PPP County Championship Preview (4 August 1999)

4 August 1999

PPP County Championship Preview

Frank Wheeldon

Last four matches: Derbys, L, L, L, W. Lancs, L, W, W, W.

Recent meetings: 1998, Lancs won by an innings and eight runs. 1997, Derbys won by an innings and 37 runs.

Team news: Derbys have named 13 players and Michael Slater will take part subject to a fitness test. Lancs, who have Mike Atherton in the England squad and Ian Austin injured, will field two of Richard Green, Chris Schofield and Michael Smethurst.

Form players: Dominic Cork, with 44 wickets at 19.18, and Muttiah Muralitharan, with 55 wickets at 13.01.

Last four matches: Durham, W, W, W, L. Sussex, W, L, L, W.

Recent meetings: 1998, Sussex won by an innings and 81 runs. 1997, match drawn.

Team news: Durham expect to field the XI beaten by Glamorgan. Sussex choose from 12 players: Robin Martin-Jenkins returns with James Kirtley replacing Wasim Khan.

Form players: Nick Speak has 336 runs from four matches, and James Kirtley has 26 wickets since returning.

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

Recent meetings: 1998, Kent won by two wickets. 1997, Kent won by an innings and eight runs.

Team news: Kent add Matthew Walker to the team who beat Notts. Essex, with Peter Such on England duty, call in Danny Law.

Form players: Julian Thompson, who has 42 wickets at 18.79, faces Stuart Law, the leading run scorer, with an average of 72.37.

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

Recent meetings: 1998, Notts won by an innings and 92 runs. 1997, Middlesex won by two wickets.

Team news: Middlesex add Keith Dutch to the XI who drew with Somerset. Notts replace Chris Read with Wayne Noon and recall Richard Stemp.

Form players: Justin Langer, with four centuries and two fifties in 11 matches, and Paul Johnson, 909 runs at an average of 47.84.

Last four matches: Northants, L, L, D, W. Somerset, L, W, W, D.

Recent meetings: 1998, Somerset won by two wickets. 1997, drawn.

Team news: Northants are unchanged. Somerset, without Andrew Caddick, call up Adrian Pierson and Graham Rose.

Form players: David Sales, 303 not out in his last match, and Jamie Cox, with over 1,000 runs to date.

Last four matches: Surrey, W, W, W, W. Glamorgan, L, L, L, W.

Recent meetings: 1998, Surrey won by six wickets. 1997, draw.

Team news: Surrey retain the side who beat Warwicks. Glamorgan have added Wayne Law and Simon Jones to the team who beat Durham.

Form players: Saqlain Mushtaq, with 23 wickets in three matches, and Adrian Dale, with 718 runs.

Last four matches: Yorkshire, L, L, W, D. Worcs, W, L, W, D.

Recent meetings: 1998, Yorks won by an innings and 160 runs. 1997, Yorks won by 66 runs.

Team news: Yorkshire's Paul Hutchison will play his first championship match of the season replacing Chris Silverwood. Nathan Batson, Duncan Catterall and Philip Newport play for Worcs instead of Graeme Hick, Stuart Lampitt and Richard Illingworth.

Form players: Greg Blewett made 98 and 190 in his last match and will be tested by Alamgir Sheriyar, the leading wicket-taker, with 70 victims at an average of 23.44.

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

Recent meetings: 1998, Gloucs won by two wickets. 1997, Gloucs won by six wickets.

Form players: Michael Smith, 41 wickets, average 21.07, takes on Robin Smith, who has 824 runs this season.

Last four matches: Leics, D, W, W, D. Warwicks, W, L, L, L.

Recent meetings: 1998, Leics won by 73 runs. 1997, abandonded.

Form players: Ben Smith scored his second century of the season last time out, and will face up to Ed Giddins, who has 40 wickets at 21.55.

CGU NCL - Div 1 (1 day)
Edgbaston: Warwicks v Leics (4.10pm).

2nd XI Championship
(3rd day of 4). Heanor: Derbys v Durham.
(2nd day of 4): Chelmsford: Essex v Middx. Usk: Glamorgan v Surrey. Taunton: Somerset v Gloucs. Hove: Sussex v Leics. Worcester: Worcs v Lancs.

Minor Counties Championship
(2nd day of 2).Falmouth: Cornwall v Oxon. Lakenham: Norfolk v Bucks. Ipswich: Suffolk v Cumberland.

Other Match
(2nd day of 2).- Lord's: MCC v Wales.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)