After a week in which some of the senior players were given a rest, and the remainder played out a rain effected draw against Oxford University, Surrey travel to Scotland and start a week that can kick start the 2013 season. Without a win since the start of May, we are in desperate need of some momentum.
Chris Adams has named an unchanged 13 man squad from the group that made the trip to Manchester last week:
Jason Roy
Steven Davies
Vikram Solanki
Zander de Bruyn
Gary Wilson
Rory Burns
Gareth Batty
Jon Lewis
Chris Tremlett
Jade Dernbach
Gary Keedy
Bench: Tom Jewell, Stuart Meaker
It's hard to see Adams naming a different XI tomorrow despite the demoralising defeat to Lancashire. Tremlett and Lewis bowled very well, and Dernbach is Adams' go-to man for limited overs cricket. For those reasons I can't see Meaker coming into the side, as much as I'd like him to. In the couple of games at the Grange so far this season spin has played a part so Batty and Keedy will almost certainly complete the bowling. Tom Jewell can count himself very hard done by. Since being named in the XI for the Durham game, in which he didn't get a bowl because of the weather, he hasn't featured. He played in the friendly against Oxford but it seems unlikely that Adams will pick him. With Azhar Mahmood arriving next month for the T20, one wonders where Jewell fits into Chris Adams' masterplan.
Despite the collapse at Durham, and the implosion against Stephen Parry at Old Trafford, the batting won't change (in fact it can't, we barely have a spare batsman at the club). Davies and Roy batted well in the powerplay in the last game but after their dismissals the batting completely went into its collective shell. Solanki and de Bruyn have to shoulder more of the responsibility.
Scotland have played two and lost two in the YB40 this season and despite having some talented players, they are a side we should be beating comfortably. Preston Mommsen and Richie Berrington are decent batsmen, and Majid Haq is occasionally a threat with the ball, but beyond that they aren't a match for us on paper.
With the Scotland game tomorrow, and then two games against Derbyshire to follow, Chris Adams simply has to deliver three wins on the bounce. Morale and confidence will be low but with Ricky Ponting due to arrive this week these games should be looked at as a chance to turn what has been a distinctly lacklustre start into something far far better.
Posts
The World Cup is here Again!
6 months ago
2 comments:
Thank you Josh, you have answered the question I had in my head about the result of the Oxford game!
I am intrigued to think that CA has a masterplan !! :) I cant understand why he doesnt give the younger members more time in the squads...how on earth are they supposed to improve, and learn to face new challenges?
While I am delighted by the prospect of seeing Ponting in action again,too much reliance is placed on his match saving skills...I am thinking of all the other 'incomers' such as Younous Khan and others who significantly failed to deliver the goods after their arrival!
Here's hoping the Scotland contest will result, not only in a win, but greater team confidence and higher morale!
Hi Jean
Well maybe "masterplan" is taking it a bit far! Long term thinking does not seem to be a primary concern. Short termism and panic seem to characterise selection more often.
Yes you're probably quite right about Ponting. Its dangerous to put too much weight on Ponting's arrival but on the other hand, what choice do we have?! Like you say, we have to hope he's more of a success than some of our overseas recruits.
Post a Comment