Two players in the Ashes squad!

This time last year, if you'd have suggested to me that there would be two Surrey players in the England squad about to embark on one of the most anticipated tours Down Under ever, I'd have been left scratching my head as to who it would be.

But I don't think there are many people about who would say that Steven Davies and Chris Tremlett don't deserve their selections.  They have both excelled across all formats this season and the pair of them have all the necessary talents to succeed in Australian conditions.

In all honesty, I don't think either will play.  It'll take an injury to James Anderson or Matt Prior to open up a slot in the team, but if that does happen I think England have picked just the right people to pick up the baton and pick up where others leave off.

Massive congratulations to both players, although they've both only been at the club one season (how I would love a home grown player to be going to the Ashes) I think they are very well thought of.  Tremlett has won over the doubters by dint of his exceptional wicket-taking ability, and Davies has wowed everyone with his strokeplay.  Good luck to them!

A word for Jade Dernbach too who despite not having the best of seasons is in the England performance squad.  He genuinely is home grown and can be enormously proud of his achievement.  He gives you 100% without fail and if cricket rewarded effort and will to win alone, he'll be taking many a wicket for years to come.