SURREY V GLOUCESTERSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC2),
3-6 MAY 2006
With not one Gloucestershire batsman averaging over thirty-five in last
season's County Championship, the Bristolians surprised many when they not only
posted a first innings total of 437 in this summer's opener, but then went on to
bowl Somerset out for 143.
The victory, by an innings and seven runs, was all the more encouraging given
that, during the winter, Chris Taylor was stripped of the captaincy without
being told about it until his successor, Jon Lewis, was unveiled as the new man
at the helm. On top of that, Gloucestershire had just learned that one of their
overseas signings, Kiwi speedster Shane Bond, would now be withdrawing his
labour.
Thankfully they had drafted in Australian Ian Harvey to help them open the
2006 campaign. Following his decent all-round performance against Somerset a
couple of weeks ago, the Gladiators will no doubt have been trying to twist his
arm to stick around a bit longer. Gloucestershire's other overseas acquisition,
Hamish Marshall, is available at the end of the current South Africa v New
Zealand series.
Unfortunately, as with the corresponding fixture last summer, the weather
forecast for days three and four suggests that this will be a battle for first
innings bonus points. So, it also means that Gloucestershire are likely to
maintain their unbeaten championship run against Surrey, which stretches back to
1995. It would be further frustration for the hosts, as they feel they ought to
have won on both occasions last term.
That they failed to do so was due in no small part to the efforts of Alex
Gidman, who has a first-class record against Surrey of 446 runs at an average of
89.20, and Steve Adshead, who averages 52.33 with the bat against the Oval
outfit.
Mark Ramprakash, with 6,831, is closing in on seven thousand first-class runs
for Surrey. The former Middlesex man also has a tally of 907 runs in his career
against Gloucestershire. Alistair Brown has made a total of 39 first-class
hundreds, while Mark Butcher has 29. For tomorrow's visitors, Craig Spearman has
4,848 first-class runs to his name. Matt Windows has 8,996.
The good news is that Azhar Mahmood and Jimmy Ormond are back in the Surrey
line-up after being rested. But the fact they were stood down at the weekend
suggests that they may not be firing on all cylinders. This could mean that
James Benning will be one of the unlucky ones to miss out (assuming the hosts
opt to include Jade Dernbach as cover in the seam department).
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Leicestershire |
26-29 Apr 2006 |
Won By 99 Runs |
Leicester |
370 & 287-7d |
244 & 314 |
Derbyshire |
19-22 Apr 2006 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
308 & 476-8d |
492 |
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 |
Looking at the weather forecast, unless the so-called experts have got it
completely wrong, it is very unlikely that this game will end positively. If it
does, though, it could well be because Gloucestershire were without the
influential Jon Lewis, who has been called up for England A' game against the
Sri Lankan tourists.
C Spearman, P Weston, M Windows, C Taylor, A Gidman (capt), I Harvey, S
Adshead (wk), M Hardinges, M Ball, J Averis and S Kirby.
Graham Burgess and Nigel Llong.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
GLOS |
16-19
Aug 2005 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Gloucestershire |
Bat |
463 |
350 &294-6 |
8-11
Jul 2005 |
Match Drawn |
Bristol |
Surrey |
Bat |
603 & 84-3 |
288 & 494 |
18-21
Jun 2004 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
598 |
368 & 255-9 |
2-4
Jun 2004 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Bristol |
Surrey |
Bat |
298 & 213 |
406 & 106-4 |
13-16
Apr 1999 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Gloucestershire |
Field |
342 & 229-7d |
213 & 209-5 |
22-24
Jul 1998 |
Lost By 2 Wickets |
Cheltenham |
Surrey |
Bat |
297 & 135 |
167 & 266-8 |
14-16
May 1997 |
Lost By 9 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
115 & 269 |
371 & 15-1 |
23-27
May 1996 |
Match Drawn |
Gloucester |
Gloucestershire |
Bat |
228-6d & 174-8 |
373 & 163-2d |
27-30
Apr 1995 |
Won By 93 Runs |
The Oval |
Gloucestershire |
Bat |
217 & 475 |
392 & 207 |
26-30
May 1994 |
Won By 1 Wicket |
Gloucester |
Surrey |
Field |
72-3d & 354-9 |
319-7d &
106-4d |
15-17
Jul 1993 |
Won By An Inns & 66 Runs |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Field |
381 |
153 & 162 |
26-29
Jun 1992 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
Bristol |
Surrey |
Field |
300-5d & 232-6 |
352-9d & 178 |
16-18
Jul 1991 |
Won By 2 Wickets |
Guildford |
Gloucestershire |
Bat |
250-3d & 252-8 |
304-9d &
197-3d |
28-31
Jul 1990 |
Match Drawn |
Cheltenham |
Surrey |
Field |
200-6d & 302-9 |
301 & 202-4d |
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