SURREY V LEICESTERSHIRE at the Brit Oval
(LVCC2), 4-7 JUNE 2010
With Surrey having gone undefeated in their last
13 championship meetings with Leicestershire and the Foxes being
bowled out for 71 in their second dig by Glamorgan last week, I'm
only guessing, but something tells me the Brit Oval outfit might
just start tomorrow's four-dayer as favourites. But, as always, the
question is this - Will Bill Gordon's pitch be a belter or will it
provide an equal contest between bat and ball? If it's as good as
the one he prepared for the corresponding fixture in 2009, it might
be a good time to pull up with a niggle if you are a bowler and you
are due to play in this contest.
One look at Leicestershire's averages will have
Surrey's bowlers salivating. Other than Wayne White, who is
sidelined with a broken finger, only two of the Foxes are averaging
over thirty-five with the bat in this summer's champo - and one of
them, James Taylor, owes his average of 40.09 to the unbeaten 206 he
made against Middlesex at the weekend. The other is all-rounder and
overseas signing Andrew McDonald, who averages 46.12 and has two
championship hundreds.
Thankfully, the bowlers have come to
Leicestershire's aid on a couple of occasions; like when they beat
Northants at Grace Road and Derbyshire at Derby to kick-off their
2010 campaign in style. Veteran slow left-armer Claude Henderson is
having his best season for ages with 20 championship scalps at 24.05
at runs apiece. Skipper Matthew Hoggard seems to have settled in
well, with the ball at least, following his move from Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old seamer Nathan Buck has continued to show
immense promise.
In 16 first-class meetings with Leicestershire,
Mark Ramprakash's career record for Middlesex and Surrey reads 1,735
runs at an average of 96.38, including 6 centuries. His last seven
championship innings against them have gone 152, 55, 113, 22, 73, 85
and 274.
Chris Tremlett goes into this contest with 298 first-class career
wickets, while Leicestershire's Jacques du Toit has 944 f-c career
runs.
Surrey name an unchanged side from the one that drew with Glamorgan.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Glamorgan |
29
May - 1 Jun 2010 |
Match Drawn |
Cardiff |
303-9d |
372
& 7-0 |
Northamptonshire |
24-27
May 2010 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Northampton |
386
& 241-3 |
397
& 229 |
Middlesex |
17-20
May 2010 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
490
& 207-3d |
324
& 189-3 |
Gloucestershire |
4-6
May 2010 |
Lost By 77 Runs |
The Oval |
178
& 222 |
229
& 248 |
Worcestershire |
21-24
Apr 2010 |
Match Drawn |
Whitgift Sch |
493
& 239-8d |
465
& 170-8 |
The weather forecast for the next four days could not be better. If
there is something in the wicket for the seamers, I can only see a
Surrey win. If it takes spin it could get interesting given the form
Claude Henderson is in. But let's be positive again and say the
hosts will triumph. If they do it will be their first championship
victory at the Brit Oval since September 2007.
W Jefferson, M Boyce, P Nixon, J Taylor, A McDonald, J du
Toit, T New (wkt), C Henderson, M Hoggard (capt), N Buck and H
Gurney.
Peter Hartley and John Steele.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
LEICS |
31
Jul - 3 Aug 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
608-4d |
593-5d
& 23-0 |
16-19
Jun 2009 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Bat |
329 |
165
& 487-5d |
7-10
Jun 2006 |
Won By An
Inns & 158 Runs |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
668-7d |
251
& 259 |
26-29
Apr 2006 |
Won By 99
Runs |
Leicester |
Surrey |
Bat |
370
& 287-7d |
244
& 314 |
21-24
Aug 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Surrey |
Bat |
501
& 117-2 |
166
& 636-4d |
14-17
May 2003 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
560-8d |
200
& 185-8 |
18-21
Sep 2002 |
Won By 483
Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
494
& 492-9d |
361
& 142 |
14-16
Aug 2002 |
Won By 7
Wickets |
Leicester |
Surrey |
Bat |
540
& 42-3 |
290
& 289 |
4-7
Jul 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Bat |
102
& 478-9 |
165
& 472-8d |
16-19
May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
190 |
246
& 94-5 |
19-21
Jul 2000 |
Won By 10
Wickets |
Guildford |
Leics |
Bat |
288
& 119-0 |
318
& 87 |
7-9
Jul 2000 |
Won By An
Inns & 178 Runs |
Oakham Sch |
Surrey |
Bat |
505 |
143
& 184 |
9-12
Jun 1999 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Bat |
501 |
272
& 239-4 |
17-19
Sep 1998 |
Lost By An
Inns & 211 Runs |
The Oval |
Leics |
Bat |
146
& 228 |
585-6d |
21-24
May 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
Leics |
Field |
278
& 166-5 |
340 |
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