Following last week’s dramatic last gap victory over Yorkshire, Surrey host Essex in Division One of the LV= County Championship from Tuesday.
Unbeaten Surrey are well placed in the division, having accumulated 165 points from their nine games.
Twelve of Surrey’s batters currently average above 40 and Gareth Batty has been able to rest and rotate his bowling options.
SURREY SQUAD
The Surrey squad for the Essex game is:
Ollie Pope returns to the squad having been rested for the trip to Scarborough. Kemar Roach is available having rejoined the club as an overseas player. Jamie Smith misses out due to illness.
LAST TIME OUT
Last week, Surrey were victorious in a tense affair at Scarborough vs Yorkshire.
Batting first, Yorkshire were 125/5 before a 305 run sixth wicket partnership between Adam Lyth (183) and Jonathan Tattersall (180*) took the hosts to 430/6. The hosts were bowled out for 521 as Academy graduate Tom Lawes his up his second four wicket haul in his second LV= County Championship appearance for Surrey.
In response, Rory Burns top scored with 132 as Surrey were bowled out for 515. Hashim Amla (79) and Ben Foakes (86*) added crucial runs to take Surrey to within six runs of the hosts first innings score.
Jamie Overton ripped through the Yorkshire second innings, taking career best figures of 6/61 to give Surrey a chance at victory.
Surrey were set a target of 227 runs to chase within 44 overs. Rory Burns (20) and Ryan Patel (27) got the Surrey innings off to a quick start before Hashim Amla (28), Jamie Overton (28) and Will Jacks (27) took Surrey to 147/6 in the 28th over.
Ben Foakes (42) and Aaron Hardie (40*) took Surrey over the line with just three balls of the match remaining.
ESSEX
Essex come into the clash at The Kia Oval off the back of three straight Championship victories. Last week, Essex beat Gloucestershire in three days.
Essex sit fourth in the the Division One table on 118 points. In their eight games so far this season, they have won four, drawn three and lost one game.
Last season: 1st in Division Two
Head coach: Anthony McGrath
Captain: Tom Westley
Overseas: Simon Harmer (South Africa),
In: Matt Critchley (Derbyshire), Adam Rossington (season long loan from Northamptonshire)
ESSEX SQUAD
Essex have named a 13-player squad for the match:
Tom Westley (C)
Aaron Beard
Nick Browne
Alastair Cook
Sam Cook
Matt Critchley
Simon Harmer
Dan Lawrence
Michael Pepper
Jamie Porter
Adam Rossington
Shane Snater
Paul Walter
LAST 3 MATCHES V ESSEX
September 12 – 15 2021 – The Kia Oval: Essex 439 (Alistair Cook 165, Dan Lawrence 78) drew with Surrey 161 (Hashim Amla 84) & 113/2
August 8 – 12 2020 – Bob Willis Trophy – Chelmsford: Essex 262 (Feroze Khushi 66, Adam Weather 53) & 261 beat Surrey 187 (Will Jacks 70) & 167 by 169 runs
September 16 – 19 – Chelmsford: Essex 395 (Dan Lawrence 147, Ryan ten Doeschate 103)drew with Surrey 174 (Jamie Porter 5/62, Sam Cook 5/53) & 181 (Simon Harmer 7/58)
