May 30, 2006
Surrey squad to play Essex
Martin Bicknell might make his return to Championship cricket tomorrow (May 31) at the Whitgfift school when Surrey take on Essex.
The 36 year old was named in the 12-man Surrey squad after showing coach, Alan Butcher that he has successfully recovered from a groin problem.
The Surrey man, in his 21st first-class season, has taken over 1000 wickets for the Club but has not taken the field for Surrey in a Championship match since July of last year. He took 6-56 in the first innings of that match and Surrey will be looking for much of the same from their veteran pace man as they endeavour to leapfrog the competition leaders.
Bicknell, since that six wicket haul against the eventual winners, Nottinghamshire has been plagued with injury but recently made a successful return for the Brown Caps, when he performed solidly for the second eleven last week against Yorkshire. He took three wickets in each innings of that match and dispelled any doubts of his fitness in the longer version of the game.
Should he be named in the final XI, Bicknell will be eager to stake his claim for a regular starting position in the main Surrey side in his last season for the Club.
James Ormond will miss the entire festival with a lower back problem but is likely to be fit for next week’s match with Leicestershire at the Brit Oval.
Opener, Scott Newman has also made a complete recovery from his hamstring strain.
The full Surrey team is:
Jonathan Batty (wicket-keeper)
Scott Newman
Mark Ramprakash
Mark Butcher (captain)
James Benning
Rikki Clarke
Azhar Mahmood
Martin Bicknell
Ian Salisbury
Nayan Doshi
Mohammad Akram
Tim Murtagh
12th man to be named tomorrow morning.
www.surreycricket.com offers a range of ways to stay in touch with the action. You can either listen to live online ball-by-ball commentary of the match courtesy of BBC London, receive text updates by texting “Surrey Scores” to 8181 or call 0904 06 41400 for the latest Surrey news and information.
