Essex are waiting for fitness reports on several players before announcing their side to tackle County Championship leaders Surrey in their four-day battle starting at Chelmsford tomorrow.
Darren Robinson, Jon Dakin, Aftab Habib and John Stephenson have been sidelined with injuries. But the county are hopeful that at least a couple of them will be available for selection.
Robinson and Habib are hoping to get the all clear following hamstring problems. Dakin has been under treatment for a heel injury, while veteran all-rounder Stephenson has missed the last few games with a twisted ankle.
"We will see how they are when they report to the ground in the morning," said skipper Ronnie Irani.
"Hopefully a couple of them will give the thumbs up sign so that we have more players to chose from.
"The last thing we want is to go into action with a seriously weakened team.
"Surrey, as they have shown in recent years, are a magnificent side full of great players and to compete on equal terms opponents need to be somewhere near full strength."
No one can argue with that assessment. The men from The Oval arrive as early Championship leaders and in the sort of form which makes them favourites to retain their First Division crown.
While rain saved Essex from defeat at Old Trafford, Surrey were left cursing the weather because it denied them victory against Leicestershire, probably by an innings, after their batsmen had run up a massive 560-8 declared.
That run feast was spearheaded by England's forgotten man, Mark Ramprakash, who scored 152, and once he was removed from the scene, Ian Salisbury confirmed the strength of Surrey's tail with an unbeaten century.
With tried and trusted performers such as Graham Thorpe, Adam Hollioake and Alistair Brown also expected to be in their ranks -- Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher are on England duty -- it will not come as a major surprise if the visitors embark upon another run spree.
More on Essex County Cricket Club
Published Tuesday, May 20, 2003
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