SURREY V WARWICKSHIRE at
Whitgift School (FCC1), 1-4 JUNE 2005
Last summer, Warwickshire, were the
only county to defeat Surrey both at home and away. Perhaps
that is one reason why they are still favourite with the bookies, at 15/8, to
retain their title. The Ovalites are
13/2 to win the championship which, if Harbhajan comes off in a big way, could look like unbeatable value
with the benefit of quite a bit of hindsight.
As Whitgift's festival coincides with the
Second Test, the Bears are without Ian Bell and,
even if he had been fit, Ashley Giles - their leading run-scorer
and leading wicket-taker respectively in this year's County Championship. Were
it not for these two the defending champions would have struggled this
season.
Mark Wagh (knee) and Naqaash Tahir (back) have both been injured, Jonathan
Trott has a highest score of 29 in eight championship innings, Jim Troughton is
no longer deemed a four-day batsman and the ever dependable Dougie Brown
was averaging 51.50 with the ball
prior to the last game. After four matches the two sides were separated by
one point, but Warwickshire now
have 75 points to Surrey's 57, which is eight points less
than it would have been due to their ball-tampering penalty.
As far as the visitors are concerned much will depend on their
skipper Nick Knight (328 championship runs at an
average of 41.00 so far this term), who will need to
draw upon his vast experience --which includes 17 Tests and 100 one-day
internationals for England. Knight has made three hundreds against Surrey and
averages 54.80 against them in his career. Judging by his
record to date, Zimbabwe's Heath Streak (16 victims at 24.68 runs apiece) will
also have a say.
Other than Mark Ramprakash, Mark Butcher, who
is still crocked, and Jonathan Batty, Surrey's batsmen
have generally struggled against Warwickshire over the years. With the ball,
however, Martin Bicknell has taken 61 wickets at an average of 23.18.
Those with approaching milestones include Mohammad Akram
(99 f-c appearances), Jonathan Batty (9 f-c hundreds), Martin Bicknell (98 f-c
catches) and Jimmy Ormond (397 f-c wickets).
This promises to be the match of the season, so hopefully the weather will have
less of a say than the forecasters are predicting for tomorrow. The fact that
Tim Murtagh cannot get into the Surrey side underlines just how strong a line-up
the home side will have for a change, but Warwickshire notched up a morale
boosting win against Shane Warne's Hampshire last week at Stratford. Dare I say
it, but Harbhajan looks, on paper, to be the difference between the two sides.
Surrey definitely make two changes to the team that drew with Kent. The long
awaited arrival of Harbhajan Singh and the return, from a knee injury of Jimmy
Ormond will mean that Nayan Doshi and Ian Salisbury miss out. Murtagh looks
unlikely to start despite taking 3-17 in Sunday's totesport League win over the
Durham Dynamos. Clarke will be playing as a batsman only, due to a
hamstring problem. The latest on the long-term injured is that Mark Butcher
(left wrist) is making very slow progress and Azhar Mahmood (shins) is at least
two weeks away from being ready to play.
N Knight (capt), I Westwood, M Powell, J Trott, A
Loudon, J Troughton, D Brown, T Frost (wk), H Streak, N Carter
and N Tahir.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
WARWICKS |
21-24 Jul 2004 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Field |
331 & 412 |
537 & 207-3 |
12-15 May 2004 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Edgbaston |
Warwickshire |
Bat |
302 & 414 |
546 & 171-3 |
9-12 Jul 2003 |
Won By 135 Runs |
Edgbaston |
Surrey |
Bat |
355 & 450-5d |
245 & 425 |
30 Apr - 3 May 2003 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Warwickshire |
Bat |
390 |
413 & 221-7d |
27-30 Aug 2002 |
Match Drawn |
Edgbaston |
Warwickshire |
Bat |
544 |
345 & 404-9d |
10-13 Jul 2002 |
Lost By 31 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
475 & 137 |
293 & 350 |
21-23 Jul 1999 |
Won By An Innings & 123 Runs |
Edgbaston |
Surrey |
Bat |
483 |
227 & 133 |
23-27 Apr 1998 |
Won By An Innings & 49 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
405-6d |
207 & 149 |
2-5 Jul 1997 |
Lost By 5 Wickets |
Edgbaston |
Warwickshire |
Field |
193 & 144 |
306 & 34-5 |
29-31 Aug 1996 |
Won By An Innings & 164 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
468 |
195 & 109 |
4-8 May 1995 |
Lost By 91 Runs |
Edgbaston |
Surrey |
Field |
288 & 301 |
470 & 210-4d |
14-18 Jul 1994 |
Lost By 256 Runs |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Field |
143 & 246 |
246 & 399-9d |
17-18 Jun 1993 |
Won By 8 Wickets |
Edgbaston |
Warwickshire |
Bat |
175 & 71-2 |
88 & 157 |
17-20 Jul 1992 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
Warwickshire |
Bat |
341-6d & 131-7 |
372-6d & 198-9d |
6-8 Aug 1991 |
Won By 67 Runs |
Edgbaston |
Warwickshire |
Field |
206 & 195-5d |
167 & 167 |
7-10 Jul 1990 |
Won By 168 Runs |
The Oval |
Warwickshire |
Field |
303-6d & 236-8d |
177 & 194 |
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