Surrey v Essex 19-22 July the Oval

Looking strong with Pope and Roach back. It'll be interesting to see whether Pope bats 3 or 4.

Will need as many bowling options as possible given the heat. Would like a proper spinner but innthe absence of one I'd play jacks and Steel as they're gonna need to bowl a lot of overs between them. We're also gonna need Patels bowling if ee end up bowling first.

Burns
Patel
Pope
Amla
Foakes
Steel
Jacks
Overton
Mckerr
Roach
Worrall

RightArmSlow wrote:Looking strong with Pope and Roach back. It'll be interesting to see whether Pope bats 3 or 4.

Will need as many bowling options as possible given the heat. Would like a proper spinner but innthe absence of one I'd play jacks and Steel as they're gonna need to bowl a lot of overs between them. We're also gonna need Patels bowling if ee end up bowling first.

Burns
Patel
Pope
Amla
Foakes
Steel
Jacks
Overton
Mckerr
Roach
Worrall

Lawes in place of McKerr

Here's my preview of the Champo clash between @surreycricket and @EssexCricket which starts at the Oval tomorrow http://www.ovalworld-online.com/prevsuresscc2022.htm

First-class stats sheet for @surreycricket vs @EssexCricket http://www.ovalworld-online.com/fc_stats_surrey_essex.pdf

For Surrey's fixtures and scorecards go to: http://www.ovalworld-online.com/cards.htm

Alex! wrote:Pope and Roach in, no frontline spinner

If we get hammered then that'll be why

I can't believe we'll get "hammered". The Essex batting seems quite erratic and they have the fewest batting bonus in the division, just 12 from 8 matches.

Harmer has taken 28 wickets in the last two matches, both at Chelmsford on what appears to have been a low scoring Bunsen. (Liam Dawson took 10 in one, which he's never done before.) Harmer has only 12 wickets in the other 6 matches and we clearly haven't prepared a pitch helpful to spinners, otherwise Moriarty and Virdi wouldn't be omitted from a squad of 13. Yes, they also have a decent pace attack, but our batting unit has performed far better than theirs this year.

Mozza and Virds are in the 2s game this week which I imagine will be under a microscope from the coaching staff.

I never like 5 seamers. Ever. We've gone 5 seamers + Jacks which seems (or should that be seams?) superfluous to me. I'd have had Moriarty for McKerr but hey ho.

Likely XI: Burns, Patel, Amla, Pope, Foakes, Jacks, Overton, Lawes, Roach, McKerr, Worrall

Geddes or Steel for McKerr. He is useless loan him out.

Fair do's to anyone making the trip down today, for once I can't say it's my cup of tea!

I to cant understand how Moriarty or Virdi arent in the squad above Steel. It surely cant be because Steel is a better batsman.

I also assume that Geddes has been called up from being captain of the 2s because Smith is ill.

with the squad that has been picked I would go with the team that RB has picked above, although I would have preferred a spinner in instead of McKerr (maybe that will be Steel, but I meant 1 of the other 2)

Whether Will Jacks is a better spinner than Moriarty or Virdi is doubtful. But Steel? Unless we are down to the bare bones (and we aren't, if V and M are available) he should be nowhere near the team.

There is no case for needing his (equally dubious) batting, with Jacks in at 7 and Overton at 8. We have batted well and deep all season. Moriarty should have been in the team,. Given he isn't an option it has to be Burns, Patel, Amla, Pope, Geddes, Foakes, Jacks, Overton, Lawes, Roach, Worrall.

I can only assume Steel is there as an alternative to Geddes who offers an additional spin option. I don't think he's there as an alternative to an extra pace bowler. I assumed we'd signed him as a top three option to mitigate against Burns being on England duty, Patel failing to kick on, or Amla succumbing to injury niggles. However, none of those issues have materialised and he's been rendered something of a bits and pieces player. If all five pace bowlers play we'll have a longer tail than we've previously chosen, so I'm expecting Steel and McKerr to be omitted. I doubt anyone will want to be in the field all day with today's temperatures, so let's hope we win the toss for the first time at home this year's Championship.

The reason Steel is in the squad In my opinion is to justify his signing in the first place. It was a very bad decision to sign him. How embarrassing is it for him not to be picked at all!

I don't think there is any point in going on and on about Moriaty and Virdi not playing. It's not going to happen because we have not needed them to date, so it's difficult to make a case for either of them to be included. Lawes and Geddes instead of Steel and Mckeer for sure.

dougieginn wrote:The reason Steel is in the squad In my opinion is to justify his signing in the first place. It was a very bad decision to sign him. How embarrassing is it for him not to be picked at all!

I think thats being harsh IMO. Steel was never signed to be first choice but to be a reserve option for the top 3 as well as a potential all rounder. He's still young enough to develop in both facets and its not exactly his fault that those ahead of him have been fit and in form so he hasn't had a go in his proper position and nothing close to a real run in the side. If nothing else he will add some senior experience to the RLODC side where we severely lack any players at all let alone those with senior experience no matter how minimal. He is a potential captain and top order batsman, I think he will excel in that format.

