SURREY V MIDDLESEX at Whitgift (NUL2), 6 AUGUST 2002

After the drubbing they received from Yorkshire in yesterday's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semi-final it will be interesting to see how Surrey bounce back.  Will they keep with the same side, or, as some have suggested on the Messageboard, is it time for the Lions to rethink their one-day strategy?

Tomorrow's fixture is a 'must win'.  Not because the Middlesex Crusaders pose any threat, but since four of the last six games will be against other promotion hopefuls.

One glance at Surrey's limited-overs averages suggests that their two best bowlers in the short game - Tim Murtagh and Jason Ratcliffe - have been under employed this season.  So, if changes are going to come from any quarter it will probably be in the seam department.  But knee-jerk reactions are not the Lions' way.

The key to beating Middlesex in one-day cricket this summer has been capturing the wickets of Owais Shah (372 runs from ten completed limited-overs innings), Andrew Strauss and Sven Koenig early on.  When they fail so do the Crusaders, who have lost two of their last three matches in the Norwich Union League.

More has been expected from Abdur Razzaq and Ed Joyce, both of whom are currently averaging less than twenty with the bat.  In the field they have often looked shabby and the bowling attack looks much more friendly without Fraser, Keegan and Noffke around.  Razzaq's seam up is the only real danger, but 21-year-old James Dalrymple is showing signs of developing into a useful all-rounder.


Middlesex are genuine 'also rans' right now and with Surrey needing to get back to winning ways they could not have picked a better fixture for putting the Leeds experience behind them. 


Mark Butcher, Alec Stewart and Alex Tudor will be missing due to this Thursday's up-coming Test at Trent Bridge.  Other than the injury to Martin Bicknell, who hopes to be back playing in a fortnight's time, Surrey are believed to be at full strength.


A Strauss (capt), A Laraman, S Koenig, O Shah, E Joyce, Abdur Razzaq, P Weekes, D Nash (wk), J Dalrymple, S Cook and I Jones.

7 Jul 2002 NL Won By 8 Wickets Southgate
28 Apr 2002 B&H Lost By 8 Wickets Lord's
1 May 2001 B&H No Result The Oval
6 Aug 2000 NL Won By 5 Wickets Lord's
21 May 2000 NL No Result The Oval
21 Apr 2000 B&H No Result Southgate
7 Sep 1999 NL Won By 69 Runs The Oval
29 Aug 1999 NL Match Tied Lord's
19 Jul 1998 NL Won By 1 Run Guildford
3 Aug 1997 NL No Result Lord's
7 Jul 1996 NL Won By 8 Wickets The Oval
12 Jul 1995 NWT Lost By 79 Runs The Oval
2 Jul 1995 NL No Result Lord's
28 Aug 1994 NL Won By 7 Wickets The Oval
27 Jun 1993 NL Won By 7 Wickets Lord's
30 Aug 1992 NL Won (Scoring Rate) The Oval
23 Apr 1992 B&H Won By 69 Runs The Oval

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