten meetings between
the two protagonists.
R White, S Peters,
D Willey, N Boje (capt), M Nelson, A Hall, S Crook, D Lucas, D Murphy (wk), M
Panesar and D Wigley.
Steve Garratt and Neil Mallender. See also The
Dreaded Finger
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
NORTHANTS |
2-5
Aug 2006 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
Northants |
Bat |
669-5d
& 65-3 |
347 &
386 |
14-17
Jul 2006 |
Won By 229 Runs |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Bat |
328 &
424-6d |
300 &
223 |
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 |
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