Chinaman wrote:I don't think there is any point in going on and on about Moriaty and Virdi not playing. It's not going to happen because we have not needed them to date, so it's difficult to make a case for either of them to be included. Lawes and Geddes instead of Steel and Mckeer for sure.

Its not going to happen and for this match in isolation its probably the right call. Neither Virdi or Moriarty have had any meaningful cricket this year and wont be in any kind of confidence or form. Agree its hard to criticise the overall approach due to results but there have been games when a proper spinner alongside Jacks might just have turned a draw into a win (I detailed these on the other thread). Its also terrible for the long term development of players.

In this match though if we lose the toss we are gonna have to bowl in some pretty horrendous conditions and given how selection has gone this year i cant see us picking less that 5 seamers (plus Patel & Jacks) or 4 Seamers plus Patel, Jacks & steel.

RightArmSlow wrote:Looking strong with Pope and Roach back. It'll be interesting to see whether Pope bats 3 or 4.

Will need as many bowling options as possible given the heat. Would like a proper spinner but innthe absence of one I'd play jacks and Steel as they're gonna need to bowl a lot of overs between them. We're also gonna need Patels bowling if ee end up bowling first.

Burns
Patel
Pope
Amla
Foakes
Steel
Jacks
Overton
Mckerr
Roach
Worrall

Pretty much called it other than Lawes for Mckerr. but the balance of the side is right. Given the heat we will need both spinners.

Lost the bloody toss at home yet again. 5 times out of 5.

Given his performance last week at Scarboro, I am not surprised the McKerr has been omitted from the team. Again the only shock is that Steel is in instead of Moriarty/Virdi, but once the squads had been announced there was always the likelihood he would play. I of course hope he proves us all wrong

Could be a long hard day in the field, and all bowling resources might be needed.

Can't believe that Steel is in ahead of Moriarty/Virdi. I'll give it the day to play out, but it feels like an absolute stinker...

RightArmSlow wrote:

RightArmSlow wrote:Looking strong with Pope and Roach back. It'll be interesting to see whether Pope bats 3 or 4.

Will need as many bowling options as possible given the heat. Would like a proper spinner but innthe absence of one I'd play jacks and Steel as they're gonna need to bowl a lot of overs between them. We're also gonna need Patels bowling if ee end up bowling first.

Burns
Patel
Pope
Amla
Foakes
Steel
Jacks
Overton
Mckerr
Roach
Worrall

Pretty much called it other than Lawes for Mckerr. but the balance of the side is right. Given the heat we will  need both spinners.

Or one proper spinner, instead of one or arguably two second-string ones.

Chinaman wrote:I don't think there is any point in going on and on about Moriaty and Virdi not playing. It's not going to happen because we have not needed them to date, so it's difficult to make a case for either of them to be included. Lawes and Geddes instead of Steel and Mckeer for sure.

It’s quite easy to make a case for a specialist spinner to play ahead of Cam Steel.

Alex! wrote:Fair do's to anyone making the trip down today, for once I can't say it's my cup of tea!

Is there any air-conditioning on the pavillion?

[quote="blueboy26"]

Alex! wrote:Fair do's to anyone making the trip down today, for once I can't say it's my cup of tea!

Is there any air-conditioning on the pavillion? [/noquote]
No air conditioning but quite pleasant at the moment until the sun comes round middle afternoon
Very small crowd even less than a last day with nothing to play for.

Jackers wrote:

RightArmSlow wrote:

RightArmSlow wrote:Looking strong with Pope and Roach back. It'll be interesting to see whether Pope bats 3 or 4.

Will need as many bowling options as possible given the heat. Would like a proper spinner but innthe absence of one I'd play jacks and Steel as they're gonna need to bowl a lot of overs between them. We're also gonna need Patels bowling if ee end up bowling first.

Burns
Patel
Pope
Amla
Foakes
Steel
Jacks
Overton
Mckerr
Roach
Worrall

Pretty much called it other than Lawes for Mckerr. but the balance of the side is right. Given the heat we will  need both spinners.

Or one proper spinner, instead of one or arguably two second-string ones.

Well of course. I was talking based on the squad available.

[quote="Cee Gee"]

Chinaman wrote:I don't think there is any point in going on and on about Moriaty and Virdi not playing. It's not going to happen because we have not needed them to date, so it's difficult to make a case for either of them to be included. Lawes and Geddes instead of Steel and Mckeer for sure.

It’s quite easy to make a case for a specialist spinner to play ahead of Cam Steel. [/quote

Yes, but first I don't consider Virdi or Moriaty "specialist" spinners and Steel is a second string spinner at best. Apart from Harmer I don't see any specialist spinners anywhere.

Dan Worrall is class