YORKSHIRE V SURREY at Headingley (LVCC1), 8-11 MAY 2016

Since winning promotion back to Division One, at the end of 2012, Yorkshire have finished second once and been crowned champions twice. Bottom-placed Surrey find the Yorkies on their longest winless run in the championship for four years. How many games without a victory would that be? Just the three.

The reigning champions are likely to have at least seven internationals on show. Indeed, when everyone's available, even Jack Leaning (voted Young Cricketer of the Year by The Cricket Writers' Club last season) and Ryan Sidebottom (22 Tests for England) struggle to get into the starting eleven.

Jonny Bairstow (335 runs at an average of 67.00) and Alex Lees have been the stand-out performers with the bat for the Tykes this season. Liam Plunkett, down to come in at number nine, also has a century under his belt. As if that's not enough for Surrey to worry about, Joe Root, the number two Test batsman in the world, is also geared up.

The absence of Tim Bresnan (calf strain) has not undermined the bowling. Jack Brooks and Steven Patterson, both of whom have so far missed out on an England call, have been the pick in the opening weeks of the season. If Sidebottom is to make a return tomorrow, it could well be at the expense of new signing David Willey. The former Northants all-rounder looked unusually out of sorts with bat and ball in last week's nail-biting draw with Notts.

Assuming he plays, Matt Dunn will start with 96 first-class career wickets. Ravi Rampaul, who has 196 f-c scalps, is one of only three men to have taken five wickets in an innings in each of their first two first-class appearances for Surrey. Daniel Day (1846) and McIvor Jackson (1903) are the others. No one has ever managed it in their first three.

Zafar Ansari (bruised thumb) has not recovered from the injury he picked up on day three against Durham, so in comes James Burke. Ravi Rampaul, who missed out last week due to an ankle sprain, and Gary Wilson, who is yet to feature in the championship this season, also make the squad. Only one batsman in Surrey's line-up has a championship hundred against Yorkshire - Steven Davies (112 for Worcestershire at New Road in 2009).

When you win promotion, there's the anticipation of pitting your wits against the best and, no matter what the Division One table idicates, the Yorkies look strong again. The last five meetings between these two great counties have ended in draws. Perhaps it's showing a lack of ambition, but I'd settle for that. The weather for Leeds over the next four days seems to point to another stalemate. The forecast for days three and four look none too promising if you're a sun seeker. Prediction - draw.

A.Lyth, A.Lees, G.Ballance, J.Root, J.Bairstow (wk), A.Gale (capt), D.Willey, A.Rashid, L.Plunkett, S.Patterson and J.Brooks.

Steve Garratt and Alex Wharf. Surrey have never lost a championship match in which Garratt and Wharf have officiated. Five won - including the rare victories at Northampton in 2009 and 2010 (in which Steve Garratt featured) - the other six drawn. Combined leg-before-o-meter: 20.3% of dismissals.

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