SURREY V ESSEX at the Kia Oval (SSCC1), 11-14 APRIL 2019
It’s finally here - a season that
will bring us a home World Cup, an Ashes Test series and, hopefully,
another championship title for the 'rey. The defending champions begin
the defence of their title by playing host to the only team that
managed to beat them in the County Championship last term.
In the last two seasons, we've seen the title go to
the team that made the shrewdest Kolpak acquisition. Fast bowler
Duanne Olivier promises to fit that billing, so expect Yorkshire to be
there or thereabouts. But my tip for nearest challengers
(even following their surprise defeat to Hampshire
last week) are Essex, for whom Peter Siddle,
Jamie Porter, Simon Harmer (the Kolpak signing of 2017)and,
now, Sam Cook make for an impressive bowling line-up. But their
chances could hinge on having too many Cooks - Sir Alastair being the
other. If the former England captain plays a full part this summer,
Essex might just have the batting too.
Essex's leading championship
run-maker last summer was the evergreen Ravi Bopara, however a tally
of 751 runs at an average of 41.72 doesn't quite do justice to his
talents. At the top of the order Nick Browne (24.35), Varun Chopra
(15.46), Dan Lawrence (23.40) and Tom Westley (31.22) all
underachieved. Even Alastair Cook only managed to average 37.45 in the
six games in which he featured.
But, on the flip side, Essex's
bowling impressed with Harmer (24.45) and Porter (24.63) topping 50
championship wickets again, and, as I say, look out for the other Cook
- Sam, who weighed in with 27 victims at 25.33 runs apiece.
Surrey v
Essex - First-Class Records Sheet
Liam Plunkett looks set to make his first-class
debut for Surrey, Tom Curran needs eight more poles to reach 200 f-c
wickets and Essex's Nick Browne (4,935) is eyeing 5,000 f-c career
runs.
Surrey's first teamsheet of the season throws up a number of
surprises, not least in terms of who hasn't made the 13-man squad.
With Dean Elgar's overseas deal yet to kick in and Jason Roy nursing a
slight hamstring strain, Will Jacks and Ryan Patel could get a chance
with the bat that they wouldn't have had otherwise; while the main
bowling absentees are Jordan Clark, Jade Dernbach, Conor McKerr and
Amar Virdi. However, spin is represented in the shape of Gareth Batty
and Freddie van den Bergh.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Essex |
24-27 Sep 2018 |
Lost By 1 Wicket |
The Oval |
67 & 541 |
477-8d & 134-9 |
Somerset |
18-21 Sep 2018 |
Match Drawn |
Taunton |
485 |
146 & 168-3 |
Worcestershire |
10-13 Sep 2018 |
Won By 3 Wickets |
Worcester |
268 & 274-7 |
336 & 203 |
Essex |
4-6 Sep 2018 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
Chelmsford |
351 & 2-0 |
126 & 226 |
Nottinghamshire |
29-31 Aug 2018 |
Won By An Inns & 125 Runs |
The Oval |
375 |
101 & 149 |
The forecast is for there to be some weather around, but not much -
although the temperatures predicted for all four days suggests it
would be wise to don multiple layers and to arm yourself with a
large flask of coffee. Also, with two strong bowling attacks on
display, there should be a definitive result. It could all come down
to who succeeds with the bat and, in that regard, Surrey have a
slight advantage, but only a slight one. Could we see a repeat of
the fascinating tussle between these two sides in the final game of
2018? Prediction - a narrow win for the hosts.
N.Browne, A.Cook, T.Westley, D.Lawrence, R.Bopara, R.ten Doeschate
(capt), R.White (wk), S.Harmer, P.Siddle, J.Porter and S.Cook.
Nick Cook and Richard Kettleborough.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
ESSEX |
24-27 Sep 2018 |
Lost By 1 Wicket |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
67 & 541 |
477-8d & 134-9 |
4-6 Sep 2018 |
Won By 10 Wickets |
Chelmsford |
Essex |
Field |
351 & 2-0 |
126 & 226 |
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 |
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