Fulton returns for Kent against Lancashire
Kent v Lancashire, Canterbury Even though Kent and Lancashire have both yet to win this season, Lancashire start this tie as favourites, considering their better form in the Championship
Wisden CricInfo staff
29-May-2003
Frizzell County Championship Division One
Kent v Lancashire, Canterbury
Even though Kent and Lancashire have both yet to win this season, Lancashire start this tie as favourites, considering their better form in the Championship. Four draws out of four may not sound like an electrifying start, but all those games were disrupted by bad weather with Lancashire in a strong position, and as long as the skies stay blue, a win can't be too far away. Kent have also had their fair share of rain, but they sit only three points off the bottom and desperately need a win for morale as well as points. Their captain, David Fulton, makes his first Championship appearance of the season after recovering from an eye operation which, at one stage, was feared could end his career. However, Amjad Khan (shin) and Min Patel (back) remain sidelined. Lancashire are boosted by the presence of Andrew Flintoff, who has recovered from a shoulder problem sufficiently to play - if only as a batsman. James Anderson is unavailable because of England commitments, and Kyle Hogg continues his recovery from a calf injury.
Even though Kent and Lancashire have both yet to win this season, Lancashire start this tie as favourites, considering their better form in the Championship. Four draws out of four may not sound like an electrifying start, but all those games were disrupted by bad weather with Lancashire in a strong position, and as long as the skies stay blue, a win can't be too far away. Kent have also had their fair share of rain, but they sit only three points off the bottom and desperately need a win for morale as well as points. Their captain, David Fulton, makes his first Championship appearance of the season after recovering from an eye operation which, at one stage, was feared could end his career. However, Amjad Khan (shin) and Min Patel (back) remain sidelined. Lancashire are boosted by the presence of Andrew Flintoff, who has recovered from a shoulder problem sufficiently to play - if only as a batsman. James Anderson is unavailable because of England commitments, and Kyle Hogg continues his recovery from a calf injury.
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David Fulton returns from an eye injury to captain Kent |
Nottinghamshire v Essex, Nottingham
Nottinghamshire and Essex slipped to within two points of each other after heavy defeats in the last round, so the incentive for victory will be even bigger than usual. Notts do have a victory to their name this season - against Warwickshire early on - while Essex, with four draws out of five, have yet to record a victory. Notts will be boosted by the presence of both Chris Cairns and Stuart MacGill, who will play together for the first time. Cairns returns to the side after missing the last two matches on international duty, but Chris Read is absent with a broken thumb. Essex are likely to be without Ronnie Irani, their captain, who is struggling with a knee injury, while Nasser Hussain is away with England and John Stephenson is out with a twisted ankle.
Nottinghamshire and Essex slipped to within two points of each other after heavy defeats in the last round, so the incentive for victory will be even bigger than usual. Notts do have a victory to their name this season - against Warwickshire early on - while Essex, with four draws out of five, have yet to record a victory. Notts will be boosted by the presence of both Chris Cairns and Stuart MacGill, who will play together for the first time. Cairns returns to the side after missing the last two matches on international duty, but Chris Read is absent with a broken thumb. Essex are likely to be without Ronnie Irani, their captain, who is struggling with a knee injury, while Nasser Hussain is away with England and John Stephenson is out with a twisted ankle.
Surrey v Sussex, The Oval
It's first against third at The Oval as Sussex look to keep in touch with Surrey, the leaders - but it's not going to be easy. Surrey demolished Essex in the last round with impressive allround displays from Martin Bicknell and Jonathan Batty, and after their win over Somerset in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, they will be hard to stop. Unsurprisingly, they have named an unchanged squad, with Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher in Durham for the second Test and Alex Tudor continuing his recovery from a knee operation. Rikki Clarke, today named in England's ODI squad, faces the prospect of being 12th man again. For Sussex, Tony Cottey is doubtful after missing the C&G Trophy defeat by Middlesex because of a back problem, while Kevin Innes, who scored a first-innings century against Nottinghamshire last week before making way for James Kirtley, looks set to keep his place for the whole match this time.
It's first against third at The Oval as Sussex look to keep in touch with Surrey, the leaders - but it's not going to be easy. Surrey demolished Essex in the last round with impressive allround displays from Martin Bicknell and Jonathan Batty, and after their win over Somerset in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, they will be hard to stop. Unsurprisingly, they have named an unchanged squad, with Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher in Durham for the second Test and Alex Tudor continuing his recovery from a knee operation. Rikki Clarke, today named in England's ODI squad, faces the prospect of being 12th man again. For Sussex, Tony Cottey is doubtful after missing the C&G Trophy defeat by Middlesex because of a back problem, while Kevin Innes, who scored a first-innings century against Nottinghamshire last week before making way for James Kirtley, looks set to keep his place for the whole match this time.
