Monday 21 June 2010

Same again for Hampshire game

Chris Adams has named the same 13 man squad for tomorrow evening's game with Hampshire as we've seen in the last few games, selection policy showing admirable consistency where the team doesn't!

As I said yesterday I see no reason in playing three seamers if the third of those, in the case of last night Linley, is only going to bowl half his allotted overs, but in truth I would expect Adams to go with the same side as faced Sussex.  Jade Dernbach is unfortunately out for perhaps another month which is very disappointing for him and the team as a whole.

The most intriguing aspect of this game may however lie with the opposition.  According to the excellent Hants and What Not blog, Simon Jones could be poised to make his long-awaited comeback.  Nothing on the official site as yet, but I read a month or so ago that he'd got onto the field in a Second XI match.  I do not think I'm the only Surrey fan who would be delighted to see Jones back on the park.  Five long years ago he proved himself one of the finest exponents of reverse swing in the world, and was for a time one of the best fast bowlers full stop.  As a man who has suffered with a dodgy knee I can sympathise with a tiny part of what he's been through, the last few years must've been very tough on him.

We proved in the fixture at the Rose Bowl, although we came up short in the end that we can compete with Hampshire and we'll have to be on the money if we are to beat them tomorrow.  Whoever is on that Hampshire teamsheet I want to see a fearless performance for Surrey, if we get that, Hants have got a fight on their hands.

UPDATE:  Simon Jones is, alas, not in the Hampshire squad named on their website this morning.  They've named just 11 players, so I presume this lot will be the team we face tonight: Jimmy Adams, Michael Lumb, Sean Ervine, Liam Dawson, Nic Pothas, Dominic Cork, James Vince, Michael Carberry, Danny Briggs, Chris Wood, Neil McKenzie.

3 comments:

half-tracker said...

Hi, thanks for the blog nod! Tomorrow should be a good match, though we are still unsure what the Hampshire XI will be. Dan Christian is injured so that really upsets the balance of the side - we have lost 3 allrounders in the last 6 games! I reckon the side we'll put out will be: Lumb, Adams, Ervine, Carberry, Vince, McKenzie, Pothas, Cork, Wood, Briggs, Jones (!!!).

There were whispers of a Jones appearance sometime in the 20/20, but the Daily Echo announced today that he would play tomorrow. It should be a spectacle whatever happens. Cheers!

GreenJJ said...

That's a shame about Christian, was looking forward to seeing him. You've been as unlucky with your overseas players as we have this season, if not more so!

Will be amazed if Jones makes it, so unexpected! Like you say, should be a good one!

half-tracker said...

Oh dear! Well that first Jones over was the difference between the two teams. Well done on your win, though I'm pleased, very pleased infact that we didn't crumble in the face of your total. Davies, Symo, Vince and McKenzie look like they provided some good fireworks.

Ah well, back to where we belong near the foot of the table, though the shear number of games this year seems to numb much of the pain of defeat.

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