SURREY V ESSEX at the Kia Oval (VCC)
30 JUNE - 3 JULY 2024

The Division One leaders host second-placed Essex, who could only manage a draw with Durham at Chelmsford last week, which meant Surrey's innings victory over Worcestershire saw the defending champions pull-out a 12-point lead at the head of affairs.

Between them, Surrey and Essex have grabbed five of the last six County Championship titles. But, in the three summers following Covid, they only faced each other on three occasions, which has done little for the competition’s integrity – hence why, with both vying for this season’s crown, the chance to see them go toe-to-toe at home as well as away might just make this year’s race the finest for many a year.

Essex struggled for runs at times in 2023, but not so this term. Jordan Cox (763 runs at an average of 69.36) and former Surrey man Dean Elgar (707 at 58.91) have been in sumptuous form in this summer's championship, while Paul Walter (61.50), Matt Critchley (44.80), Shane Snater (44.40) and Nick Browne (41.50) have also dipped their bread.

Even without fast bowler Sam Cook, who is coming back from an injured hamstring, Essex's attack also looks impressive. Jamie Porter (32 championship wickets at 21.34 runs apiece) and Shane Snater (25 at 22.76) are bang in form, plus Simon Harmer's off-spin always commands respect. South African seamer Ethan Bosch and Matt Critchley's leg-spin balance things nicely.

Surrey v Essex - First-Class Records Sheet

Dan Lawrence (6,928) is approaching 7,000 first-class career runs. Turning to the visitors, Eathan Bosch (94) has an eye on 100 f-c career victims with the ball, while Jamie Porter (498) is just two wickets shy of 500 in first-class cricket. Nick Browne (7,901), Shane Snater (977) and Tom Westley (12,942) are closing in on passing 8,000, one thousand and 13,000 f-c career runs respectively.

Gus Atkinson and Ollie Pope have been stood down for this match by the England management, plus Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson's spells as Surrey's overseas have come to an end, for now. As a result, the South Londoners' squad includes Matt Dunn, Tom Lawes, Ryan Patel, Cam Steel and India batter Sai Sudharsan, who has joined the Oval outfit for a second stint as overseas player. Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith are also named. With Smith said to be on the verge of being called-up for the First Test against West Indies, it will be interesting to see who gets the wicketkeeping gloves for this top of the table clash.

Surrey have struggled against Essex in red-ball cricket of late. Since winning at Chelmsford in 2018, the Oval outfit's only success in the subsequent 7 meetings was their six-wicket victory at the Oval in July 2022, while Essex have won three. With the forecasters saying there's little prospect of rain over the next four days, a positive outcome one way or the other appears to be on the cards. Will Surrey's record in SE11 make all the difference? Since 2020, their only defeat at the Oval in championship cricket was Lancashire's 123-run upset last term, while the South Londoners have won 15 of the other 24.

D.Elgar, N.Browne, T.Westley (capt), J.Cox, M.Critchley, P.Walter, M.Pepper (wk), S.Harmer, S.Snater, E.Bosch and J.Porter.

Peter Hartley and Graham Lloyd.

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