County Championship Preview (15 June 1999)

15 June 1999

County Championship Preview

Frank Wheeldon

Both teams have poor recent records, Hampshire having lost two of their last three matches and Leicestershire without a win since May 1. Recent meetings: 1998: Drawn. 1997 (at Southampton): Leicestershire won by five wickets. In this match, the extras in Hampshire's innings were 56 (joint top score) and 41 (top score). 1996: Drawn with no play on second day. News: Hampshire's Jason Laney and Kevan James (in for the rested Peter Hartley) play for the first time this season. Vince Wells has an eye injury and is out for Leics.

Two more struggling sides who have both lost recently by innings margins. Kent have one win so far, Glamorgan two. Recent meetings: 1998 and 1996 matches both rain-affected draws, but at Canterbury in 1997 Glamorgan won by 87 runs. Trevor Ward scored a century in both innings against Glamorgan in 1991 and 1994. News: Martin McCague replaces Martin Saggers for Kent and Matthew Maynard, the Glamorgan captain, returns after injury to replace Keith Newell.

Nottinghamshire's three wins this season have been at Trent Bridge; Warwickshire have won three of their last four. Recent meetings: 1998: Notts won by six wickets despite Warwicks' Michael Powell becoming the first uncapped player to 'carry his bat' since 1949. 1997: Drawn. Paul Franks hat-trick for Notts. 1996: Warwicks won by 85 runs.

Surrey are the only unbeaten side in the championship; Lancashire have one win from seven matches. Recent meetings: Lancs won in 1998 by six wickets and in 1997 by an innings and 55 runs. 1996: Surrey won by 140 runs. In 1997 Nathan Wood and Mike Atherton scored 259 for the first wicket, a Lancs record against Surrey. In 1998, Andy Flintoff scored 34 from an over bowled by Alex Tudor; with two no balls the over was worth a record 38 runs. News: Alec Stewart is expected to play his first championship match after the World Cup and faces Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 14 wickets against Warwicks. Mike Atherton returns for Lancs.

So far this year Worcestershire have managed one batting point and one win; Somerset have two victories. Recent meetings: The 1998 and 1997 matches were drawn, Worcestershire winning in 1996 by one wicket. In this match a Somerset seventh-wicket record that had stood since 1898 was broken when Shane Lee and Rob Turner added 278. News: Maneer Mirza replaces Nathan Batson for Worcestershire, Somerset are still missing Marc Trescothick, knee injury, and add Gregor Kennis to the squad.

Yorkshire have won three of their last four matches, Sussex have drawn their last three, in two of which they were well placed when bad weather intervened. Recent meetings: Yorkshire have won the last two meetings by 10 wickets and nine wickets respectively. Sussex won in 1996 by two wickets, their only success against Yorkshire in four-day matches. News: Sussex unchanged for the third consecutive match but Yorkshire announce their team this morning.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph