Middlesex v Surrey - preview

Date released: 30 July 2010

Middlesex face local rivals Surrey at Lord's, in an LV County Championship match from 29 July - 1 August.

Day One summary

Surrey: 167 all out (Murtagh 5-52; Collins 4-68)
Middlesex: 179-2 (Newman 54)

Preview

Rock bottom Middlesex find themselves at the foot of LV County Championship Division Two heading into this match.

The Lord's tennants have performed well in spells with both bat and ball but have been unable to turn those efforts into victories.

Only table-topping Sussex and neighbours Surrey have more batting points and the bowling unit has done well too.

However, with just two victories and six defeats in their 11 matches so far, Middlesex are having another tough season.

International call-ups and injuries haven't helped their cause.

Middlesex missing you: Steve Finn England's new fast bowling sensation Steve Finn spends more time with the national side than with Middlesex of late.

Innovative batsman Eoin Morgan has a similar tale. Both are due to play at Lord's soon - but in the whites of England rather than Middlesex.

Alongside them for England will be Test skipper Andrew Strauss, another Middlesex player who rarely pulls of club colours at this point in the season.

Injury to experienced seamer Iain O'Brien has ruled him out of a large chunk of the season recently too.

Neil Dexter, Middlesex's third captain this season, will be hoping to turn things around.

Mature performances: John Simpson Dexter may be buoyed by the recent draw with leaders Sussex. Youngsters John Simpson (with the bat) and Toby Roland-Jones (with the ball) turned in mature performances.

Cross-river rivals Surrey were, early in the season, alongside Middlesex at the foot of the LV Division Two table.

A moderate improvement in their results has seen them edge up to 6th place.

Surrey captain Rory Hamilton-Brown has lead from the front recently.

At The Oval last week he scored a run-a-ball 103 as part of a third wicket stand of 164 with veteran Mark Ramprakash put Northamptonshire out of the game early on.

Good education: Surrey's Matt Spriegel attended an MCC University Ramprakash went on to score a huge 248 and, batting at seven, former MCC Univiersity player Matt Spriegel added 103 too.

In the bowling unit, former South Africa pace bowler Andre Nel; England hopeful Chris Tremlett and another Protea, Stuart Meaker offer the seam and speed options. Spinner Gareth Batty lends a wily spin option too.

Tickets

It should be another excellent match at Lord's. Ticket prices once again drop for the fourth day (Sunday) make sure you come along to Lord's to enjoy some great cricket.