Kent at the Oval

Another home game we need to win.
Hopefully BF will feel in the right frame of mind
to play. Pope for Patel I presume and Lawes for Roach.

I see Jamie Overton is playing in a 2nd XI T-20 match today...

Burns, Sibley, Pope, Smith, Foakes, Jacks, Clark, Abbott, Lawes, Atkinson, Worrall

Virdi is not playing for the second eleven, probably avoiding T20, but just possibly he is rested for the game against Kent. Virdi has been in great form for the seconds.

Last season Surrey scored 673/7 in the home match against Kent (with Sam Curran hitting his maiden first class century) and 671/9 in the away match (the one with seven players scoring 50+, including three with scores in the 90s, but no one reaching a century). Also Lawes made his debut in the home fixture, taking 4/51 in Kent's first innings. Both matches were drawn.

Yes I recall. Rather boring. I doubt the pitch will be such a road this time around.

Shame that Roach isn't around to give Crawley a seeing to. Ah.

No reason why we shouldn't hammer them to be honest

This is a must win game, given the strength of the opposition and their likely final standing in the division. I am sure Stewart and Batty will be stressing this especially as it is the last game of cricket for a while before the "baseball season" starts and our nearest challengers (Warks) are not playing. Chance to put some clear blue water between us. Ben Foakes is a totally devoted Brown Cap and I have no doubt he will use this game to show Key/McCullum/Stokes what plonkers they really are!!

I trust Crawley will get a king pair against our attack.

Or score big to prove he should be in the test team

Wouldn't it be great if Ben Foakes takes a blinding catch to dismiss Crawley!

Although I see them as two separate selection issues. Crawley is not taking Ben's place: Bairstow is. Those from the Ministry of Square Pegs in Round Holes calling for either Bairstow or Stokes to open against a top-class Australian attack as a way to squeeze both Bairstow and Foakes in need to give their head a wobble. They might as well whistle Jason Roy back to open as they did in the 2019 Ashes series.

Wouldnt it just

The issue is that Bairstow had a fabulous year last year when batting for England, and surprise surprise it came when he didnt have the gloves. He was then obviously pranking around on a golf course to cause his injury and his replacement in the team, Harry Brook, had an unreal tour in the winter, taking to test cricket easily, meaning he couldnt be dropped. It then became a debate of how to get 8 players into 7 positions, an unfortunately Foakes is the 1 missing out (I say unfortunate, but great for Surrey). The other issue that 1 of the other 7 (Crawley) doesnt really deserve his place BUT as we all know opening is a different ball game to batting elsewhere, and whilst Surrey have 2 previous test openers in the team, there is a lack of quality openers available

Here's my preview: http://www.ovalworld-online.com/prevsurkencc2023.htm

And here's the first-class stats sheet for Surrey v Kent: http://www.ovalworld-online.com/fc_stats_surrey_kent.pdf

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

It looks like the right team has been selected today-not sure about putting the opposition in to bat-conditions look pretty good....then again I can't see the pitch!

This pitch looks very, very green.

Ridiculously Green.We are becoming The New Somerset fixing our wickets it doesn’t sit right with me.What’s the difference with a dust bowl or a green top we will probably sign up Ashwin later in the Summer and leave the Ends Bare.

Dan Worrall that is an absolute seed

Cheerio Zak 'I dont care' Crawley

Jhe10077 wrote:Ridiculously Green.We are becoming The New Somerset fixing our wickets it doesn’t sit right with me.What’s  the difference with a dust bowl or a green top we will probably sign up Ashwin later in the Summer and leave the Ends Bare.

It's not ridiculously green, and the ball is hardly flying over the batsmans head! Not sure how you make that assessment after 12 minutes.

Who wanted Jordan Clark out of the side again?

Alex! wrote:Who wanted Jordan Clark out of the side again?

He doesn’t get anywhere near the credit he deserves. He’s been so good we’ve rarely given Rikki a second thought since he retired. Brilliant planning from Alec and the club.

Very disappointed with Sean Abbot today,wicketless and going for over 5 runs an over as well.Don’t think he has done his Ashes chances any good after this display either.Excellent from all the others,especially Clark who followed his four for in the last match with some penetrating bowling today.

Bit of a frustrating session but nice to finally break that partnership

Currently eight on or near to the boundary to defend the last wicket partnership which stands, as I write, at 65.

Yeah, now this is crap