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

I got mine a few weeks ago

I just got the AGM stuff and membership booklet.

At the members and sponsors lunch last week Theresa gave everyone that was there fold up fixture cards the first time we have had them for a few years .But sorry to say it also gives the 100 fixtures .

Longshanks wrote:I just got the AGM stuff and membership booklet.

14 standing for the committee this year.

As I said above, it is far from obvious that Sam Curran should be selected as a batsman ("batter" is something your fish is fried in). He does have natural talent, but his figures don't cry out that he should be automatically selected. We lack any other genuine all-rounders (Clark and Overton are bowlers first, Jacks and Patel are 'occasional bowlers' and Cameron Steel is just not good enough with bat or ball), therefore we will need to pick the five best specialist batsmen available to us plus Ben Foakes, and look to one of Overton or Clark to come in at 7 with the other competing with McKerr for the fourth seamer spot. While our spin department is undoubtedly our stronger bowling suit, I just can't see how we can go into the first game, in what promises to be typical April conditions, with just Roach and Topley as our front-line seam options as per RB's side.

Jamie Smith's selection should not be in question. He approaches the season on the back of centuries in the last two championship matches he has played (Sam has yet to make one in his career, remember) and I would like to see him given a chance to open alongside Rory.

Why am i suddenly getting lots of "pop up" adverts on this site?

There’s very little difference between Sam Curran and Jordan Clark’s FC averages yet I’ve seen Sam described as a genuine all-rounder and Clark a ‘bowler first’ in the same breath (he’s also got 1 more century than Sam). The one thing that seems clear is that nobody knows what an all-rounder actually is.

Suffice to say I think we're going to miss Rikki Clarke more than ever

Keith Powell wrote:At the members and sponsors lunch last week Theresa gave everyone that was there fold up fixture cards the first time we have had them for a few years .But sorry to say it also gives the 100 fixtures .

Ooh, I want one.

Moriarty picked up in the Hundred draft.

Pleased to see Jamie Smith has not been picked up, he did make himself available. It makes a nonsense of the one day competition, I do not see a future fo franchises and counties long term. I think a members revolt may be required.

Jackers wrote:As I said above, it is far from obvious that Sam Curran should be selected as a batsman ("batter" is something your fish is fried in). He does have natural talent, but his figures don't cry out that he should be automatically selected. We lack any other genuine all-rounders (Clark and Overton are bowlers first, Jacks and Patel are 'occasional bowlers' and Cameron Steel is just not good enough with bat or ball), therefore we will need to pick the five best specialist batsmen available to us plus Ben Foakes, and look to one of Overton or Clark to come in at 7 with the other competing with McKerr for the fourth seamer spot. While our spin department is undoubtedly our stronger bowling suit, I just can't see how we can go into the first game, in what promises to be typical April conditions, with just Roach and Topley as our front-line seam options as per RB's side.

Jamie Smith's selection should not be in question. He approaches the season on the back of centuries in the last two championship matches he has played (Sam has yet to make one in his career, remember) and I would like to see him given a chance to open alongside Rory.

exactly my point re: an all rounder and Sam only playing as a batsman (not a batter). If Sam was able to bowl as well, he would be an ideal 7, but with him not bowling it confuses the selection for me. As he is available I am sure he will be in the XI, so that would mean that he would 1 of the 6 batsmen, Foakes at 7 and 4 bowlers with only 1 spinner, as you do need 3 pace bowlers imo. If he was playing as allrounder, you would at least be able to have 6 batsmen

It looks like, to me, it will be 2 from Patel, Smith and Jacks, and whoever is left out wont deserve it

Cee Gee wrote:Moriarty picked up in the Hundred draft.

Check out today's news. 21 Surrey players signed up for the shite. It will be interesting to see the squad for the One Day Cup. Next year is the 50 over WC, they will soon realise that no one is playing 50 over cricket any more. Well we are only (disputed by many) World Champions. It really is depressing.

whilst the headline does say 21 players are signed up, that includes the Women as well
however, there are 13 men players signed up, them being
Sam Curran, Jason Roy, Tom Curran, Rory Burns, Sunil Narine, Will Jacks, Reece Topley, Dan Worrall, Laurie Evans, Jamie Overton, Chris Jordan, Dan Moriarty and Ollie Pope
that will leave us very short for the RLODC. Looking at the squad 1st team players left are Foakes, Amla, Virdi, Clark, Smith, Evans, Patel and Steel with players like Atkinson, Reifer, Dunn and Mckerr, amongst others, to also be involved

I don’t understand the negativity, I think we have a decent squad. Hoping Jamie Smith and Will Jacks step up to the plate.

As regards both the game being at a crossroads and Surrey's current management, I was pleased and encouraged by David Hopps' comment below in his cricinfo report of yesterday's play at Edgbaston:
''They [Surrey] have also had the independence of thought to omit Sam Curran, on form grounds, even though he had been made available by England, and if the Championship is to regain its reputation, then such self-determination is essential.''

Alex! wrote:Suffice to say I think we're going to miss Rikki Clarke more than ever

?????????????? This is the first game he's been missing for!