The must win to end all must wins

Even though it is still just a Twenty20...

Surrey travel to Bristol today to play Gloucester in a game they absolutely have to win, and win healthily, to have any chance of progressing to the quarter finals of the Twenty20 Cup.  Middlesex, who play Essex in Chelmsford and Hampshire who play Sussex at the Rose Bowl, also have to win to guarantee progression, but their superior run rates make their jobs ever so slightly easier.

Adams has named a 12 man squad, which is as follows with my preference for a starting XI:

Rory Hamilton-Brown
Steven Davies
Jason Roy
Tom Lancefield
Stewart Walters
Andrew Symonds
Gary Wilson
Matthew Spriegel
Chris Schofield
Chris Tremlett
Andre Nel

12th man:  Stuart Meaker

Its a tough call to go with Schofield over Meaker, because as the Somerset game showed us Meaker is capable of coming up with that ball that can change a game, but he is also prone to spraying it around a bit because of his pace.  His time will come, of that I have no doubt, but it isn't today.

The rest of the team picks itself really.  I presume Ramps must be suffering with his shoulder injury still and I would question the value of picking Wilson ahead of someone like Laurie Evans, but that's the squad we have.  The fact that Wilson is in ahead of Afzaal too does not bode well for Usman's future at the club, which is very disappointing.

Gloucestershire haven't named a squad as yet but they've been in poor form, losing 3 of their last four T20 games, but they'll be keen to salvage some pride at this stage.  There's nothing more dangerous than a wounded 'Gladiator'....

Can we qualify?  Yes, obviously, and Hampshire and Middlesex both have tough games.  However they are also both playing sides who have already qualified for the quarter finals.  We have a very tough task on our hands and its not ideal that we're relying on the results of others to make it through, but such is life.  All Surrey can do is go out today and play to the best of their abilities - if they do that, we can win for sure, and that's how we give ourselves the best opportunity!