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The Electronic Telegraph PPP County Championship Preview
Frank Wheeldon - 21 July 1999

Today's Fixtures

Derbys (12) v Sussex (14) (Derby)

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.


Gloucs (16) v Durham (11) (Cheltenham)

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.


Hants (3) v Lancashire (13)(Southampton)

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.


Notts (15) v Kent (10) (Trent Bridge)

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.


Somerset (8) v Middx (7) (Taunton)

Last four matches: Somerset W, W, L, L. Middlesex L, W, L, W.

Recent meetings: 1998 Middlesex won by 211 runs. 1997, 1996 and 1995 drawn. Somerset have not beaten their opponents in a four-day match.

Team news: Philip Jones and Jason Kerr replace Andy Caddick and Adrian Pierson for Somerset. Middlesex replace England pair Mark Ramprakash and Phil Tufnell with Simon Cook and Keith Dutch.

Form players: Peter Bowler, second in the national batting averages with 689 runs at 62.63, opposes Middlesex bowler Angus Fraser, averaging 20.40 for his 20 wickets.


Warwicks (6) v Surrey (1) (Edgbaston)

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

Recent meetings: 1998 Surrey won by an innings and 49 runs. 1997 Warwicks won by five wickets. 1996 Surrey won by an innings and 164 runs. 1995 Warwicks won by 91 runs.

Team news: Warwickshire expect to field the same 11 who lost to Yorkshire. Surrey, who have four players on England duty, bring in Jason Ratcliffe, Jon Batty, Gary Butcher and Darren Bicknell with Joey Benjamin and Ian Bishop on standby.

Form players: Ed Giddins, Warwickshire's leading bowler with 34 at 22.70, opposes Saqlain Mushtaq, who has taken 19 at 12.15 after two games.


Tomorrow

Worcs (9) v Leics (2)(Worcester)

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

Recent meetings: 1998 and 1997 drawn. 1996 Leics won by an innings and 130 runs after making their highest score at Leicester of 638 for six dec. 1995 Worcestershire won by 134 runs.

Form players: Alamgir Sheriyar, with 68 wickets, is the leading wicket-taker in the country. For Leicestershire, Chris Lewis is averaging more than 60 with the bat.


Today's Fixtures

PPP County Championship (1st day of 4, 11am)

Derby: Derbyshire v Sussex
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Durham
Southampton: Hampshire v Lancashire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Kent
Taunton: Somerset v Middlesex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey

(2nd day of 4)

Scarborough: Yorkshire v Northamptonshire

Tour Match

(1st day of 4)

Chelmsford: Essex v Sri Lanka A.

MINOR COUNTIES CH'SHIP (2nd day of 2).-

Brewood: Staffs v Northumberland. (1st day of 2).
Bridgnorth: Shrops v Cornwall, Fenner's: Cambs v Herts.

SECOND XI CH'SHIP.-(Second day)
Heanor: Derbys v Leics;
Darlington: Durham v Notts;
Cardiff: Glamorgan v Somerset;
Walmley: Warwicks v Middx. (First day):
The Oval: Surrey v Lancs.


Source: The Electronic Telegraph
Editorial comments can be sent to The Electronic Telegraph at et@telegraph.co.uk