By Dave Buxton
April 27 2003

After yesterday's thrilling tie at Edgbaston in the Championship, Essex begin their National League campaign today with a local derby against Surrey at Chelmsford. Matches between the two are normally close & produce excellent cricket & this should be no different. Read on for Scimitars preview...

ESSEX V SURREY - Match Preview

COMPETITION: National Cricket League, Division 1

DATE: Sunday 27th April, 2003

VENUE: Chelmsford, Essex

Of course, memories of close encounters will go back to that thrilling match in the same fixture last season, when Surrey squeezed home by 2 runs when it looked for all the world we would win.

After bowling out the Oval visitors for just 162, with Joe Grant picking up 3-28, Essex looked well set on 137-4 and then 155-6 thanks to Ronnie Irani's 41. However, the last four wickets fell for just five runs and we were out out for 160 to lose by a slender 2 run margin.

The man who did the damage that day with the ball was Adam Hollioake and the expected new England one-day captain will be a threat again.

Alec Stewart is able to play in this match, as is Nasser Hussain for us and with Ali Brown out of form, beware he might find it today.

Surrey, as always look strong, but we do have a slight edge over them at Chelmsford, although predicting the result is very hard.

TEAM NEWS:

Essex have named a 14-man squad for this match and Nasser Hussain is able to play. Aftab Habib could well be left out for the England captain to feature, with the final place probably either Andy Clarke or Graham Napier fighting that spot out. So the squad (predicted XI first):

D.D.J. Robinson, W.I. Jefferson, N. Hussain, A. Flower, *R.C. Irani, A.P. Grayson, + J.S. Foster, J.M. Dakin, J.D. Middlebrook, G.R. Napier, S.A. Brant....A. Habib, A. Clarke, M. Pettini.

SCIMITARS PREDICTION:

Too close to call really. If yesterday's and last season's epics are anything to go by, it'll be tight. Perhaps just fancy us, but wouldn't want to say.

OPPOSITION VIEW:

SportNetwork Surrey Website
OvalWorld - Surrey Fans Website

MATCH ODDS:

With Blue Square Surrey 4/7 and Essex 5/4 if you fancy a flutter.

WEATHER:

Not too bad depsite poor forecasts. There should be the odd shower, but there should be plenty of play in between, with sunny intervals also forecasted, although it'll be windy.

What are your views?! Put your views on the message board or e-mail me, links below:

Date: 27/4/03

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