SURREY V DERBYSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC2), 19-22
APRIL 2006
The first meeting between these two sides for nearly six
years has seen a last minute venue switch in order to get a game. Unfortunately,
the weather forecast suggests it will not be enough to achieve a positive
outcome. Still, bonus points are better than no points, so bring on the the
first ball of the new championship season... If the
odds-setters know what they are talking about, this fixture pits the likely
Division Two winners against the team destined to prop the table up this summer.
But on the basis that complacency has been Surrey's biggest enemy in the last
two and a half years, the Brown Caps would be well advised to show tomorrow's
visitors the utmost respect; if, for no other reason, because the dangerous
Kevin Dean is fit for a change. Steffan Jones, now at
his third county, will also looking to make a favorable early impression with
the ball. However, Surrey's decision to field two spinners suggests that the
pitch is not going to suit the seamers as much as some others might at this time
of the year. As well as Jones, the visitors are
likely to have three more players making their first championship appearances
for Derbyshire - Travis Burt (a 24-year-old left-handed batsman from Tasmania),
Chris Taylor (who has moved down from Yorkshire in the hope of seeing regular
first team action), plus new keeper David Pipe (who has been on Worcestershire's
books for the last eight summers). Pipe replaces the
former Derbyshire skipper, Luke Sutton, but only with the gloves. Dependable
all-rounder Graeme Welch will be the man pulling the strings for them this term.
It looks as if he will have his work cut out, but if Di Venuto can show the way
with the bat and Dean can stay fit for two thirds of the season (it would be a
pleasant surprise if he manages more than that), Derbyshire may well cause one
or two upsets this summer.
The 2,000th first-class fixture to be played at The Oval should see Alistair
Brown making his 100th f-c appearance at the famous ground. Mohammad Akram (49
f-c wickets for Surrey), Jonathan Batty (4,993 f-c runs for the county), Jimmy
Ormond (190 f-c wickets for Surrey) and Ian Salisbury (298 wickets for the
county) are also on the verge of achieving notable landmarks. In career terms
Azhar Mahmood currently has 4,966 f-c runs to his name, while Mark Butcher has
14,928.
Martin Bicknell's (groin) is the only name on Surrey's injury list going into
the new season. So, the only changes to the line-up that faced Durham UCCE over
the Easter break are James Benning and Tim Murtagh making way for Azhar Mahmood
and Rikki Clarke.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Middlesex |
21-24 Sep
2005 |
Won By An Inns & 39 Runs |
The Oval |
686-5d |
404-5d & 243 |
Warwickshire |
10-13 Sep
2005 |
Match Drawn |
Edgbaston |
225 & 313-5d |
338 &26-0 |
Hampshire |
24-27 Aug
2005 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
378 & 302 |
361-6d |
Gloucestershire |
16-19 Aug
2005 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
463 |
350 &294-6 |
Sussex |
3-5 Aug
2005 |
Lost By 5 Wickets |
Hove |
248 & 254 |
378 & 125-5 |
Having seen the weather forecast for the next four days, one side would need to
play particularly badly for this match not to be a draw.
M Di Venuto, S Stubbings, C Taylor, T Birt, Hassan Adnan, A Botha, G Welch (capt),
D Pipe (wk), K Dean, I Hunter and S Jones.
Trevor Jesty and Neil Mallender
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
DERBYSHIRE |
16-17
Aug 2000 |
Won By An Inns & 45 Runs |
The Oval |
Derbyshire |
Bat |
260 |
118 & 97 |
7-9
Jun 2000 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Derby |
Surrey |
Bat |
138 & 218 |
191 & 167-3 |
24-27
Aug 1999 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
Derby |
Derbyshire |
Field |
350-9d & 1-1 |
154 & 196 |
6-8
Aug 1998 |
Won By 226 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
333 & 238-9d |
139 & 206 |
7-10
May 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Derby |
Surrey |
Bat |
267 |
158-3 |
30
May - 3 Jun 1996 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Derbyshire |
Field |
477 & 345-3d |
469 & 246-9 |
24-26
Aug 1995 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Derby |
Derbyshire |
Field |
350 & 167-3 |
181 & 333 |
12-16
May 1994 |
Won By An Inns & 138 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
570-6d |
208 & 224 |
19-21
Aug 1993 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Ilkeston |
Derbyshire |
Field |
205 & 332 |
438-9d & 100-4 |
2-4
Jun 1992 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Derbyshire |
Bat |
253-9d & 69-3 |
249 & 244-1d |
21-24
Jun 1991 |
Lost By 3 Wickets |
Derby |
Derbyshire |
Field |
137 & 184-4d |
80-3d & 242-7 |
6-8
Jun 1990 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
152-2d & 161-0 |
275 & 144-0 |
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