SUSSEX V SURREY at Hove (LVCC1),
30 APRIL - 3 MAY 2008
When Ryan Harris burst on to the county scene in this season's curtain-raiser
between Sussex and MCC at Lord's he went straight into my fantasy side. Now,
following his decision to sign a contract to play for Queensland as a local
player, I'm left with a squad of 12 for this season. So, I'm not happy. Nor,
should I imagine are Sussex.
My fear for the Martlets was that they too would struggle to bowl sides out
this summer without the Aussie all-rounder. However, when you have got Mushtaq
Ahmed, you've always got a chance of picking up wickets. Consequently, Chris
Adams's men have had the better of two draws so far in the County Championship,
but the weather has denied them, certainly against Kent who would almost
certainly have failed to score 337 batting last.
With the ball Mushy has received useful support from Robin Martin-Jenkins,
who had appeared in recent seasons to be turning into a batsman who could bowl,
rather than the other way round. Also, if he plays against Surrey, watch out for
Sussex's 23-year-old seamer Ragheb Aga, who hails from Kenya, but has a British
passport.
Now we come to Sussex's weakness - their batting. Only Luke Wright, Matt
Prior and Murray Goodwin can be pleased with the starts they have made to the
2008 campaign. As often seems to be the case, Adams has begun the season slowly,
averaging just 15.40 in five f-c innings. Carl Hopkinson also needs to find his
feet. The 26-year-old remains a good prospect, but he is no longer a youngster.
He has made over forty f-c appearances, but averages only 23.40.
Jonathan Batty needs 73 runs for reach 7,000 first-class runs for the Brown
Caps. Matt Nicholson is three wickets away from notching up 400 career f-c
wickets and is four short of 50 f-c wickets for Surrey.Mark Ramprakash needs 167
runs for 31,000 f-c career runs and two centuries for a hundred hundreds in f-c
cricket. Chris Schofield needs five wickets for 200 career f-c scalps.
Surrey's twelve is Chris Schofield added to the side that secured a draw up at
Durham. Also, in case it's escaped your notice, Stewart Walters will be out of
action of at least a month after suffering a triple fracture of his cheekbone,
while batting, in last week's twos game against Essex at Southend-on-Sea.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Durham |
23-26 Apr 2008 |
Match drawn |
Riverside |
183 & 83-3 |
224 & 228-9d |
Lancashire |
16-19 Apr 2008 |
Match drawn |
The Oval |
537-5d |
241-6 |
Lancashire |
19-22 Sep 2007 |
Won By 24 Runs |
The Oval |
427-9d & 295-5d |
234 & 464 |
Warwickshire |
6-9 Sep 2007 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
Edgbaston |
373 & 179-1 |
285 & 264 |
Hampshire |
30 Aug - 2 Sep
2007 |
Won By An Inns & 37 Runs |
Rose Bowl |
556 |
221 & 298 |
I cannot see Surrey losing to Sussex, however have you seen the weather forecast
for tomorrow, let alone the rest of the week? If the pitch is anything like the
shirtfront last year's game was played on, there is no chance of a result if the
first day's play is lost. This one has got "draw" written all over
it.
C Nash, C Hopkinson, M Yardy, M Goodwin, C Adams, M Prior, L Wright, R
Martin-Jenkins, R Aga, Mushtaq Ahmed and J Kirtley.
Richard Kettleborough and Neil Mallender.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
SUSSEX |
21-24
Aug 2007 |
Abandoned |
The Oval |
No toss |
- |
- |
- |
16-19
May 2007 |
Match Drawn |
Hove |
Surrey |
Bat |
626-3d |
365 &
372-3 |
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 |
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