SUSSEX V SURREY at Hove (LVCC1),
16-19 MAY 2007
A month ago I would have described Sussex as one of the leading contenders
for this season’s championship title. But now, after kicking off their
campaign with a victory over Kent at Hove, the Martlets have lost their last two
matches. It has all been down to one thing - their brittle batting.
Just one batsman, Richard Montgomerie (225 championship runs at an average of
45.00 to date) has reached three figures and nobody has got past fifty on more
than one occasion. The loss of all-rounders Michael Yardy (to a broken finger)
and Luke Wright (to a rib problem) has clearly had an impact, but one would have
expected the likes of Chris Adams, Murray Goodwin, Carl Hopkinson and Robin
Martin-Jenkins to all be averaging over thirty with the bat, not less than
thirty.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior is on England duty, which may not disadvantage the
hosts. Despite averaging 2.25 dismissals per innings, Prior is currently
averaging just 14.80 as a batsman. Those who recall Andrew Hodd, from his time
with Surrey, will certainly expecting him to fare no worse.
The bowling has been the Martlets’ only saving grace, but they will not
care to be reminded that their attack is predominantly of Pakistani origin.
Mushtaq Ahmed (15 championship wickets at 30.66 runs apiece) and Rana
Naved-ul-Hasan have so far sent down nearly 60% of their side’s overs this
summer and account for nearly 75% of the wickets taken by Sussex bowlers.
Alistair Brown needs one more hundred for 45 first-class career centuries, while
Mark Butcher currently has 34. Rikki Clarke needs 25 runs for 4,000 in his f-c
career. Richard Clinton needs 100 runs for 1,000 f-c runs for Surrey. Finally,
Ian Salisbury has 848 f-c career wickets.
Azhar Mahmood's back is not considered up to him being risked in a four-day
match, but, surprisingly, James Benning does not retain his berth as the
Pakistani's replacement. Surrey will therefore bring in one of Mohammad Akram or
Richard Clinton. Ian Salisbury returns to front-up the Brown Caps spin attack,
which means that Chris Schofield misses out.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Warwickshire |
9-12 May 2007 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
400-1d |
329 & 5-0 |
Lancashire |
'2-4 May 2007 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Old Trafford |
284 & 120 |
315 & 90-3 |
Hampshire |
25-28 Apr 2007 |
Lost By 35 Runs |
The Oval |
203 & 467 |
481-9d & 224-1d |
Yorkshire |
18-21 Apr 2007 |
Lost By 346 Runs |
The Oval |
344 & 170 |
494-9d & 266-7d |
Derbyshire |
20-23 Sep 2006 |
Won By 5 Wickets |
Derby |
275-8d & 273-5 |
385 & 162-8d |
The weather forecast for the first two days looks none too promising, so a draw
is on the cards. But, as with last week's clash with Warwickshire, expect Surrey
to hold the upper hand, especially if Sussex's batting headaches continue.
C Hopkinson, R Montgomerie, M Goodwin, C Nash, C Adams (capt), A Hodd
(wk), R Martin-Jenkins, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mushtaq Ahmed, J Kirtley and J Lewry.
Graham Burgess and Barry Dudleston.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
SUSSEX |
3-5
Aug 2005 |
Lost By 5 Wickets |
Hove |
Surrey |
Bat |
248 &
254 |
378 &
125-5 |
13-16
Apr 2005 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Sussex |
Bat |
402-5d |
370 |
16-19
Sep 2004 |
Won By 37 Runs |
Hove |
Surrey |
Bat |
283 &
311 |
271 &
286 |
16-19
Apr 2004 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
304 &
254-9 |
493 |
30
Jul - 2 Aug 2003 |
Match Drawn |
Hove |
Sussex |
Bat |
355 &
114-1 |
429 &
302-5d |
30
May - 2 Jun 2003 |
Won By 113 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
480 &
233-3d |
307 &
293 |
8-11
Aug 2002 |
Lost By 4 Wickets |
Hove |
Sussex |
Field |
193 &
296 |
203 &
288-6 |
19-22
Apr 2002 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
575-8d
& 116-0 |
308 &
379 |
18-21
Aug 1999 |
Won By 207 Runs |
Hove |
Surrey |
Bat |
224 &
315-7d |
115 &
217 |
30
Jul - 1 Aug 1998 |
Won By An Inns & 69
Runs |
The Oval |
Sussex |
Bat |
364 |
125 &
170 |
28-30
Aug 1997 |
Won By An Inns & 101
Runs |
Hove |
Sussex |
Bat |
400-7d |
137 &
162 |
17-20
Jul 1996 |
Won By 135 Runs |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Bat |
411 &
304-6d |
265 &
315 |
15-19
Jun 1995 |
Match Drawn |
Horsham |
Surrey |
Bat |
187 &
501-8d |
304 &
230-9 |
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