SURREY V SUSSEX at the AMP Oval (CC1), 19-22 APRIL 2002

Both sides will be wanting to win for departed team-mates Ben Hollioake and Umer Rashid, who recently lost their lives in utterably tragic circumstances.  As a mark of respect, there will be a two-minute silence prior to tomorrow's game.

Surrey have won their last four championship meetings with Sussex and there is little to suggest the visitors will prevent them extending that run to five.

Assuming Sussex's main aim is to stay up this season, they will need to be quick out of the blocks.  But, on paper, so much appears to depend on a nucleus of Chris Adams, Murray Goodwin, Paul Hutchison, James Kirtley, Jason Lewry, Robin Martin-Jenkins and Richard Montgomerie staying fit, let alone producing the goods.

From this it doesn't take much working out that the weaknesses other sides will be seeking to exploit are a shaky middle order and tail, the absence of a wicket-taking spinner not to mention an experienced keeper-batsman.

Weather permitting - and there is no reason why it shouldn't according to the forecast - an easy victory for Surrey.

Graham Thorpe is rested (by England) until the beginning of May.  Rupesh Amin (broken hand) and Jason Ratcliffe (knee) are the only Surrey players ruled out through injury.  As we all know, Adam Hollioake is not available, so Mark Butcher will take over as captain.  Therefore, the likely XI for the season's opener is: Ward, Butcher (capt), Ramprakash, Stewart (wk), Brown, Shahid, Azhar Mahmood, Tudor, Bicknell, Salisbury and Ormond.

Montgomerie, Goodwin, Ambrose, Adams (capt), Cottey, Martin-Jenkins, Prior (wk), Davis, Kirtley, Lewry and Hutchison.

18-21 Aug 1999	Won By 207 Runs	Hove
30 Jul - 1 Aug 1998	Won By An Innings & 69 Runs	The Oval
28-30 Aug 1997	Won By An Innings & 101 Runs	Hove
17-20 Jul 1996	Won By 135 Runs	Guildford
15-19 Jun 1995	Match Drawn	Horsham
28 Jul - 1 Aug 1994	Lost By An Innings & 34 Runs	The Oval
6-8 May 1993	Won By 10 Wickets	Hove
29 May - 1 Jun 1992	Match Drawn	The Oval

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