SURREY V
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC2), 8-11 APRIL 2011
So here it is - the 2011 season is almost upon us
and, right on cue, the weather has warmed up considerably in the
last couple of days. When Surrey saw that their opening day
opponents would be Northants, they will have crossed their fingers
for a dry opening to the season, for the Wantage Road outfit have
been their bunnies in what has been a lean period in the
championship since the arrival, as manager, of Chris Adams.
In the championship, after finishing the 2008 and
2009 seasons in the top half of Division Two, Northants dropped to
sixth place last summer; garnering the fewest bowling points of any
county. Sri Lankan seamer Chaminda Vaas has been drafted as overseas
player to perk up a less than exacting attack, which continues to be
short of a decent spinner. With the bat, much will depend, once
again, on opener Stephen Peters who amassed 1,296 championship runs
at an average of 48.00 last term. But it should not be overlooked
that Mal Loye hit 164 against the Oval outfit in the first of last
season's two meetings between these two.
Tom Maynard is set to make, not only his first-class debut for
Surrey, but also his 25th f-c appearance.
Jade Dernbach will be missing from the Surrey line-up due to a
slight calf strain. Mark Ramprakash and Kevin Pietersen are also
sidelined, but for much longer. The aim is for both of them to be
back in action in six weeks time. Gary Wilson is named as opener,
but it remains to be seen whether he showed enough with the bat in
pre-season to get the nod tomorrow. If the hosts choose to field two
spinners - Gareth Batty and Chris Schofield - Tim Linley could be
the man who misses out.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Gloucestershire |
13-16
Sep 2010 |
Won By 10
Runs |
Bristol |
186
&180-3d |
106-5d
& 250 |
Glamorgan |
7-10
Sep 2010 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
380
& 206-7d |
276 |
Leicestershire |
24-27
Aug 2010 |
Match Drawn |
Leicester |
483
& Forfeited |
123-0d
& 338-8 |
Worcestershire |
16-19
Aug 2010 |
Lost By 238
Runs |
Worcester |
259
& 130 |
308
& 319 |
Sussex |
9-12
Aug 2010 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
292 |
217
& 275-6d |
Surrey have won five of the last six championship meetings between
these two sides, a couple of them by an innings, and have only lost
to Northants once in 14 four-day match-ups. So, the Oval outfit
should go into this contest feeling as positive as the weather
forecast is promising over the next four days. Given their record
against Northants, coupled with everyone telling me they are nailed
on for promotion this season, I've got to go for Surrey.
S Peters, N O'Brien (wk), M Loye, R White, A Wakely, D Sales,
A Hall (capt), J Middlebrook, C Vaas, D Lucas and L Daggett.
Jeff Evans and Steve Garratt.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
NORTHANTS |
20-23
Jul 2010 |
Won By An
Inns & 175 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
620-7d |
240
& 205 |
24-27
May 2010 |
Won By 7
Wickets |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Field |
386
& 241-3 |
397
& 229 |
9-12
Sep 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
376
& 282-9d |
492 |
11-14
Jun 2009 |
Won By An
Inns & 95 Runs |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Field |
530 |
209
& 226 |
2-5
Aug 2006 |
Won By 7
Wickets |
The Oval |
Northants |
Bat |
669-5d
& 65-3 |
347
& 386 |
14-17
Jul 2006 |
Won By 229
Runs |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Bat |
328
& 424-6d |
300
& 223 |
29
Jul - 1 Aug 2004 |
Lost By 6
Wickets |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Bat |
402
& 147 |
332
& 220-4 |
28
Apr - 1 May 2004 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Northants |
Field |
403-7d |
64-2d |
18-20
Jul 2001 |
Won By An
Inns & 55 Runs |
Guildford |
Northants |
Bat |
368 |
120
& 193 |
9-12
May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
607 |
476
& 304-1 |
28
Apr - 1 May 1999 |
Won By 8
Wickets |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
286
& 301-2 |
248
& 338 |
17-21
Apr 1998 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Northants |
Field |
351-5d |
44-2d
& 46-1 |
23-26
Jul 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
Surrey |
Bat |
581-7d |
401
& 241-2d |
3-6
Sep 1996 |
Won By 225
Runs |
The Oval |
Northants |
Field |
395
& 298-9d |
235
& 233 |
18-20
May 1995 |
Lost By 9
Runs |
Northampton |
Northants |
Bat |
263
& 190 |
403
& 59 |
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