SURREY V WORCESTERSHIRE at the Brit Oval (LVCC2),
17-20 MAY 2006
The season may still be in its formative phase, but this has already become a
top versus bottom clash. Surrey have won two, Worcestershire have lost two. Most
worrying of all for tomorrow's visitors must be the gaining of just two batting
points so far. In their opening contest the Royals answered Somerset's 406 with a
paltry 161. Had it not been for Vikram Solanki's 110 against Derbyshire last
week, they might not have even as much as one batting point at this juncture.
Other than Solanki, their skipper, only two New Road favourites have passed
fifty with the bat this term. They are 22-year-old Daryl Mitchell - who,
amazingly, has been dropped for this game - and the former
Zimbabwe Test all-rounder Ray Price. On the plus side, Phil Jaques is now ready
to make his debut for the visitors, after stints with Northants and Yorkshire.
One slight concern, however, is that over the winter he only made 708 runs at an
average of 41.64 down under, despite notching up three hundreds in ten
matches.
Worcestershire also appear to have
found the ideal replacement for Nathan Bracken, the Aussie paceman who was due
to be their other overseas player this summer, in India's Zaheer Khan. Khan,
who guested for Surrey in 2004, already has 19 championship wickets at an
average of 13.57 to his name. He has also found a more than useful ally in Kabir Ali, who
has 12 at 19.16 runs apiece this season. But spinners Batty and Price have both
struggled to make any impression so far.
There doesn't appear to be any approaching milestones of significance likely to
occur in this match. James Benning has 911 first-class career runs; while, for
the visitors, Gareth Batty has made 1,965 first-class runs in four and a bit
seasons.
No Bicknell (groin) or Ormond (lower back), but everyone else is fit and raring
to go. James Benning is included in the twelve for tomorrow's game. With Rikki
Clarke coming back into the fold, it would be harsh to drop Benning after such a
swashbuckling hundred in the last championship match. Perhaps Alistair Brown
will miss out, however my money is on Nayan Doshi being asked to stand down -
purely because his record at the Oval is a woeful 14 first-class wickets at an
average of 58.92.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Gloucestershire |
3-5 May
2006 |
Won By An Inns & 297 Runs |
The Oval |
639-8d |
207 & 135 |
Leicestershire |
26-29 Apr
2006 |
Won By 99 Runs |
Leicester |
370 & 287-7d |
244 & 314 |
Derbyshire |
19-22 Apr
2006 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
308 & 476-8d |
492 |
Middlesex |
21-24 Sep
2005 |
Won By An Inns & 39 Runs |
The Oval |
686-5d |
404-5d & 243 |
Warwickshire |
10-13 Sep
2005 |
Match Drawn |
Edgbaston |
225 & 313-5d |
338 &26-0 |
You know me, if there is any rain around I will use it as an excuse to sit on
the fence. It has been raining in London today and the forecasters cannot be
wrong all the time, so it's not looking good in terms of obtaining result.
Having said that, Gloucestershire were turned over in less than eight sessions,
so anything is possible. If one team does end up winning this one, logic would
suggest that it should be Surrey.
P Jacques, S Moore, V Solanki (capt), B Smith, G Hick, S Davies (wk), G
Batty, Kabir Ali, R Price, Z Khan and M Malik.
Ian Gould and George Sharp.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
WORCS |
3-6
Aug 2004 |
Won By 68 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
375 & 329-5d |
295 & 341 |
23-26
Jun 2004 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Worcestershire |
Field |
155 & 187-8 |
400-4d |
20-23
Apr 1999 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Worcestershire |
Field |
223 |
15-1 |
3-6
Jun 1998 |
Won By 79 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
502-7d &
130-4d |
367 & 186 |
18-21
Jun 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Surrey |
Bat |
452-9d |
81-1 |
19-22
Sep 1996 |
Lost By 124 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
Forfeited &
299 |
362 & 61-1d |
1-5
Jun 1995 |
Lost By 134 Runs |
Worcester |
Worcestershire |
Bat |
183 & 152 |
204 & 265-7d |
28
Apr - 1 May 1994 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
470 & 79-1 |
205 & 343 |
12-16
Aug 1993 |
Lost By 65 Runs |
Worcester |
Worcestershire |
Bat |
427 & 227 |
406 & 313-9d |
12-15
Jun 1992 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
301-9d &
169-5d |
195-7d & 219-7 |
16-19
Aug 1991 |
Lost By 3 Wickets |
Worcester |
Surrey |
Bat |
185 & 360 |
401-9d & 145-7 |
16-19
Jun 1990 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
67-1d & 244-7 |
300-9d & 84-0d |
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