Here we go again! Season preview, and the game at a crossroads....

Right. I’m refreshed from my traditional winter break from cricket and ready to dig into the new season.

It only seems like yesterday that we limped through to the end of another hugely underwhelming season. Like many, I feared for the team’s prospects when it was confirmed that we would be reinstated to Division One for this season. Perhaps it is the natural optimism of Spring before a ball has been bowled, but looking at the side we should be able to pick for the early part of the season at least I feel that while we are unlikely to replicate 2018, we should be capable of at least a respectable mid-table finish.
Burns, Smith, Amla, Pope, Jacks, Foakes, S Curran, Clark, Roach, Topley, Moriarty/Virdi

While it isn’t clear which of their embarrassment of batting riches England will select this summer, Burns and Pope are no longer the men in possession. Neither did Ben Foakes grab his chance with both gloves. If all three are going to be with us for more of the season than we had assumed, then we really shouldn’t struggle for runs. Not only will we have by common consent the best wicket-keeper on the county circuit behind the stumps, but Jamie Smith will be free to focus on his batting which was one of the few good things to emerge last year. While he is not yet tried and tested as a championship opener, he unquestionably has the temperament and appears to have the technique (contrast with, for example, J Roy among others we have thrust into that role).

While our batting was inconsistent last season, our bowling was truly abysmal, especially after Roach left. So getting him back for the first part of the season is clearly a fillip. But for me the most promising aspect is the prospect that Sam Curran is going to be available to us. It has been a source of much frustration that he has looked a more threatening proposition at times when selected (at home) for England than when playing for Surrey. This may be because he typically opened the bowling for us, whereas England afforded him the luxury of bowling as first or even second change, where his swing is far more effective. If Roach and Topley can be relied upon as an effective right/left arm opening attack, then Sam in tandem with Jordan Clark or, at a push, Jamie Overton, may, especially in early season conditions, thrive as change bowlers. In early season conditions only one specialist spinner can be justified: while it remains a toss-up, it has to be said that Moriarty seemed to progress steadily last season while Virdi largely flatlined. Batty knows best, here.

I dipped briefly onto the board to comment briefly on Gareth Batty’s appointment at the time. I remain somewhat conflicted. Every instinct is telling me that we desperately needed a fresh broom at the helm, after years of underachievement and stagnation. Yet I would have been hugely frustrated to have seen Gareth leave the club entirely when he seems to have much to offer. His coaching role to date has been fairly brief and somewhat limited in scope, so it seems unfair to hold him accountable for the dismal on-field displays we have seen in the same way that the likes of Di Venuto and Solanki have rightly been held accountable. But was this too big a step? Should we not have given him the role of Assistant Head Coach, working under an accomplished Head Coach such as Graham Ford for a couple of years before stepping into the main job? Probably. I can only wish him well, and hope that he has what it takes. All I ask for in 2022 is evidence of genuine progress before the end of the season. Azhar Mahmood looks to be a good appointment to the coaching team, especially for the short-form game. Jim Troughton though? I’d have rather had Ramps back.

I have dipped in and out of the winter test series against Australia and, most recently, West Indies. These debacles have simply underlined what most of us already knew about the inevitable consequence of the ECB’s dreadful stewardship of the English game. Andy Nash, former chairman of Somerset, has recently contributed an excellent summary of the situation on the “County Cricket Matters” Facebook group which really is worth sharing more widely.

