Kim Barnett is preparing for a remarkable sixth successive Lord's final tomorrow when Gloucestershire take on Surrey in the Benson and Hedges showdown.

The veteran opening bat, who is 41 next week, has played in Gloucestershire's last four victories at Headquarters and was in the Derbyshire side trounced by Lancashire in the NatWest Trophy final in 1998.

So with such a wealth of experience, Barnett knows exactly what to hope for at Lord's tomorrow – and that's a pitch which offers some help to the bowlers.

It's not a statement you'd normally expect from an opening batsmen, but he said: "If it doesn't move around, then it is going to help Surrey because they bat so deep.

"They have got so much flair that if it becomes a batting paradise on Saturday they could be dangerous and capable of getting a big score.

"If they get off to a flier they can do anything and they're confident enough to have a go. That's your danger.

"But if it gets to be a bit of a scrap and the ball moves around - and fielding and running between the wickets is an issue - then it will bring us more into things. That's what our guys thrive on.

"If we take a couple of wickets then we tend to step up a gear. You need to be knocking over two or three of their batsmen early on to calm them down a bit. It will be an interesting battle between two different sides."

Barnett knows the West Country side's hopes have been dealt a blow by their lengthy injury list. Opening partner Tim Hancock has a broken bone in his hand while bowlers Jon Lewis and Mike Smith are also injured.

He said: "I suppose you could say it is our biggest test because we have got injuries. Ideally you would want to take on Surrey with your full contingent.

"Everyone who has come into the squad over the last three years has done an excellent job. We've had a good squad of 14 to 15 players and nobody has let us down.

"To miss Hancock, with whom I have enjoyed a very good partnership, Smith and Lewis is a big thing and it will be challenge for us.

"But then we thought Yorkshire on their pitch against their bowlers in the semi-finals was going to be a severe test. Again we were a little bit depleted, and we came through. There is also no reason why we can't come through this one."

Barnett insisted: "People say our success is down to the team spirit but that facet tends to be over-played and there are a lot of good players in there.

"People do get carried away because we have a good team spirit and shouldn't under-estimate the individual capabilities of the team."

Despite his advancing years, Barnett has just signed a new contract with Gloucestershire which will take him to the end of the 2003 season.

He said: "As for myself I feel this is the best I've played since I've been at Gloucestershire. I'm playing as well as I have done for two or three years.

"My fitness is better than it has been for sometime since I had a knee operation last September and that has helped."

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