da roleta： Essex v Surrey, Chelmsford Usually during an England Test match, the majority of the Surrey first team are unavailable for county selection, but this time it’s only Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart who will be facing the challenge of Zimbabwe at
da esoccer bet： Wisden CricInfo staff20-May-2003Frizzell County Championship Division OneEssex v Surrey, Chelmsford
Usually during an England Test match, the majority of the Surrey first team are unavailable for county selection, but this time it’s only Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart who will be facing the challenge of Zimbabwe at Lord’s. And their stand-ins aren’t too bad either: Graham Thorpe replaces Butcher for only his second championship game this season, and Jon Batty takes Stewart’s place behind the stumps. Meanwhile, Alex Tudor misses his second consecutive game with a knee injury. For Essex – who have drawn four out of four matches so far – Jon Dakin (heel) and Aftbab Habib (hamstring) return to the squad, while Scott Brant and Will Jefferson have shaken off the knee problems they suffered at Lancashire last week.Leicestershire v Middlesex, Leicester
Devon Malcolm’s impending knee operation means Leicestershire’s John Maunders is set for his championship debut after being named in the 12-mansquad against Middlesex. Phil Whitticase, the Leicestershire coach, said: “Devon is seeing the specialist this week and will probably have the operation next week. It is a blow, but it gives somebody else a chance to impress.” And Leicestershire will be hoping that either Maunders or somebody else does impress as they attempt to haul themselves up from second-bottom in the table after their dispiriting draw against Surrey. Meanwhile Middlesex will be boosted by the arrival of Australian Ashley Noffke, while Simon Cook comes in for Ben Gannon.Sussex v Nottinghamshire, Horsham
As is the trend these days, Sussex rested the majority of their big players for the tourists match, against Zimbabwe last week, so back come Chris Adams, Mushtaq Ahmed, Tony Cottey, Tim Ambrose, Robin Martin-Jenkins and Matt Prior against Notts. One missing face, of course, is James Kirtley, who was included in the Englandsquad, something which coach Peter Moores was not downbeat about: “Losing James is a blow but, at the same time, I am really pleased for him and it is a big boost for the club to have a player representing England.” Australian legspinner Stuart MacGill plays his first championship game of the season for Notts, while Kevin Pietersen replaces Paul Franks, who is out with a calf injury. Only two points separate the teams, with Notts in sixth position and Sussex seventh, and both are looking for their second win of the season.Warwickshire v Kent, Birmingham
Warwickshire, currently in second place and just over a point behind Surrey, start as firm favourites against a Kent team stuck at the bottom and yet to win a match. Michael Powell, Warwickshire’s captain, returns to championship cricket having signalled his comeback from a broken toe with a century against Cardiff University last week. Powell’s stand-in as captain, Ashley Giles, is with the England squad so Neil Smith takes his place, while Waqar Younis is expected to be announced as Warwickshire’s new overseas player, but won’t play. Meanwhile, Kent continue to have their injury problems with David Fulton (eye operation), MinPatel (back) and Amjad Khan (shin) still on the sidelines. Robert Key, however, is fit and raring to go – but for England. He’s replaced by Jamie Hewitt.Frizzell County Championship Division TwoDurham v Derbyshire, Chester-le-Street
After only three matches, Durham are already slipping away at the foot of the table and they must find some of that winning formula before it’s too late. Mark Davies, a seam bowler, could make his first appearance of the season for Durham after recovering from a lung problem he endured in a pre-season friendly. Davies came through a second XI match and will replace England’s Steve Harmison if passed fit tomorrow morning. Derbyshire however, in fourth place and with a game in hand over the leaders, are on the up after their impressive win over Yorkshire at Headingley last week, and are boosted further by Shahid Afridi’s return from a finger injury.Hampshire v Somerset, Southampton
In-form Somerset will be looking to make up some ground on runaway leaders Gloucestershire in their match against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl.Andy Caddick, who was due to be away with England, faces six weeks out with a foot injury, while Marcus Trescothick did make it to Lord’s. Richard Johnson (groin) and Aaron Laraman (side) are missing, and Steffan Jones and Keith Dutch take their places. Referring to Somerset’s crushing innings and 143-run win over Glamorgan, Michael Burns, the captain, said: “It was good to get 22 points last week. We were lucky to get a game in with all the rain, but we thoroughly deserved the victory.” Hampshire, on the other hand, haven’t had much luck with the weather so far this season, and have drawn all four of their games. And as a result, they’re slap bang in the middle of the table. However, Wasim Akram returns to the side in place of James Tomlinson after being rested against Gloucestershire, and Dimitri Mascarenhas will play after fears that he sustained a broken toe.Worcestershire v Gloucestershire, Worcester
It’s top against second-from-bottom as Worcestershire take on leaders Gloucestershire at New Road where Worcestershire are likely to remain unchanged from the side that took nine points from a rain-affected draw against Durham last week. Tom Moody, Worcestershire’s coach, said: “The weather has frustrated us all season. We have been in winning positions throughout but we haven’t been able to finish teams off.”Looking ahead of this game, he said: “Gloucestershire are top of the league but they have played two more championship matches than us. It is a big game and hopefully we can get our first win on the board.” Gloucestershire too are at full-strength as they aim to extend their 17-point lead at the top of the table, but Mark Alleyne, the captain,isn’t paying much attention to that: “I’m not going to get too obsessed with the table because there’s a long way to go.”Yorkshire v Glamorgan, Leeds
Yuvraj Singh’s debut bolsters a Yorkshire side depleted by the three international call-ups of Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Anthony McGrath. Nonetheless, Yorkshire will fancy their chances against a Glamorgan side yet to win and on a poor run of form, highlighted by their thrashing by Somerset. However, Glamorgan coach John Derrick has selected the same bunch for this game and given them a chance to redeem themselves. Derrick pointed out that, “we have been caught on dampish wickets to start with,”, but added “to be fair to the opposition, they have made the most of the conditions, but once you get bowled out cheaply in the first innings you are always going to struggle.”Meanwhile, Yorkshire have got Sachin Tendulkar to thank for their shrewd signing of Yuvraj, who said that it was Tendulkar’s advice which had beencrucial in his decision to join Yorkshire. He said: “I have been attracted by the reputation of the club and by what Sachin has told me”. He added: “He told me it is a great opportunity for me. They are nice people who will take care of you, and it is a great experience.”
