ESSEX
V SURREY at Chelmsford (SSCC1), 4-7 SEPTEMBER 2018
Third in Division One plays host to
top of the table. Even though there's just four more games to
go, this will be the first time Surrey and Essex have faced-off in the
County Championship this
summer. Both go into this contest on the back of innings victories. But, the
way things have shaped up, the reigning champions look as
certain of staying in top flight as Surrey do in terms of taking the
title off them.
This time last year it was the
combination of Jamie Porter, with the new ball, and off-spinner
Simon Harmer getting the older cherry to turn that proved instrumental
in Essex being crowned County Champions. While Harmer (43 championship
wickets at 23.72 runs apiece this term) has continued where he left
off, it is Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle who has recently become his chief
accomplice, with 34 scalps at an average of just 15.32. Nevertheless, Porter,
who boasts a more than respectable 29.21 average, and
21-year-old seamer Sam Cook both demand respect.
Essex's biggest worry is a lack
of runs, underlined by the fact that they've been responsible for just
three individual championship hundreds in 2018 - the best of which, so
far, is Ryan ten Doeschate's unbeaten 173 against Somerset at
Chelmsford back in June. The Essex skipper is also their leading
run-maker with 527 championship runs at 41.30. Ravi Bopara is close
behind ten Doeschate with 518
at an average of 37.00, but, at the other end of the scale, Varun Chopra
and Tom Westley are averaging a mere 17.54 and 18.50 respectively.
Rory Burns appears to like playing
Essex. His first-class record against them reads 503 runs at an
average of 55.88. But of the current Surrey squad, Arun Harinath could
be said to like them even more, given he averages 61.33. With the
ball, Gareth Batty (47 scalps at 30.57 runs apiece) is closing in on
his 50th Essex wicket in f-c and Rikki Clarke has a respectable 21
victims at
27.38.
It has been 28 years since Surrey lost a championship game at
Chelmsford, where, interestingly, neither side has previously racked
up a total of 400 in head-to-head clashes. If runs do prove hard to
come by, Burns could be a key player.
Barring a surprise call-up to the England team (which
shouldn't be that much of a shock given
he is the leading run-maker in Division One)
and the absence of Scott Borthwick
and Jason Roy, both injured, much could rest
on the shoulders of the Surrey captain.
Surrey v
Essex - First-Class Records Sheet
Rory Burns has passed 1,000 first-class runs for
the season, but not yet in the County Championship. With 961, he
needs just 39 more. Of the bowlers on show, two have the chance to
reach 50 f-c wickets for the season during this game - Morne Morkel
(42) and Essex's Simon Harmer (43). Sticking with the Essex contingent, Varun Chopra (9,969) is
closing in on 10,000 f-c career runs and Sam Cook (44) needs six
wickets for a first-class 50th. Both Ravi Bopara (248) and
Jamie Porter (245) are approaching 250 f-c career wickets.
Meanwhile, Peter Siddle looks set to make his 150th first-class
appearance and Adam Wheater (5,907) needs another 93 runs to hit the
6,000-mark.
Surrey's 16-man squad is pretty much as expected, but given that
they usually announce squads of fifteen, do they know something the
rest of us don't in terms of possible Test call-ups? Those who didn't feature in the Notts win at the
Oval are Gareth Batty, Arun Harinath, Stuart Meaker and Jamie Smith.
Scott Borthwick, as we know, is out for the rest of the season, but
there's still no word as yet as regards Jason Roy's likely return from
a facial injury.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Nottinghamshire |
29-31 Aug 2018 |
Won By An Inns & 125 Runs |
The Oval |
375 |
101 & 149 |
Lancashire |
19-22 Aug 2018 |
Won By 6 Runs |
The Oval |
211 & 306 |
247 & 264 |
Nottinghamshire |
22-24 Jul 2018 |
Won By An Inns & 183 Runs |
Trent Bridge |
592 |
210 & 199 |
Yorkshire |
25-28 Jun 2018 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
Scarborough |
267 & 229-3 |
342 & 152 |
Somerset |
20-22 Jun 2018 |
Won By An Inns & 69 Runs |
Guildford |
459 |
180 & 210 |
The weather forecast for all four days
says we can expect cloud cover, which, in terms of the light, will
do nothing in terms of ensuring the evening sessions last the duration. The good news, though, is it should remain mostly dry
throughout (Day 3 looks likely to see some rain). Surrey have now bowled their opponents out twice 8 times
out of ten in the County Championship this summer and if ball does
dominate bat, which is a reasonable assumption given the 10.30am
starts, I can only see one outcome - another win for the 'rey; which
would be their eighth on the trot in the Champo. The last time
Surrey did that was back in 1999.
N.Browne, V.Chopra, T.Westley, D.Lawrence, R.Bopara, R.ten Doeschate
(capt), A.Wheater (wk), S.Harmer, P.Siddle, J.Porter and S.Cook.
Jeff Evans and Nigel Llong.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
ESSEX |
9-12 Jun 2017 |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
Guildford |
Uncontested |
Field |
399 & 288 |
435 & 253-2 |
26-29 May 2017 |
Match Drawn |
Chelmsford |
Surrey |
Bat |
369 & 260-9d |
383 |
7-10 Aug 2015 |
Won By 3 Wickets |
Colchester |
Essex |
Bat |
346 & 314-7 |
369 & 289-9d |
26-29 Apr 2015 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Essex |
Field |
340 & 95-2 |
610-8d |
25-28 May 2014 |
Match Drawn |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Bat |
261-7 |
228 |
20-23 Apr 2014 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
237 |
306 & 258-4d |
7-10 Sep 2011 |
Won By 109 Runs |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
315 & 286 |
253 & 239 |
18-21 May 2011 |
Match Drawn |
Whitgift Sch |
Surrey |
Field |
506 & 65-1 |
548 & 324 |
19-22 Aug 2009 |
Lost By 9 Wickets |
Colchester |
Surrey |
Bat |
428 & 190 |
545 & 74-1 |
15-18 Jul 2009 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
Essex |
Bat |
352-8d |
401 & 201-3 |
16-18 Aug 2006 |
Lost By An Inns & 2 Runs |
Colchester |
Surrey |
Bat |
330 & 198 |
530 |
31 May - 3 Jun 2006 |
Won By 6 Wickets |
Whitgift Sch |
Essex |
Bat |
433 & 178-4 |
365 & 244 |
17-19 Sep 2003 |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
318 & 194 |
464 & 49-2 |
21-24 May 2003 |
Won By 258 Runs |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
376 & 381-7d |
252 & 247 |
13-16 Jun 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Ilford |
Surrey |
Bat |
198 & 306 |
296 & 153-2 |
25-28 May 2001 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
498 & 206-5d |
300 & 312-4 |
14-17 May 1999 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
The Oval |
Essex |
Bat |
195 & 272-6 |
262 & 204 |
11-15 Jun 1998 |
Match Drawn |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
373 |
203 & 75-4 |
4-7 Jun 1997 |
Lost By 147 Runs |
The Oval |
Essex |
Bat |
280 & 222 |
347 & 302 |
27 Jun - 1 Jul 1996 |
Match Drawn |
Southend |
Surrey |
Bat |
476-8d & 167-2 |
425-9d |
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