SURREY
V MIDDLESEX at the Kia Oval
(LVCC1), 15-18 AUGUST 2012
Surrey's chances of remaining
in Division One were dealt a huge blow at Durham last week. With a
couple of wins now needed from four outings, the signs are less than
promising given that tomorrow's weather forecast is predicting a 70%
chance of rain and Middlesex, their opponents, have only lost to
Surrey once in 14 championship matches.
Aside from Joe Denly (720
championship runs at an average of 45.00) and Chris Rogers (773 @
40.68), Middlesex have been short of runs this summer. Despite
heading the table for most first-class dismissals by a wicketkeeper
in 2012, John Simpson has had such a lean time with the bat,
Middlesex have decided to replace the 24-year-old with Adam
Rossington, 19.
Thankfully, the North Londoners
have been better served by their bowling attack, which continues to
be led by ex-Surrey seamer Tim Murtagh (46 championship wickets at
23.30 runs apiece), whose number one status in the Middlesex camp is
being threatened by Toby Roland-Jones (36 scalps @ 20.97, including
a career best 6-66 against Sussex at the weekend). With spin likely
to be a factor, Tom Smith has been named in the visitors' 13-man
squad, but there's no Ollie Rayner, who has an injured left hand.
Gareth Batty, with 98, is just two wickets short
of one hundred first-class wickets for Surrey, while Arun Harinath
needs nine more runs for one thousand f-c runs as a Surrey player.
On the Middlesex side, Tim Murtagh, with 48, is two wickets away
from fifty first-class for the season.
Whether he has declined to play, or the ECB have barred him from
playing, the bottom line is that Surrey cannot call on Kevin
Pietersen's services. To help address their batting frailties, Rory
Hamilton-Brown has been named in the Ovalites' championship squad for
the first time since that fateful match at Horsham in June. Also in
the 13-man squad are Zander de Bruyn, who has made twenty or more just
three times in 17 innings in all competitions, and Chris Jordan, who
has taken 10 wickets at an average cost of 51.70 in seven championship
outings.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Durham |
7-10 Aug 2012 |
Lost By An Inns & 38 Runs |
The Riverside |
129 & 143 |
310 |
Warwickshire |
27-30 Jul 2012 |
Match Drawn |
Edgbaston |
286 & 202-3 |
571 |
Nottinghamshire |
18-21 Jul 2012 |
Match Drawn |
Trent Bridge |
252-6 |
328 |
Lancashire |
11-14 Jul 2012 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
430-5 |
485-7d |
Sussex |
6-9 Jun 2012 |
Lost By 10 Wickets |
Horsham |
124 & 248 |
351 & 22-0 |
Providing the weather stays away I can see this match becoming a
battle of spin. On paper, Surrey would appear to hold the upper hand
in that regard, but should Middlesex win the toss and bat first this
has the makings of a fascinating contest. The visitors' top order
has lacked confidence at times, but they have played on a number of
surfaces not conducive to batting. The Oval should offer them some
relief, at least initially. Whichever side establishes a first
innings lead will prevail. Let's hope that's Surrey.
C Rogers (capt), S
Robson, J Denly, D Malan, N Dexter, A Balbirnie, A Rossington (wk),
G Berg, T Smith, T Roland-Jones and T Murtagh.
Nigel Cowley and Nigel
Llong.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
MIDDLESEX |
12-15 Apr 2012 |
Lost By 3 Runs |
Lord's |
Surrey |
Field |
222 & 137 |
256 & 106 |
20-23 Jul 2011 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Field |
117 & 379 |
308 & 190-4 |
27-29 Apr 2011 |
Lost By An Inns & 42 Runs |
Lord's |
Surrey |
Field |
203 & 200 |
445 |
29-31 Jul 2010 |
Lost By An Inns & 44 Runs |
Lord's |
Surrey |
Bat |
167 & 212 |
423 |
17-20 May 2010 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
490 & 207-3d |
324 & 189-3 |
30 Jun - 3 Jul 2009 |
Match Drawn |
Lord's |
Middlesex |
Bat |
392 & 99-5 |
385 & 246-5d |
6-9 May 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
388 & 242 |
445 & 184-9 |
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 |
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