NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V SURREY at Northampton (LVCC2), 18-21 MAY 2015
Third plays host to fifth in
Division Two. While Northants did well
to hold on for the draw in their last game, against Derbyshire - which
ended
with the last two batsmen at the crease - Surrey were powered to
victory by Kevin Pietersen's mammoth 355 not out in the first dig
against Leicestershire, who ultimately had no answer to Steven Davies
(115* off 69 balls) and Jason Roy (67 in 39 deliveries) on the final
evening.
Life in Division One must have
been a chastening experience for Northamptonshire. Their 12
defeats in 2014 were second only to the 14 Glamorgan suffered in 2005
(in
terms of being the most suffered in a campaign under a two-divisional
format). However, there were some crumbs of comfort, most notably Adam Rossington's
coming of age. The 21-year-old keeper batsman, who left Middlesex for
greater opportunities with the gloves, averaged 44 in the championship
last term.
Ben Duckett also whetted the
appetite by hitting an unbeaten 144 against Somerset at Taunton, which
he followed up at the beginning of this season with a hundred at Fenners
against Cambridge MCCU. With Wakely nursing a hand injury plus Coetzer,
Levi and Newton struggling with the
willow at the moment, it seems astonishing that the 20-year-old Duckett is being kept waiting in the wings.
The return of skipper Alex Wakely, who sat out the whole of last season with an Achilles tendon,
makes a big difference to the look of Northamptonshire's top order and
David Willey remains a key player with both bat and ball. But
Northants' main strength is their ability to bat deep. Steven Crook is
averaging 77.66 in this summer's champo. However, given
that he's in the side for his bowling, the fact that Crook's wickets
are costing 57.50 runs apiece suggests they should look to play the extra
bowler. But, whom?
Azharullah (18 championship wickets at an average of 25.77) badly
needs support, not just from Willey, who is averaging 32.27 with the
ball, and Rory Kleinveldt (39.53).
Josh Cobb appears to have been
tempted away from Leicestershire as much for his leg-spin as anything
else. So, who is Northamptonshire's new James Middlebrook? Well, the
jury is out. Cobb's victims are costing 73.50, while the less said
about Rob Keogh's off-spin the better.
Rory Burns goes into this contest with 2,937
first-class career runs under his belt. For Northamptonshire, Adam
Rossington (952) is approaching one thousand f-c runs, while Rory
Kleinveldt (293) is closing in one 300 first-class career wickets.
Kevin Pietersen (calf/IPL) and Chris Tremlett (hamstring) have
dropped out of the reckoning, so Surrey's 13-man squad sees four added
- new loan signing Notts' seamer Luke Fletcher, along with James
Burke, Stuart Meaker and Dominic Sibley.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Leicestershire |
10-13 May 2015 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
557 & 218-3 |
292 & 480 |
Essex |
26-29 Apr 2015 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
340 & 95-2 |
610-8d |
Glamorgan |
19-22 Apr 2015 |
Match Drawn |
Cardiff |
563-7d & 207-4d |
419 & 116-0 |
Derbyshire |
15-17 Sep 2014 |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
The Oval |
181 & 279 |
210 & 251-2 |
Worcestershire |
9-12 Sep 2014 |
Lost By 27 Runs |
Worcester |
406 & 189 |
272 & 350 |
Surrey have not only won on each of their last four championship
visits to Northampton, but, in recent times, have really enjoyed themselves
with the bat against Northants - regularly racking up 320+ in the
first dig. But, if the weather forecast is to be believed, we'll be
fortunate to see more than two days' play overall, which is unlikely
to be long enough for anyone to grab the spoils. Prediction - prepare yourself for a
damp and overcast stalemate.
S Peters, R Levi, A Wakely (capt), R Newton, R Keogh, A Rossington
(wk), D Willey, J Cobb, O Stone, Azharullah and R Kleinveldt.
Neil Bainton and Michael Gough.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
NORTHANTS |
31 Aug - 3 Sep 2011 |
Won By 333 Runs |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Bat |
269 & 410-6d |
194 & 152 |
8-11 Apr 2011 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
322 & 342-6d |
376 & 211-5 |
20-22 Jul 2010 |
Won By An Inns & 175 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
620-7d |
240 & 205 |
24-27 May 2010 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Field |
386 & 241-3 |
397 & 229 |
9-12 Sep 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
376 & 282-9d |
492 |
11-14 Jun 2009 |
Won By An Inns & 95 Runs |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Field |
530 |
209 & 226 |
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 |
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 |
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