SURREY V SUSSEX at the Brit Oval (FCC1),
16-19 APRIL 2004
With Chris Adams fighting to be fit and James Kirtley unavailable,
the only reason for optimism in the visitors' camp is that
the home side are without
Butcher, Clarke and
Thorpe.
Although many doubt that Surrey's
new opening partnership is
up to giving them a foundation on which to build, one look at the other end of
the card suggests that the Oval outfit
are still likely to be one of the hardest sides
to bowl out. For that reason
the absence of Kirtley could be the telling
factor over the next four days, which thankfully promise to be rain-free.
But Surrey will not have forgotten that Mohammed Akram took 8-49 and ten in the
match at The Oval when Essex took full advantage of a beleaguered host to
round off the 2003 season.
Ian Ward will line-up against his former county for the first
time. Surrey's Ian (Salisbury) has now played Sussex in the championship
on six occasions since leaving Hove. He is yet to taste defeat against the
seasiders. In fact, with the possible exception of Adam Hollioake, all of
Surrey's likely starting eleven seem to enjoy playing the Martlets.
Having lost just one of their last nine championship meetings with Sussex,
Jonathan Batty's men are the clear favourites with the bookies, who also seem to think that
the championship won’t start hotting up until August, when Surrey and Lancashire
can no longer avoid playing each other. A good win to start the season here
would augur well for the Oval outfit's less than exacting championship matches against
Middlesex and Northants to come. The scenario sounds too good to be true, but
it is the unpredictable nature of the weather at this time of year more than the
nature of the opposition that is likely to
stand in the way of three wins in the first three for the chocolates.
After flying in from Pakistan on Tuesday, both Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq
are available. So, it will be interesting to see which one or possibly two
bowlers miss out from the side that almost beat Oxford UCCE. With a slight
doubt over Alex Tudor’s fitness, it would seem unnecessary to risk anyone at
this early stage. Nadeem Shahid could also be asked to step down despite
top-scoring in Surrey’s second innings at The Parks.
I Ward, R Montgomerie, M Goodwin, C Adams (capt),
T Ambrose (wk), R Martin-Jenkins, M Prior, M Yardy, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad
Akram and J Lewry.
30 Jul - 2 Aug 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Hove |
30 May - 2 Jun 2003 |
Won By 113 Runs |
The Oval |
8-11 Aug 2002 |
Lost By 4 Wickets |
Hove |
19-22 Apr 2002 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
The Oval |
18-21 Aug 1999 |
Won By 207 Runs |
Hove |
30 Jul - 1 Aug 1998 |
Won By An Innings & 69 Runs |
The Oval |
28-30 Aug 1997 |
Won By An Innings & 101 Runs |
Hove |
17-20 Jul 1996 |
Won By 135 Runs |
Guildford |
15-19 Jun 1995 |
Match Drawn |
Horsham |
28 Jul - 1 Aug 1994 |
Lost By An Innings & 34 Runs |
The Oval |
6-8 May 1993 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
Hove |
29 May - 1 Jun 1992 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
28-31 Aug 1991 |
Won By An Innings & 128 Runs |
The Oval |
2-4 Jul 1991 |
Match Drawn |
Arundel |
18-20 Jul 1990 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Guildford |
26-30 Apr 1990 |
Lost By 5 Wickets |
Hove |
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