As usual I started my research for this match by checking the odds on Bet365. To my amazement Surrey are being quoted as 4/6 favourites, while Gloucestershire, winners on their last two championship outings, are the 11/10 outsiders. Ed Giddins has hopefully been dragged away from the European poker championships in Barcelona and told the news! As for the wider picture, the bookies have this one down as a mid-to-bottom of the league clash. Diehard Ovalites may be interested to know that their side are currently being quoted at 25/1 for the title. One thing is certain - if Surrey are destined to become champions or to avoid relegation, this game has the potential to be a pivotal encounter. Unfortunately, the weather could be a big factor. The long-term forecasters got it wrong when these two teams met down in Bristol, but they seem even more certain this time round that rain will make an appearance the more the game progresses. Looking back to what I said before that game at Bristol, I still stand by my observation that if it were not for the presence of Jon Lewis, Gloucestershire's bowling attack would look very friendly. The key to the game for Surrey, therefore, is to unsettle the Nevil Road outfit's batsmen, which could be easier said than done now that last season's under-achievers Spearman, Weston and Windows have found some consistency. For the Brown Caps, look out for Scott Newman's 1,000th championship run (he currently has 951) and Jimmy Ormond's 300th championship wicket (the former Leicestershire man has so far taken 297). Tim Murtagh, meanwhile, is four scalps away from taking his 50th first-class wicket. Strange, but true - Nadeem Shahid has reached double figures just three times in Surrey's second innings in the championship in his last 12 second dig knocks. This season his record is two ducks out of two. Ouch!
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