Key players will be missing from Oval clash

Much attention has been focused on the clash between Lancashire and Surrey in the concluding round of Championship matches, following the announcement that players selected for overseas action during the winter will not be available for their counties at that time. However, when Surrey entertain Lancashire at The Oval in what could well be a highly influential match with regard to the title, there will again be key players missing.

Lancashire will be without Michael Atherton who is due to open the batting for England on Thursday in the Third Cornhill Test at Old Trafford. That is Atherton's 100th Test appearance, and one of his England colleagues, reaching the same milestone, is Surrey's Alec Stewart. Graham Thorpe will also be in England's squad for Old Trafford and so misses this vital match in London, and Surrey will not be pleased to see Andrew Flintoff back in town. Omitted from the Test party, the Lancashire all-rounder returns to the scene of his match-winning innings of 135 not out in the NatWest quarter-final just over a week ago.

Surrey, the defending champions, are top of Division One of the newly formed Championship after a run of five consecutive wins. Yorkshire are second, just in front of Lancashire, and they travel to Taunton to face Somerset. They hope to have all-rounder Gavin Hamilton back from injury, while Victor Craven and Ian Fisher have been included in the squad. Yorkshire also lose players to Test duty, namely Darren Gough, Craig White, Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard. Somerset include Mark Lathwell for England debutant Marcus Trescothick.

At the other end of the table, Hampshire captain Robin Smith has recovered from a hamstring strain and is fit to face Derbyshire. Leicestershire were without 5 regulars for their Vodafone Challenge match against the West Indies, but Neil Burns, Carl Crowe, Jon Dakin, Phil DeFreitas and James Ormond return for the visit to Canterbury to face Kent.

There are two matches in Division Two. Glamorgan cross the Severn Estuary to face Gloucestershire in Bristol and Essex, going for promotion visit Lord's to play a Middlesex side whose attention is focused on leaving the bottom of the table.