SURREY V NORTHAMPTONSHIRE at Whitgift (NUL2), 3 AUGUST 2002

Due to the re-scheduling of Surrey's C&G semi-final against Yorkshire, only a scratch Lions eleven will be available tomorrow for our first visit of the summer to Whitgift School.  With the first team remaining in Leeds for Sunday's match, two former players, Gary Butcher and David Ward have been drafted in at the eleventh hour.  They will be joined by James Benning, Danny Miller and Ben Scott, who will all be making their county debuts.

With Jonathan Batty available, it will be interesting to see who dons the wicketkeeper's gloves if Ben Scott is selected.  Twenty-one on Sunday, the former Middlesex YC could be rewarded for some decent 2nd XI performances by getting an early birthday present.  James Benning, who has just been named in the England U19 Test squad to face India, is a hard-hitting all-rounder while Danny Miller is a tall fast-bowler who plays for Cheam CC.

The visitors, Northamptonshire, were the last side to beat Surrey in the Norwich Union League.  The encounter on Bank Holiday Tuesday back at the beginning of June was the nadir of their season so far.  Chasing 230, the Lions brought up fifty in the fourth over, passed 100 in the 14th for two wickets down, but somehow ended up losing to the Steelbacks by five runs.

The introduction of Tony Penberthy, the competition's most economical bowler, during that contest marked a turning point.  A facet of Northants' gameplan is containment with the ball, backed up by good fielding, rather than attempting to bowl sides out.  Darren Cousins and Jason Brown are also conceding less than four an over in one-day cricket this season.  But only the former has taken four or more wickets for the Steelbacks in the NUL this year.

The batting relies heavily on them making a good start.  Mike Hussey is the model of consistency in limited-overs cricket as well as in the championship.  Cook, Loye and Sales are also capable of putting big scores together, but they are not helped by having arguably the longest tail going - their last five are all averaging under fifteen with the bat.

The only time Surrey have beaten Northamptonshire at home in one-day cricket in the last decade was when they won off the last ball on their way to the National League title in 1996.  On top of this the Lions are severely weakened due to the need to keep the first XI fresh for Sunday.  However, since the recent fixture between these two sides, the Steelbacks have only performed moderately against some of the weaker teams in Division Two.  It would be a lot to expect, but if Mark Butcher can win the toss and rally the old and the new, you never know...

Rather than ring the changes, its easier to summise how Surrey could line up:  Scott Newman, Michael Carberry, Mark Butcher (capt), David Ward, James Benning, Gary Butcher, Jonathan Batty (wk), Ian Salisbury, Ben Scott, Philip Sampson and Danny Miller.

M Hussey, M Loye, D Sales, G Brophy, J Cook, A Penberthy, G Swann, T Bailey (wk), C Greenidge, D Cousins and J Brown.

4 Jun 2002	NL	Lost By 5 Runs	Northampton
22 Jul 2001	NL	Lost By 8 Wickets	Guildford
3 Jun 2001	NL	Won By 4 Wickets	Northampton
28 Jul 1999	NWT	Won By 7 Wickets	Northampton
13 Jun 1999	NL	Lost By 5 Runs	Northampton
25 Apr 1999	NL	Lost By 4 Wickets	The Oval
19 Apr 1998	NL	No Result	The Oval
27 Jul 1997	NL	Lost By 5 Wickets	Northampton
8 Sep 1996	NL	Won By 2 Wickets	The Oval
21 May 1995	NL	Won By 14 Runs	Northampton
22 May 1994	NL	No Result	The Oval
25 Jul 1993	NL	No Result	Northampton
19 Apr 1992	NL	Lost By 5 Wickets	The Oval

GO TO:




BACK TO: