SURREY BROWN CAPS V GLAMORGAN DRAGONS at the Brit Oval (C&G Trophy), 29 MAY 2006

About the only thing one can say about Surrey's prospects in this season's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy is that they have one, if not two games in hand over most of their South Conference rivals. However, with Sussex having won four out of four, the C&G could end up being the biggest irrelevance to county cricket over the next four weeks since the demise of the Tilcon Trophy.

Even a win tomorrow will only see the Brown Caps move up one place up the South Conference table to sixth. So, with sunshine forecast to be in limited supply, it will be interesting to see what sort of a gate this fixture produces.

Anyway, in attempt to inject some excitement into this preview, the good news for the visitors is that Aussie batsman Mark Cosgrove will be available to play. Cosgrove, who injured his back a couple of days ago, is said by his Glamorgan skipper, Robert Croft, to be the most talented 21-year-old cricketer he has ever seen. But to underline the Dragons' lack of form in the one-day arena this term, Cosgrove is the only batsman to have made a fifty for the Welshmen. Thus far just one other recognised batsman, Richard Grant, is averaging over twenty.

Of the bowlers that Glamorgan will have on show tomorrow only David Harrison, Cosgrove and Darren Cosker have an economy rate below five runs per over in 2006. They have high hopes, however, of their new overseas recruit, New Zealand's tall left-arm seamer James Franklin. It has to be said, though, that one-day cricket is not Franklin's forte.

Glamorgan's David Harrison is poised to make his 50th appearance in List A one-day cricket. Alex Wharf goes into the contest with 146 List A wickets to his name. As for the hosts, Azhar Mahmood has 2,953 one-day runs and 247 wickets; Alistair Brown's run-tally stands at 9,974 and his good friend, Stewart Walters, is about to notch up his tenth List A appearance.

Jimmy Ormond is still out with a bad back, while Scott Newman is nursing a strained hamstring. Neil Saker, who has enjoyed an excellent start to the season with the ball in the 2nd XI, is drafted into Surrey's 13-man squad.

The form book suggests that Surrey, with a superior net run rate this term, have the edge. Having said that, the Brown Caps have lost their last two limited-overs encounters with Glamorgan. But with the Welshmen also rooted to the base of Division Two in the championship, it would seem that not everything is as it should be in the Dragons' dressing room. So, I am backing the hosts to taste victory tomorrow.

R Croft (capt), M Cosgrove, A Wharf, M Powell, D Hemp, M Wallace (wk), R Grant, J Franklin, D Harrison, A Davies and D Cosker.

Richard Illingworth and Jeremy Lloyds.

GO TO:




BACK TO: