surrey vs Worcestershire match thread

[jimbobgooner]

Chris Adams has named a twelve man squad for the LV=County Championship match against Worcestershire at the Kia Oval.
Jacques Rudolph has been withdrawn from the squad for this match due to family reasons.
The Surrey squad for the LV=County Championship match against Worcestershire on Thursday 19th April, Friday 20th April, Saturday 21st April and Sunday 22nd April:
Rory Hamilton-Brown (capt)
Steven Davies (wkt)
Mark Ramprakash
Zander de Bruyn
Tom Maynard
Jason Roy
Chris Jordan
Gareth Batty
Jon Lewis
Stuart Meaker
Tim Linley
Jade Dernbach
with no rudolph avaliable i would expect river to go back to opener unless roy gets the short straw
if roy does open i would leave out river

[jbd349]

If Meaker's fit, he has to play, with maybe Batty sitting out?

[guildfordbat]

JimBob - welcome back, my friend. Thanks for starting the thread.

Counting the Brain who is now bowling almost regularly, we have six seamers in our twelve man squad. That's surely too many and so I would expect one of them to miss out. The fact we had a point deducted for our slow over rate against Middlesex probably also supports a quick bowler being omitted.

I would bring back Meaker - I think his pace gives us a better chance of finishing off the opposition tail. I suspect the Viscount may again be the unlucky man.

[Mat]

Hopefully some of our batsman have found some form after a game against one of the University sides. Mitchell's actually started this year well, which is suprising.

The Mongoose might be back for this one!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

The Mongoose might be back for this one!

But it won't be Reindeer versus the Mongoose, tho!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Weather forecast looks a bit dodgy, with showers predicted....

River won't have enhanced his opening credentials with a couple of low scores in the last game. I would not be surprised to see Roy get a game.....

[guildfordbat]

Corporal - at risk of echoing Peter Jones' commentary of ''.... and Smith must score'', Roy must play.

Even if not necessarily as an opener, he has to come in for Rudolph. As mentioned earlier, the team balance without him and otherwise with six seamers would be completely wrong.

[thegooch7]

Surely Roy must come in for Reindeer?!
I'd stick Gramps in as opener - everyone else seems to have had a go!
I'd also replace River with Meaks, can't leave out Norah, the Queen of Spin!

[Carrotdude]

As said in another thread I'd play Roy for Jordan and bat him at 7. I know it's low but at least he scores quickly so won't get quite as stranded. Wouldn't be dropping Reindeer at all yet, if any batsman has to go it's Ramps as he looks in the worst form by far but hopefully he'll find it soon. Lewis, Meaker, Dernbach and Brain as the seamers with Batty for spin should be enough.

All that said it looks very unlikely there will be much of a game to talk about when I return

[guildfordbat]

Carrot - Reindeer has withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons.

[thegooch7]

It's raining! Worcs won the toss though and have put Surrey in.
Roy in for Reindeer, and Meaker in for the Viscount, rather disappointingly as River keeps his place!

[jimbobgooner]

River and interesting to open the batting then

[guildfordbat]

Hi boys - pleased that Roy's back. However, still think we're over heavy with seamers (Dernbach, Meaker, Never Knowingly, Brain and River).

With Reindeer unavailable, I would have played Harinath or Third Degree (purely as a batsman) rather than River.

[guildfordbat]

Lunch now being taken. Inspection due at 1:40.

[ShankyCricket]

Can any of you guys tell me more about Arun Harinath?

[guildfordbat]

Can any of you guys tell me more about Arun Harinath?

CF - he's a youngish opening bat, game built on defence rather than flair. Struggling for a first team opportunity. May get one when the Reindeer returns to the North Pole mid season but in all likelihood will be released at the end of the summer when his contract expires.

[guildfordbat]

Lunch now being taken. Inspection due at 1:40.

Raining again!

[Dulwich_Dog]

Well the Marston's pedigree is going down rather nicely. I've had a pasty and we've got IPL on the big screen. Could do with some live cricket now, but the covers are still on. Looks like a good toss to win, wouldn't fancy batting in these conditions.

[Dulwich_Dog]

Inspection at 3.30 apparently, not looking good

[guildfordbat]

Thanks for the update, Dulwich.

Churchy is a bit more optimistic - although he always is! He was encouraged by groundstaff being out in the middle just now. There again, where else would they be?

Enjoy the Marston's!

[guildfordbat]

Play abandoned for the day.

[jimbohammers]

Guildford, join me on the county championship thread, im talking to myself

[packofwolves]

Anyone would think the identities of the Surrey squad is a secret of national importance, the number of nick names and acronyms you guys have for them all!

In all seriousness though, welcome back to Div1 lads. Now that this is essentially a 3 day game, I'd say Surrey are favourites. Your batting line up is definitely more suited to quick scoring than ours is.

Good luck for tomorrow, did someone remember to order better weather?

[guildfordbat]

Hi Pack - no points for another of your teams today. Guess you're used to that! Sorry.

