Cricket: Familiar story for Surrey in their attempt to stay at top

THE WEEK AHEAD

IF it's Wednesday then it must be the Benson and Hedges Cup. Or is it the AXA League? No. This week, the latest round of Championship matches has moved to a Wednesday start, just to add a bit of variety, one assumes, given that it was Friday last week and Thursday the week before. Where does the sense of it all lie?

A day ahead of the Test match between England and South Africa at Edgbaston, Surrey defend their lead in the Britannic Assurance table in the familiar position of having key players missing, namely the top three in their batting order for the innings victory over Kent completed yesterday.

Of course, it could be worse. Neither of the Hollioakes is required at Edgbaston and the selectors have seemingly yet to notice the splendid start to the season made by Ian Salisbury, whose haul against Kent took his tally of first-class wickets into the 20s. Mark Ealham, chosen in the England 12, has yet to claim one. Salisbury has a couple of half-centuries to his name, for good measure.

While Surrey face Worcestershire at The Oval, Kent will seek to redeem themselves against neighbours Sussex at Tunbridge Wells in a match that might provide some evidence of whether the challenge from Hove is likely to be a lasting one.

Elsewhere, Leicestershire will be grateful that all of their contenders were overlooked when they meet Yorkshire at Headingley. But for Dominic Cork's revival, Alan Mullally could have been a possible, while the exclusion of Darren Maddy comes as a surprise.

In Cork's absence, Derbyshire meet Gloucestershire, both of whom have made surprisingly good starts, while Middlesex - without Mark Ramprakash and Gus Fraser - could be embarrassed by Durham, seeking their first Championship win at Lord's.