Frizzell County Championship Division Two
Derbyshire v Worcestershire, Derby
Only two points separate Derbyshire (4th) and Worcestershire (5th), but the momentum is with Worcestershire, who pulled off a spectacular win against high-flying Gloucestershire last week, while Derbyshire fell to the perennial whipping-boys Durham. Mohammad Ali and Lian Wharton are added to the Derbyshire squad after sitting out the C&G Trophy fourth-round victory over Glamorgan, with Ali expected to reclaim a place in the side. Whether Wharton, a left-arm spinner, makes the final XI depends on the state of the Derby pitch, although he and Tom Lungley are the most likely of the 13-man squad to miss out. For Worcestershire, David Leatherdale is overlooked for a third successive Championship game despite scoring 80 and taking 5 for 36 in his two most recent one-day outings. He is replaced by Anurag Singh, the only change to the team that beat Yorkshire by 67 runs in the C&G Trophy fourth round.
Only two points separate Derbyshire (4th) and Worcestershire (5th), but the momentum is with Worcestershire, who pulled off a spectacular win against high-flying Gloucestershire last week, while Derbyshire fell to the perennial whipping-boys Durham. Mohammad Ali and Lian Wharton are added to the Derbyshire squad after sitting out the C&G Trophy fourth-round victory over Glamorgan, with Ali expected to reclaim a place in the side. Whether Wharton, a left-arm spinner, makes the final XI depends on the state of the Derby pitch, although he and Tom Lungley are the most likely of the 13-man squad to miss out. For Worcestershire, David Leatherdale is overlooked for a third successive Championship game despite scoring 80 and taking 5 for 36 in his two most recent one-day outings. He is replaced by Anurag Singh, the only change to the team that beat Yorkshire by 67 runs in the C&G Trophy fourth round.
Northamptonshire v Glamorgan, Northampton
If Northants could choose any side to play to claw themselves away from the bottom spot, then Glamorgan would probably be the one. Glamorgan have lost two out of their last three Championship matches, and like Northants, are floundering at the wrong at the end of the table and have yet to win. Kepler Wessels, the Northants coach, recalls Mark Powell, Carl Greenidge and Monty Panesar, with Michael Cawdron and Tony Penberthy making way. Meanwhile, Glamorgan's coach John Derrick is sweating on the fitness of David Hemp and Adrian Dale, who are both unwell. David Harrison, who rarely features in the one-day team, returns to four-day action, while Dean Cosker is expected to play as a second spinner alongside Robert Croft.
If Northants could choose any side to play to claw themselves away from the bottom spot, then Glamorgan would probably be the one. Glamorgan have lost two out of their last three Championship matches, and like Northants, are floundering at the wrong at the end of the table and have yet to win. Kepler Wessels, the Northants coach, recalls Mark Powell, Carl Greenidge and Monty Panesar, with Michael Cawdron and Tony Penberthy making way. Meanwhile, Glamorgan's coach John Derrick is sweating on the fitness of David Hemp and Adrian Dale, who are both unwell. David Harrison, who rarely features in the one-day team, returns to four-day action, while Dean Cosker is expected to play as a second spinner alongside Robert Croft.
Yorkshire v Durham, Leeds
Yorkshire will fancy their chances of getting their season back on track when they take on Durham at Headingley. An early-season victory against Northants remains Yorkshire's only win of the season, and Somerset and Gloucestershire are beginning to pull away at the top. However, they will be bolstered by Darren Gough's third Championship appearance of the season following his recovery from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Durham can take some encouragement from their first Championship win for two years, against Derbyshire last week, but injuries to Martin Love (broken thumb) and Vince Wells (back), along with the effects of a dispiriting drubbing against Lancashire in the C&G Trophy, could spell another defeat.
Yorkshire will fancy their chances of getting their season back on track when they take on Durham at Headingley. An early-season victory against Northants remains Yorkshire's only win of the season, and Somerset and Gloucestershire are beginning to pull away at the top. However, they will be bolstered by Darren Gough's third Championship appearance of the season following his recovery from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Durham can take some encouragement from their first Championship win for two years, against Derbyshire last week, but injuries to Martin Love (broken thumb) and Vince Wells (back), along with the effects of a dispiriting drubbing against Lancashire in the C&G Trophy, could spell another defeat.