KENT V SURREY at Beckenham (LVCC2), 24-27 MAY 2015
Kent, who, until last week,
hadn't won a championship game since overwhelming Surrey at Guildford
last July, go into the 278th first-class meeting between these two sides
sitting sixth in the Division Two table, nine points behind the
visitors,
who have a game in hand.
Kent's
decision to not bother signing an overseas player and thus bolster a squad
that has relied on the likes of Rob Key and Darren Stevens year after
year has not backfired in the way some predicted. Far from it. Matt
Coles (25 championship wickets at 25.40 runs apiece) and Joe Denly
(404 runs at an average of 44.88) have both enjoyed happy homecomings
and Sam Northeast (419 championship runs at 46.55), who has had
numerous chances to establish himself as a reliable top order batsman,
has suddenly hit form.
With opener Daniel Bell-Drummond
coming on in leaps and bounds, plus Sam Billings and Adam Riley - a
keeper-batsman and an off-spinner with the potential to play for
England - firmly established, Kent's future looks very bright indeed.
And what of the two old stagers?
If Stevens (23 championship wickets at 22.04) ever broke down with
injury, it would be like losing two players. The former Leicestershire
man always seems to do something whenever he comes up against the Oval
outfit, while Key's record of 2,007 first-class runs and eight f-c
hundreds, all at an average of 62.71 against Surrey speaks for
itself.
If he plays, James Burke will be making his
County Championship debut. Meanwhile, two Surrey batsmen are closing
in on 3,000 first-class career runs - Rory Burns (2,971) and Jason
Roy (2,859).
The Oval outfit have named a 13-man squad. James Burke and Matt Dunn
joining the eleven that played at Northampton.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Northamptonshire |
18-21 May 2015 |
Match Drawn |
Northampton |
499-6d |
309 |
Leicestershire |
10-13 May 2015 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
557 & 218-3 |
292 & 480 |
Essex |
26-29 Apr 2015 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
340 & 95-2 |
610-8d |
Glamorgan |
19-22 Apr 2015 |
Match Drawn |
Cardiff |
563-7d & 207-4d |
419 & 116-0 |
Derbyshire |
15-17 Sep 2014 |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
The Oval |
181 & 279 |
210 & 251-2 |
Surrey's recent championship meetings with Kent have contained more than
their fair share of misery and disappointment for the South
Londoners,
who have won just two of the last 13 and lost seven. The unknown
variable on this occasion is that Kent have chosen Beckenham, rather
than Canterbury, as the venue. Looking back, Worsley Bridge Road has
only played host to three County Championship matches. Two have
ended in draws and Kent won the last one, in 2009, by 76 runs. The
weather forecast suggests days two, three and four should be devoid
of rain. It promises to be a fascinating contest, especially now
that Kent's Denly and Northeast have discovered some form with the
bat. Even more worryingly for the visitors, Rob Key has recalled
himself. I wonder why?! Prediction - A seesawing draw.
D Bell-Drummond, J Denly, R Key, S Northeast (capt), A Blake, D
Stevens, S Billings (wk), C Haggett, M Coles, A Riley and I Thomas.
Peter Hartley and Paul Pollard.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
KENT |
20-23 Jul 2014 |
Lost By 89 Runs |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Field |
398 & 213 |
408 & 292 |
4-7 May 2014 |
Lost By 8 Wickets |
Canterbury |
Surrey |
Bat |
285 & 203 |
435 & 54-2 |
10-12 Aug 2011 |
Lost By 265 Runs |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
127 & 104 |
266 & 230 |
10-13 Jul 2011 |
Won By 21 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
387 & 184 |
250 & 300 |
28-31 Aug 2009 |
Lost By 6 Wickets |
Canterbury |
Surrey |
Bat |
423 & 293 |
517 & 200-4 |
10-13 Jul 2009 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
386 & 170-3 |
620-7d |
4-7 Sep 2008 |
Match Drawn |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Field |
307-9d |
160-1 |
29 Jun - 2 Jul 2008 |
Lost By 4 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
397 & 130 |
270 & 260-6 |
8-9 Aug 2007 |
Won By 4 Wickets |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
215 & 108-6 |
150 & 171 |
30 May - 2 Jun 2007 |
Lost By An Inns & 79 Runs |
Whitgift School |
Kent |
Field |
166 & 319 |
564-5d |
20-23 Jul 2005 |
Lost By 4 Wickets |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Bat |
452-8d & 350 |
572 & 232-6 |
25-28 May 2005 |
Match Drawn |
Tunbridge Wells |
Kent |
Bat |
324 & 333-4 |
262 & 467-4d |
18-21 Aug 2004 |
Match Drawn |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
402-8d |
226 & 234-8 |
25-28 May 2004 |
Won By 7 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
479 & 174-3 |
239 & 413 |
4-6 Sep 2003 |
Lost By An Inns & 155 Runs |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
125 & 255 |
535 |
2-5 Jul 2003 |
Won By 186 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
401 & 251-3d |
352-5d & 114 |
19-22 Jul 2002 |
Won By 2 Wickets |
Canterbury |
Kent |
Bat |
225 & 410-8 |
374 & 260 |
12-14 Jun 2002 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
361 & 61-1 |
153 & 268 |
16-19 Aug 2001 |
Match Drawn |
Canterbury |
Surrey |
Bat |
258 & 193-8 |
301 |
20-23 Apr 2001 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Kent |
Bat |
473 |
456-8d |
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