“The game is at a fork in the road and must decide between counties or franchises. It’s become obvious they are mutually exclusive. Counties have sustained English cricket for over 150 years.
They have 4-5 generations of the same families as fans. (Like football & rugby: It’s how British sport is). These fans (Members) literally own their clubs.
They do outstanding Community work through their charitable foundations.
They have built and own all the professional cricket grounds in England and Wales.
The world’s greatest cricketers have all played First Class County cricket & can do so again.
They created professional T20 cricket in 2003 and the Blast could be a global event with 2 divisions & investment.
ALL England players came through the County system. They have developed and manage the talent pathways that identify and develop young cricketers across the country.
The County system took England Men and Women to World Champions, T20 World Champions and No 1 Test team in the world in 2011. The record of achievement is unchallengeable.
It’s ironic that England’s demise in Test cricket is said by some to lay at the door of County cricket! This conclusion could not be more wrong. THE problem is how in recent years ECB leadership have turned their heads to follow the franchise model. A model which is the greatest existential threat to English cricket. It’s not the Counties that are undermining English cricket it’s the IPL, the 100 and the franchise model.
In recent years there has been a gathering of support for Franchise Cricket. The question is why, because
Franchises:
Exist primarily to make money for their owners.
Develop no players. They rent them.
Don’t build or develop cricket grounds. They rent them.
No interest in developing players for England. Quite the reverse they compete with national teams for players eg centrally contracted players playing in the IPL and other franchise competitions.
Player burnout is an issue & franchise competitions are a major cause.
No role in long term community engagement.
The 100 is cannibalising English cricket and the signs are already obvious.
If like me you believe in the County system it’s time to write to your County Chair, your MP and DCMS and contribute to the debate that’s getting underway over the future of English cricket."

Amen, Andy - a real call to arms. It will be interesting to establish as soon as possible which side of the divide our new Chief Executive, fresh from his role as ECB’s Marketing Director for “Special Projects” (including the Hundred) is on. Because if there is one thing to grasp from Andy's analysis, it is to be under no illusion that the county system and franchises are anything but mutually exclusive.  

Come on the 'Rey!

I would lower your expectations about SCurran bowling for awhile yet, said in an interview during media day today he's likely going to be played as a batsman

That has shattered my positive mood immediately.

Played as a specialist batsman in championship cricket? Has he been assured that? If not he is being more presumptuous than Prince Andrew.

Sam can bat, but he is no Ben Stokes. He is a bowling all-rounder. He averages 27 with the bat (lower than Cameron Bloody Steel!) and doesn't have a first-class century to his name.

We don't have an embarrassment of options, but I would rather play an extra seam bowler and rely on the quality batting we do have at the moment to make the runs we need. When young Samuel is fit to turn his arm over, I will look forward to him returning to our fold.

If the ECB's paw-prints are behind this, then it is the first test of Gareth Batty's mettle. He needs to put down a marker and make it clear he picks the Surrey team based on what is best for Surrey.

Seems like his words, not mine

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-2022-county-championship-surrey-man-sam-curran-happy-to-bide-his-time-before-returning-to-action-1308214

Seems more of an injury thing than anything else, that he is not fit enough to bowl.

Find it hard to be optimistic about our prospects this season. With an “interim” coach continuously looking over his shoulder at the all powerful Stewart. Will he last any longer than the last 2 incumbents? Will we be as injury hit again this season? We still have the same “fitness” coach. Will we still have the same flat wickets? We still have the same Groundsman! Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst! We have had too many false dawns at Surrey, so I won’t get carried away yet!

The fitness coach was at Somerset for years before Surrey.They didn't seem to have the same spate of injuries that we regularly see at The Oval while he was there.

Since he has been fitness coach we have now had several successive seasons of a long list of injuries, the odd year can be explained by simple bad luck, but not year on year. The proof of the pudding is in the eating!!

We don't actually need a fitness coach, probably about 40% of cricket is played in the head, 60% physical on the pitch. Stewart said in his interview on the website, more or less, that all the injuries are caused by the lockdowns and not playing enough cricket. Bollox quite frankly, the injuries are almost all down to too many "specialists" and the wrong coaching. But I've been down this route many times. Maybe a "head" coach is the way forward, but not in the way it implies.

dougieginn wrote:Since he has been fitness coach we have now had several successive seasons of a long list of injuries, the odd year can be explained by simple bad luck, but not year on year. The proof of the pudding is in the eating!!

Fair enough! I'm just pointing out that Somerset never had the same problem.I don't know what the answer is.

Membership pack arrived this morning had a quick look no vouchers included going digital more information when season starts so if not on email a problem?

Very disappointed with handbook, different from previously. I keep all yearbooks and this one is a poor companion. More like a pamphlet than the previous issues, I know there were fewer matches to report upon, but we still had a more professional yearbook last year

Actually that is not the handbook which appears not to be being printed this year, reference is made to picking up a complimentary copy of the 2021 Handbook on page 16.

