SURREY V MIDDLESEX at
the Brit Oval (LVCC2), 6-9 MAY 2009
I thought it felt strange - Surrey versus Middlesex at the Oval. The analysis
at the bottom of the page bears me out, for these two sides have only played
each other in SE11 a couple of times since 1996 in the champo. So, the question
is, what will the Middlesex attack make of the normally batsman-friendly home of
Surrey cricket? Well, based on the fact that they were held to a draw by
Leicestershire at Southgate the other day, after getting into a winning
position, perhaps the Brown Caps have something of an edge going into this
contest.
As was the case in 2008, the North Londoners are reliant on what Tim Murtagh
produces with the ball. In Middlesex's opening two championship games Murtagh
has taken ten wickets at 28.40 runs apiece. By way of contrast Alan Richardson
is currently averaging 75.33 per wicket, Danny Evans 63.33, Steve Finn 54.33 and
Shaun Udal 43.33. Not good.
The key to Surrey unlocking their opponents over the next four days would
therefore appear to be keeping Middlesex to a sub-300-run total in the first
innings. That might be easier than it sounds given the starts Phil Hughes, Eoin
Morgan and Dawid Malan have made to the 2009 campaign with the bat. Much was
expected of Hughes, who is filling in for Murali Kartik as Middlesex's early
season overseas player, and the 20-year-old left-hander has not disappointed -
hitting 118, 65 not out and 139 so far in the championship and 74, 23 and 5 in
one-day cricket.
Jade Dernbach, with 46, needs four more wickets for fifty first-class career
victims. Chris Schofield is closer to a landmark, though. He currently has 199
f-c wickets to his name. For Middlesex, Tim Murtagh's career haul is 192 f-c
wickets.
Mark Butcher hasn't won his battle to be
fit for this fixture, so Michael Brown will lead the Brown Caps, who have
drafted Stuart Meaker into their squad. Last week Meaker took 4-28 and 4-16 in
the Second XI Championship victory over Sussex.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Derbyshire |
22-25 Apr
2009 |
Lost By 5 Wickets |
Derby |
131 & 360 |
274 & 220-5 |
Gloucestershire |
15-18 Apr
2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
160 & 64-2 |
333 |
Nottinghamshire |
17-20 Sep
2008 |
Lost By An Inns & 143 Runs |
The Oval |
267 & 122 |
532 |
Hampshire |
9-12 Sep
2008 |
Lost By An Inns & 122 Runs |
The Oval |
210 & 148 |
480-8d |
Kent |
4-7 Sep
2008 |
Match Drawn |
Canterbury |
307-9d |
160-1 |
Having given Surrey little chance ahead of their FPT trip to Leeds, only to be
made to look like the supreme pessimist, the boys should go into this game
feeling pretty confident; especially as MIddlesex are coming off an embarrassing
one-day defeat at the hands of Somerset. The weather forecast for the next four
days suggests we'll get a proper match and the Brown Caps have the psychological
edge. Mark Ramprakash averages 100.42 against his former employers, so, go on
then - Surrey win!
B Godleman, P Hughes, N Dexter, E Morgan, D Malan, B Scott (wk), G Berg, S Udal
(capt), T Murtagh, S Finn and D Evans.
Jeff Evans and David Millns. See also The
Dreaded Finger
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
MIDDLESEX |
21-24
Sep 2005 |
Won By An Inns & 39
Runs |
The Oval |
Middlesex |
Bat |
686-5d |
404-5d
& 243 |
8-11
Jun 2005 |
Match Drawn |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
460 |
437 &
353-6d |
19-22
May 2004 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
359 &
300-4d |
487-9d |
21-24
Apr 2004 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Field |
418 &
203 |
325 &
300-4 |
23-26
Jul 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
Middlesex |
Field |
411 &
94-0 |
385 |
27-30
Jun 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
568 |
370 &
218-2d |
9-12
Sep 1999 |
Match Drawn |
Lord's |
Surrey |
Bat |
585 |
284 &
499-5 |
15-17
Jul 1998 |
Won By 280 Runs |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Bat |
150 &
420 |
115 &
175 |
15-17
Aug 1997 |
Won By An Inns & 125
Runs |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
531-9d |
205 &
201 |
4-8
Jul 1996 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
Middlesex |
Bat |
366 &
61-3 |
232 &
194 |
29
Jun - 3 Jul 1995 |
Lost By An Inns & 76
Runs |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
209 &
140 |
425 |
25-29
Aug 1994 |
Lost By 2 Wickets |
The Oval |
Middlesex |
Field |
425 &
313-3d |
350-5d
& 392-8 |
GO TO:
BACK TO:
|