Thorpe's return a timely bonus for Surrey hopes (17 Sep 1998)
OF cricket's two most prominent back patients, Graham Thorpe returns fully fit but Michael Atherton will have to pass a test this morning for the second of the two games which will decide the County Championship
17-Sep-1998
17 September 1998
Thorpe's return a timely bonus for Surrey hopes
Christopher Martin-Jenkins
OF cricket's two most prominent back patients, Graham Thorpe
returns fully fit but Michael Atherton will have to pass a test
this morning for the second of the two games which will decide
the County Championship. Out of a muddled fixture-list and the
rains of early summer has come a classic climax, writes
Christopher Martin-Jenkins.
Derided out of ignorance by those who do not actually watch it,
the championship will probably be without a sponsor next season,
a transitional year, although Terry Blake, the ECB's marketing
chief, says he is "still hopeful, especially if the new
television contract offers some championship coverage".
The 15th and last Britannic Assurance Championship has remained
intriguing to the end. It will reward Leicestershire, Surrey or
Lancashire with £100,000, the biggest first prize yet, some time
this weekend. Lanashire's hope is that the two pacemakers will
cancel one another out at the Oval over the next four days. By
beating Hampshire at Old Trafford they could win their first
outright title since 1934 and achieve a treble which seemed
unrepeatable when Warwickshire won three of the four county
competitions four years ago.
Thorpe returns after the disc trouble which required surgery two
months ago. The impetus this will give to Surrey, along with home
advantage, should go a long way towards compensating for the loss
of Saqlain Mushtaq to a competition which is as obscure as it
sounds, the Sahara Cup in Toronto.
Alec Stewart keeps wicket to accommodate his Test colleague,
meaning no place for Jeremy Batty and a final choice this morning
between Ian Ward, Nadeem Shahid and the young left-arm spinner,
Rupesh Amin. Surrey, nine points behind Leicestershire, simply
have to win if they are to take the title for the first time
since Stewart's father, Micky, was captain in 1971.
Leicestershire will make a final careful reading of the pitch
before deciding whether to play two of the three spinners in
their party of 14: Matthew Brimson, Carl Crowe and Tim Mason have
all travelled to London, along with Jimmy Ormond, but Brimson for
David Millns is the only likely change from the XI which
steamrollered Essex last week. It is a curious twist that
Leicestershire lost only one match in their championship years of
1975 and 1996, both to Surrey at the Oval. They cannot repeat
that and win it this time.
In a way both these sides deserve to win the championship, Surrey
because they have led for 15 rounds of matches despite more Test
calls than anyone; Leicestershire because they continue to show
what team spirit and organisation plus the right attitude can
achieve.
Lancashire should win even against a Hampshire side which has
recovered under Robin Smith after a bad start. Atherton and
England's selectors will hope he plays, but Mark Chilton has
proved a capable deputy. Peter Hartley is unfit because of a knee
injury and Derek Kenway should play.
If all three leaders somehow fail to get a point, Yorkshire could
theoretically win by earning 24 points. Their more realistic aim
is a share of the prize money - £45,000 for second place, £22,000
for third, £15,000 for fourth - perhaps at the expense of
Gloucestershire, who should win away to a Nottinghamshire side in
turmoil, especially as Courtney Walsh needs three wickets to pass
100 for only the second time.
For Sussex, Yorkshire's opponents at Hove, James Kirtley and
Robin Martin-Jenkins, who has a side injury but plays as a
batsman, signed new three-year contracts yesterday and Jason
Lewry is fit again.
Warwickshire and Kent are on the cusp of the top eight but
Warwickshire may be without Brian Lara because of a sore knee.
Alan Igglesden announced his retirement yesterday as Paul Millman
was named as Kent's new chief executive.
Mike Gatting and Keith Brown play their final games for
Middlesex. Brown is captain because Mark Ramprakash has had his
tonsils out.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)