PPP County Championship Preview (21 July 1999)

21 July 1999

PPP County Championship Preview

Frank Wheeldon

Last four matches: Derbyshire (most recent first) L, L, W, L. Sussex L, L, W, D.

Recent meetings: 1998 Derbyshire won by seven wickets. 1997 drawn. 1996 Derbyshire won by 47 runs. 1995 Derbyshire won by an innings and 379 runs, which was their biggest winning margin in the championship. Sussex have not beaten Derbyshire in a four-day match.

Team news: Derbyshire's only change is Adrian Rollins for Matt Cassar with Ryan Eagleson 12th man. Sussex expect to be unchanged from their last match.

Form players: Dominic Cork returned after injury to score 53 and take seven wickets in Derbyshire's last match, his tally is now 31 at 18.58. Michael Di Venuto has 754 runs at 47.12.

Last four matches: Gloucs L, W, W, D. Durham W, W, L, W.

Recent meetings: 1998 Gloucs won by 46 runs. 1997 Gloucs won by an innings and 28 runs. 1996 drawn. 1995 Gloucs won by 10 runs. Durham's only victory against Gloucestershire was in 1994.

Team news: Gloucestershire add Ben Gannon to the 11 who played Leicestershire. Durham expect to be unchanged but Neil Killeen could replace Nick Speak.

Form players: Mike Smith heads the Gloucestershire bowling averages with 38 at 20.60 and faces Jon Lewis, who has scored 702 runs at 43.87.

Last four matches: Hampshire L, W, D, L. Lancashire W, W, L, L.

Recent meetings: 1998 Lancs won by 161 runs. 1997 and 1996 drawn. 1995 Lancs won by five wickets. Lancashire are unbeaten in four-day games against Hampshire.

Team news: Hampshire add Giles White, Simon Renshaw and Simon Francis to the team beaten by Surrey. Lancashire's Peter Martin and Glen Chapple return.

Form players: Hampshire captain Robin Smith is averaging 44.87. Lancashire's Mike Atherton averages 90.75 after his career best 268 not out against Glamorgan.

Last four matches: Notts L, L, L, D. Kent W, W, D, D.

Recent meetings: 1998 Kent won by three wickets. 1997 Kent won by an innings and 105 runs. 1996 Kent won by seven wickets. 1995 Notts won by three wickets with three balls to spare. Team news: Nottinghamshire replace Chris Read with Wayne Noon. Martin McCague returns for Kent in place of Dean Headley and James Hockley will make his first-class debut in place of Trevor Ward. Matthew Banes is included in the 12.

Form players: Nottinghamshire's Paul Johnson, who has scored seven half-centuries in nine innings, will face Kent's Julian Thompson, who has 36 wickets at 20.72.