NatWest Trophy: Surrey expecting better from Hollioake (9 July 1997)
SURREY find themselves in a rare state of grace - at full strength and untroubled by England duties - when they entertain Nottinghamshire in the second round of the NatWest Trophy today at the start of the most important week of their
09-Jul-1997
Wednesday 9 July 1997
NatWest Trophy: Surrey expecting better from Hollioake
By Peter Deeley
SURREY find themselves in a rare state of grace - at full
strength and untroubled by England duties - when they entertain
Nottinghamshire in the second round of the NatWest Trophy today at the start of the most important week of their season.
Three days later they go to Lord`s to meet Kent in the final of
the Benson & Hedges Cup, thus fulfilling one half of a prophecy
their Australian coach, Dave Gilbert, made at the outset of
the summer.
Gilbert said then that he thought Surrey`s best chance of success lay in the one-day competitions - they presently lie a long
way off the pace in the championship.
With the return of the England contingent from Old Trafford,
Gilbert believes that good times are "just around the corner" at
the Oval, but he is looking particularly to Ben Hollioake to fulfil his bowling potential.
"Ben hasn`t bowled up to his ability this summer," Gilbert
said. Hollioake has shaken off the effects of a sprained ankle,
while Nottinghamshire will welcome the return from injury of
their captain Paul Johnson.
Dermot Reeve, the former Warwickshire captain, takes Somerset
back to Edgbaston, where the spinner Musthaq Ahmed expects to
play despite a badly bruised knee.
Two troubled clubs meet at Derby, where the home county have Kim
Barnett back after missing two games with a damaged thumb and
struggling Northamptonshire are looking to turn around their
recent poor form.
Lancashire go to Sussex with a long injury list now swollen
by Neil Fairbrother`s need to have a late fitness test on a thigh
strain. Wasim Akram is already out with a shoulder injury and
there are doubts about Ian Austin, Peter Martin and Mike Watkinson.
Tom Moody, Worcestershire`s captain, is hoping to take the new
ball against Essex at Chelmsford after overcoming back troubles,
while the home side are likely to exclude Graham Gooch.
Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)