You make a good point about our batting line up being well suited to a quick scoring game. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if the weather is going to allow much play over the next 3 days.

[jimbobgooner]

now its time for my end of day report
it rained a lot

[Mat]

Hi Pack - no points for another of your teams today. Guess you're used to that! Sorry.

You make a good point about our batting line up being well suited to a quick scoring game. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if the weather is going to allow much play over the next 3 days.

I'd settle for a draw now!

[packofwolves]

Hi Pack - no points for another of your teams today. Guess you're used to that! Sorry.

You make a good point about our batting line up being well suited to a quick scoring game. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if the weather is going to allow much play over the next 3 days.

Low blow Guildford! You're lucky that I've come to terms with Wolves' impending relegation.

Fingers crossed we get some play, but as you said, it doesn't look that likely. I quite fancy our seamers against that line up of yours, at least in swinging conditions.

[guildfordbat]

Apologies again, Pack. I think you know my low opinion only relates to your Board rather than the team and supporters.

I'm sure Alan Richardson will be looking forward to having a few overs under leaden skies. I like him, as a person and cricketer. Thoroughly deserved his Wisden awaard.

[guildfordbat]

now its time for my end of day report
it rained a lot

JimBob - very comprehensive!

[packofwolves]

Apologies again, Pack. I think you know my low opinion only relates to your Board rather than the team and supporters.

I'm sure Alan Richardson will be looking forward to having a few overs under leaden skies. I like him, as a person and cricketer. Thoroughly deserved his Wisden awaard.

No worries Guildford. I think your opinion of the wolves is considerably higher than mine is right now!

I'm with you on that, Rico seems a thoroughly nice guy. He's had some terrible luck with injuries in the past but he's a consummate pro.

[ShankyCricket]

Can any of you guys tell me more about Arun Harinath?

CF - he's a youngish opening bat, game built on defence rather than flair. Struggling for a first team opportunity. May get one when the Reindeer returns to the North Pole mid season but in all likelihood will be released at the end of the summer when his contract expires.

CF?

[Tibor]

Looks like Roy drew the short straw.

Davies and opening up today.

[guildfordbat]

Sorry about that that, Shanks. Hope you found my answer better.

Meanwhile, back to the important stuff. Play starting on time today.

Le Roi opening with Interesting and facing the first over from Richardson. Certainly a test for Roy but a good opportunity for him having been left out of the first two games ....

[guildfordbat]

Business as usual for . 20 runs off 21 balls!

Meanwhile, Churchy spills coffee all over himself!

[jimbobgooner]

The decision to open with Roy makes the inclusion of river even more bizarre

[guildfordbat]

Hi JimBob - I guess Adams sees and likes River as an all rounder at number seven. I understand the thinking but am not convinced that he's good enough ....

[packofwolves]

38-0 off the first ten overs. Roy is rattling along. Whats the weather like darn sarf Guildford?

[guildfordbat]

Hi Pack - weather's pretty good my way. Lot of cloud but some blue sky as well. I don't know if we'll get a full day but the next couple of hours seem fine.

Roy lbw to Richardson!

[packofwolves]

Cheers Guildford. Here's hoping for a full allocation today!

Roy gone lbw to Rico for 38 from 36 balls, 6x4's. Worcs needed that breakthrough. Richard Jones is on to bowl now, this is a key moment. He either bowls like a dream or like a drain. He seems to have no middle ground at all.

[guildfordbat]

Richardson gets Interesting! 55-2 as momentum shifts ....

[packofwolves]

55-2! Rico strikes again! Davies caught behind for 15 from 59. A little more sedate than his opening partner! Rico dragging it back for Worcs after that opening stand.

[packofwolves]

3 down! Jones joins the party to have Ramps caught at slip by Old Vic for 1.

[guildfordbat]

And now Gramps falls to Jones who is presumably having one of his dream spells.

The Corporal's view is to shake Gramps warmly by the hand and then leave him alone in his room with a bottle of whisky and a loaded revolver ....

[packofwolves]

59-4! Jones gets a second with a snorter. Lifting delivery on off stump, climbs at RHB, who nicks it behind.

Time for Ramprakash to focus on his IPL punditry then Guildford?

[guildfordbat]

Time for Ramprakash to focus on his IPL punditry then Guildford?

I fear so!

Meanwhile, rain stops play. Bizarre - dry and almost sunny 30 miles sarf of the Oval.

Surrey have gone from a highly promising 48-0 to a pretty dreadful 60-4 ....

[Tibor]

Hard to blame the pitch this time.

[jimbobgooner]

Rain here for the rest of the day now

[Tibor]

I'm being battered by hailstones down in Southampton, which could be making its way to London.

[guildfordbat]

Play resumes after an early lunch.

More rain expected soon. It's chucking it down at Lord's apparently ....

[Shelsey93]

Play resumes after an early lunch.

More rain expected soon. It's chucking it down at Lord's apparently ....

Very dark clouds and lightning around here in Barnet - though no real rain yet. Probaly coming though

[Sponsored content]