SURREY V WORCESTERSHIRE at the Kia Oval (SSCC1), 4-7 MAY 2018
Sixth in Division One plays host
to the side propping up the table. A bit like the weather recently,
Surrey have blown hot and then cold. A dominant victory over Hampshire
was followed by a bad three days in the office up at Old Trafford,
where, as it turned out, the loss of the opening day to the weather
did the Oval outfit a massive favour. But spare a thought for
Worcestershire, who have played three and lost three.
With just two players, to date,
averaging over 20.50 with the bat, it's not hard to work out why the
Pears' return to Division One has got off to a disastrous start.
Overseas signing Travis Head goes into the Surrey clash as their
leading run-maker, with 174 championship runs at 34.80; but so far
only 22-year-old all-rounder Ed Barnard and wicketkeeper Ben Cox have
half-centuries under their belts. Assuming changes are in the offing,
Brett D'Oliveira looks vulnerable with a meagre 13 runs from six
visits to the crease. Not that George Rhodes has a great deal to shout
about, having mustered just 22 himself.
Thankfully, the bowling continues
to possess the cutting edge that helped power Worcestershire to the
Division Two title in 2017. Barnard (14 victims at 18.71 runs apiece)
and new skipper Joe Leach (14 at 20.85) are their joint leading
wicket-takers. Furthermore, 20-year-old Josh Tongue's first-class
tally has progressed to 62 poles at an average of 25.03 and former
skipper Daryl Mitchell continues to display the knack of prizing
batsmen out with his occasional seam up. If he plays, keep an eye out
for slow left-armer Ben Twohig, who would appear to be in line for his
first-class debut.
The only Surrey man named with a
championship hundred against the Pears is Scott Borthwick, who has
also taken 16 first-class wickets at an average of 20.00 against the
Pears. If you feel you
haven't seen a great deal of Worcestershire in recent times, there's a
good reason. They're one of three teams (along with Durham and
Notts) to have played Surrey just 12 times since the introduction of
two divisions in 2000.
Surrey v
Worcestershire - First-Class Records Sheet
Scott Borthwick and Rikki Clarke will start to
this contest with 7,914 and 9,938 first-class runs respectively,
while Worcestershire's Ben Twohig appears to be on the brink of
making his f-c debut.
With Tom Curran and Jason Roy getting practically no cricket in the
IPL, it's doubling galling for Surrey that overseas signing Dean Elgar
has to miss the visit by Worcestershire due to a commitment arranged
before joining the club on top of Matt Dunn sustaining a fractured
rib. The good news is that Gareth Batty (back) and Rikki Clarke (flu)
are both named in the hosts' 13-man squad. Fast bowlers Conor McKerr
(fit again following a side strain) and Stuart Meaker are also
included.
OPPONENT |
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
SURREY |
OPPONENT |
Lancashire |
27-30 Apr 2018 |
Match Drawn |
Old Trafford |
235 & 199-6 |
439-9d |
Hampshire |
20-23 Apr 2018 |
Won By 139 Runs |
The Oval |
211 & 407-9d |
147 & 332 |
Lancashire |
25-28 Sep 2017 |
Lost By 7 Wickets |
Old Trafford |
201-8d & 242 |
268 & 179-3 |
Somerset |
19-22 Sep 2017 |
Won By 6 Wickets |
The Oval |
433 & 146-4 |
269 & 306 |
Yorkshire |
12-15 Sep 2017 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
592 |
394 & 281-2 |
Surrey have gone eight clashes without victory against
Worcestershire in the County Championship. Their last success came
was 12 years ago, while their most recent win over the Pears at the
Oval was in 2004. In the absence of Dean Elgar, Mark Stoneman could
hold the key to this contest. With scores of 4, 24, 0 and 29, it
would be timely if Rocky could remind the England selectors that
they would be unwise to look at other options at the top of the
order. He averages 59.30 at the Oval, which should help. Prediction
- Surrey to continue Worcestershire's losing streak, but without
Elgar, the hosts' tail simply has to stand up and be counted for
once.
D,Mitchell, B.D’Oliveira, T.Fell, J.Clarke, T.Head, B.Cox (wk),
E.Barnard, J.Leach (capt), J.Tongue, C.Morris and B.Twohig.
Jeff Evans and Alex Wharf.
DATE |
RESULT |
VENUE |
TOSS |
DECISION |
SURREY |
WORCS |
9-12 Sep 2014 |
Lost By 27 Runs |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Bat |
406 & 189 |
272 & 350 |
1-4 Jun 2014 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Worcs |
Bat |
206 & 240-5 |
476 |
9-12 May 2012 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Bat |
113 & 431-7d |
285 & 150-8 |
19-22 Apr 2012 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Worcs |
Field |
140 & 224 |
119 & 94-1 |
16-19 Aug 2010 |
Lost By 238 Runs |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Bat |
259 & 130 |
308 & 319 |
21-24 Apr 2010 |
Match Drawn |
Whitgift School |
Surrey |
Bat |
493 & 239-8d |
465 & 170-8 |
25-28 Jul 2007 |
Match Drawn |
Guildford |
Surrey |
Bat |
369 |
217 & 307-5 |
6-9 Jun 2007 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Bat |
370 & 281-9 |
701-6d |
8-10 Aug 2006 |
Won By An Inns & 107 Runs |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Bat |
576 |
304 & 165 |
17-20 May 2006 |
Lost By 2 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
501-7d & 136-3d |
353-9d & 287-8 |
3-6 Aug 2004 |
Won By 68 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
375 & 329-5d |
295 & 341 |
23-26 Jun 2004 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Field |
155 & 187-8 |
400-4d |
20-23 Apr 1999 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Field |
223 |
15-1 |
3-6 Jun 1998 |
Won By 79 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
502-7d & 130-4d |
367 & 186 |
18-21 Jun 1997 |
Match Drawn |
Worcester |
Surrey |
Bat |
452-9d |
81-1 |
19-22 Sep 1996 |
Lost By 124 Runs |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
Forfeited & 299 |
362 & 61-1d |
1-5 Jun 1995 |
Lost By 134 Runs |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Bat |
183 & 152 |
204 & 265-7d |
28 Apr - 1 May 1994 |
Won By 9 Wickets |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Field |
470 & 79-1 |
205 & 343 |
12-16 Aug 1993 |
Lost By 65 Runs |
Worcester |
Worcs |
Bat |
427 & 227 |
406 & 313-9d |
12-15 Jun 1992 |
Match Drawn |
The Oval |
Surrey |
Bat |
301-9d & 169-5d |
195-7d & 219-7 |
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