Richard Thompson goes on to state in his introduction;

"it will be another marquee year for the for THe Kia Oval, A test match against South Africa,a one day International against India and the second season of The Hundred will see packed cowds throughiout the summer..." (page 4)

Strange how Surrey CCC is missing from this paragraph or maybe not as the Hundred now has pride of place on the main website

https://www.kiaoval.com/the-hundred/

Funnily enough as a member of what is supposedly a members club I do not recall being asked about this. Still as the Club Chair points out nice new stand - Shame about Surrey Cricket...

In other news, your credit no longer buys you fish and chips at Caught in the Nets. Instead it is referred to  "Bar Credit" whereby you can can spend on overpriced booze while watching the soccer no doubt...Oh and by the way you are turfed out of the OCS stand middle tier which is for corporates only.

Enjoy the season....

dougieginn wrote:Very disappointed with handbook, different from previously. I keep all yearbooks and this one is a poor companion. More like a pamphlet than the previous issues, I know there were fewer matches to report upon, but we still had a more professional yearbook last year

I'm assuming the yearbook is still to come?I have them all from the year i was born onwards-1953.

I will also agree that it's not perfect, but the membership fee is still good value compared to say, Somerset, who charge £322 for admission to games with all 3 formats. That is mad.

As for beer prices, I feel like they are a tad pricey, but reasonable in comparison with other sporting events. Better still, you can just bring your own in for 4 day/50 over stuff.

What about me fish 'n chips voucher?

The Red Rooster wrote:Actually that is not the handbook which appears not to be being printed this year, reference is made to picking up a complimentary copy of the 2021 Handbook on page 16.

Suggests they may just shove them in the Pavilion reception desk and save themselves a few thousand copies. I didn't think the finances were that bad...

A quick glance shows me 3 things:
1. No 2021 March reports or stats
2. The black print pages on blue background are difficult to read and I have good eyesight.
3. The date of the LV CC game against Northampton in Sept is wrong: it's the 12th -15th.

going back to the original post from Jackers, which was a good read, i notice that he listed his team for the 1st game this week as
Burns, Smith, Amla, Pope, Jacks, Foakes, S Curran, Clark, Roach, Topley, Moriarty/Virdi

Decent side that, although as has been mentioned SC wont be bowling and only in the team as a batter (think thats the new term), which in a way confuses things a bit, as I feel that Patel also deserves a spot in the line up after his runs in pre season, and therefore a batter will have to miss out. For me I think 8 spots are fixed, with my team looking like this

Burns, Patel, Amla, Pope, Jacks/Smith, Foakes, S Curran, Clark/Overton, Roach, Topley, Moriarty/Virdi

and wouldnt be surprised if that was the 14 man squad named

I do not think Sam Curran merits a place solely as a batter and if he goes in at 7 our bowling is restricted, I would rather use Jack's who is also a decent spinner. Smith has an automatic slot for me, opening or no 5. Bit of a disaster Worral not being here, Jordan at the IPL and both Currans having problems.

No change there then
Good luck to the stout ship Batty and all who sail in her!

I agree with all of that, which is why sam playing as just a batter confuses things. However, it seems obvious he will play, which means its 2 of Smith, who deserves a place, Jacks, who gives the option of an extra bowler, and Patel, who has scored runs in pre season.

Not sure we will see much (if any) of Jordan in red ball cricket, but we are missing a genuine all rounder with Sam not bowling and Tom being injured. To have 1 of them at 8 with Foakes at 7 and an extra batter would make alot of difference

I am not convinced by Smith as an opener, and it’s between Sam and Jacks for the number 6 slot.

Burns
Patel
Amla
Pope
Smith
Jacks/SCurran
Foakes
Roach
Moriarty
Topley
Virdi

RB wrote:

The Red Rooster wrote:Actually that is not the handbook which appears not to be being printed this year, reference is made to picking up a complimentary copy of the 2021 Handbook on page 16.

Suggests they may just shove them in the Pavilion reception desk and save themselves a few thousand copies. I didn't think the finances were that bad...

Your spot on with that as confirmed by the club e-mail

Have membership cards been sent?