Hampshire (H) (14-17 Apr)

No spinners again, very much doubt that the bowlers can take 20 wickets in this match,unless Roach performs miracles. Nice to see though some good batting from Patel,Amla and Pope.

Twas absolute bonkers of Batty to not pick Virdi or Moriarty. Seems everyone except Batty can see this as an almighty cock up.

We'll wait till both sides bat, but I don't think any spinner will get much assistance on this surface

Hampshire's bowling was very samey, no point of difference. Kind of like ours a lot of the time

If you were at the Ground you would know that the pitchy looked very green from the Pavillion so it's understandable that Vince chose to field.

As with a lot of Oval wickets these days, how they look and how they play are completely different. This match already looks like a score bore with Surrey's main chance getting 500 by mid afternoon on Friday. Bowling Hampshire out by mid aftenoon Saturday, bat the rest of the day and try bowling them out Easter Sunday. All easier typed than done.

Yearbooks were a free for all you just picked one up and no-one checked your members card. Open to abuse.

Scorecards have reverted to initials for the firsat time since 1983 (i.e R J Burns not Rory Burns) A traditional scorecard as it should be.

Either way our bowling "attack" is crap bar Roach and Topley who was left out unbelievably.  We will be lucky to bowl them out once on this slow pudding of a pitch, come on folks Hampshire's bowling is ten times better than ours and they couldn't get anything out of it. No wonder Pope scores 100s on these awful wickets. The whole square should be dug up and relaid to get some life back into these games. If this is an indicator of what to expect....well I'm not going to be here very often.
But great to see old friends, catch up and enjoy some sun.

Pathetic that we have only managed 3 batting points.

That dismissal from Pope was so, so bad. Couldn't help himself after fishing at another wide one the ball before.

Foakes and Pope batted like they had never played the game before. Foakes first ball was a 4 then another 5th ball and after that scored 2 runs in 40 mins-Pope hardly middled anything and scored no more than a 2 all 80 odd minutes this morning.
Smith seemed a tad unlucky with his lbw-then Jacks and Clark played with intent.

All in all a rather disappointing first morning at the Oval for me.

Keith Powell wrote:Pathetic that we have only managed 3 batting points.

"Respect the point" (Sam Allardyce).

Have to tip my hat off to Jacks, has played this very well so far

On another note it's wonderful to see a decent crowd on the bank holiday, all sorts of folk just enjoying the cricket/socialising in this glorious sunshine

Clarky!

My fantasy team enjoyed that wicket.

I mean, we're a way off, but maybe Batty wasn't so clueless about not getting playing a spinner

Our record of crocking Overseas bowlers continues, Abbot,Jamieson and now Roach!! What is wrong with our fitness regime?

Not quite sure this is Surrey's fault, Roach is an experienced bowler who'll have his own fitness regime, probably managed by the West Indies

In fairness, the bowlers have stuck to their task well today. Will Jacks has taken a wicket! I am daring to dream we can win this from here given two full days, even without Roach

Should have played Virdi and Moriarty too.

Mind you Jacks has been the best player on show today, and will prove hard to drop from here.

Not sure anyone can complain about today's performance, perfect birthday treat. Off for dinner!

Benmug wrote:I highly doubt that's getting 20 wickets (Hope to regret this later)

Realistically Roach will need to take 12-16 wickets in the match for us to have a chance.

Hopefully I look a right idiot in 2 days time.

Alex! wrote:Not sure anyone can complain about today's performance, perfect birthday treat. Off for dinner!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX,All the best.

198 overs, 13 wickets.

Surely that’s doable?

Much less doable without Roach

This is bloody frustrating

Brilliant ball from Overton, play that!

And another! Brilliant stuff.