If Robinson does not play it mean Cox will keep and I bet he has not done that for a while. I doubt Harry Podmore will play as he has not played a 4 day game for a while. All though I think he is a good bowler
That is the issue with Cox keeping and I think it will be Podmore left out from the bowlers though not because he hasn't played any 4 day games recently as he just played in the match against the Sri Lanka Dev XI and prior to that he had three matches for the 2s during which he bowled over 100 overs.
Surrey had 7 seam bowling options in our last match plus the part time spin of Will Jacks (we're still yet to play Moriarty or Virdi this year). In the end only 5 of them were used as we beat Northants by an innings. Can't see us having less than 6 seam bowling options in the side, even if Curran and Patel are there primarily for their batting. De Grandhomme and Clark are genuine all rounders and Overton and Atkinson are more than handy with the bat.
We've named a 13 man squad. I expect Topley to come back in after being rested for the last match with one of Overton or Clark taking their turn to be rested under Batty's policy of managing fast bowlers overs. Expect Atkinson to be the one who loses out now Pope is over his illness.
Given Jacks has been batting at 8 (bar the last game when we lost Smith and Pope last min) I don't see the point in playing him. We have enough batting so might as well play a proper spinner. Not sure where all of this leaves Virdi. Moriarty plays all formats but Amar Virdi has never played a professional white ball game. If he's not playing in half the County champ games in a season it must be hard to justify his pay.
Surrey had 7 seam bowling options in our last match plus the part time spin of Will Jacks (we're still yet to play Moriarty or Virdi this year). In the end only 5 of them were used as we beat Northants by an innings. Can't see us having less than 6 seam bowling options in the side, even if Curran and Patel are there primarily for their batting. De Grandhomme and Clark are genuine all rounders and Overton and Atkinson are more than handy with the bat.
We've named a 13 man squad. I expect Topley to come back in after being rested for the last match with one of Overton or Clark taking their turn to be rested under Batty's policy of managing fast bowlers overs. Expect Atkinson to be the one who loses out now Pope is over his illness.
Given Jacks has been batting at 8 (bar the last game when we lost Smith and Pope last min) I don't see the point in playing him. We have enough batting so might as well play a proper spinner. Not sure where all of this leaves Virdi. Moriarty plays all formats but Amar Virdi has never played a professional white ball game. If he's not playing in half the County champ games in a season it must be hard to justify his pay.
So what has happened to Virdi? He was being talked up as the answer to England's spin issues less than a year ago wasn't he?
There should, in theory, be a gulf in quality between the two sides - 6 of Surrey's top 7 are internationals whereas we have 2, an out of form opener and a spinning all rounder. The one player who isn't an international, Patel, is plundering our attack with 34 in 44 balls out of 40-0
Surrey had 7 seam bowling options in our last match plus the part time spin of Will Jacks (we're still yet to play Moriarty or Virdi this year). In the end only 5 of them were used as we beat Northants by an innings. Can't see us having less than 6 seam bowling options in the side, even if Curran and Patel are there primarily for their batting. De Grandhomme and Clark are genuine all rounders and Overton and Atkinson are more than handy with the bat.
We've named a 13 man squad. I expect Topley to come back in after being rested for the last match with one of Overton or Clark taking their turn to be rested under Batty's policy of managing fast bowlers overs. Expect Atkinson to be the one who loses out now Pope is over his illness.
Given Jacks has been batting at 8 (bar the last game when we lost Smith and Pope last min) I don't see the point in playing him. We have enough batting so might as well play a proper spinner. Not sure where all of this leaves Virdi. Moriarty plays all formats but Amar Virdi has never played a professional white ball game. If he's not playing in half the County champ games in a season it must be hard to justify his pay.
So what has happened to Virdi? He was being talked up as the answer to England's spin issues less than a year ago wasn't he?
Its an interesting one. There is a suspicion around Surrey that he England coaches did a bit too much tinkering when he went to some England training camps. It certainly coincides with a drop off in form from the middle/end of last season and the development of a longer runup.
He's still very young (particularly for a spinner) and I still have high hopes for him but hes not gonna develop if hes not playing. As for the start of this season - I get that in April and May its hard to pick a spinner (or certainly has been over the last few seasons) even harder if that spinner doesnt bat at all (hes a couple of places too high at 11) and his fielding makes the ageing Hashim Amla look mobile. But, this year pitches have been better, the weather has generally been good and we have been bowling on some relatively dry tracks in high scoring draw games when 5 or 6 seamers haven't done it and you find yourself wishing for a quality spinner to see if he can make something happen and open the game up.
Virdi hasn't exactly been setting the world alight in the 2s which is worrying. Moriarty did take 4-40 the other day so maybe he is closer to selection. He actually has a better career average than Virdi and could play with Jacks as he is a left armer.
Jacks isn't a spinner in this format (hes a perfectly good 2nd spinner in T20's). I think his 2 wickets so far this season has doubled his career tally. All the talk from Batty of him being our first choice spinner on merit is clearly to try and build his confidence. to be honest I expected better from Batty. If a spinner as coach isn't going to select a spinner what hope do we have of developing them.
The way he's going this season, Patel wouldn't be the worst shout for an England call-up
There are certainly worse shouts but I wouldn't want to select him just yet. He's still very young but it has been a very pleasant surprise how he has developed to those of us who have watched him for the last 4 or so years. He started being used as a bits and pieces player despite Patel usually being an opener in youth cricket but Burns and Stoneman had those spots and he played often as 4th seamer batting 6 or 7. When he did get opportunities to open he seemed consumed by nerves and batted so slowly he caused problems for himself and the rest of the side. Middle of last season he seemed suddenly gain confidence. Some have put it down to the RLODC and the extra responsibility he was given as a senior player in that format. He scored a few hundreds at a serious rate in that comp and hasn't looked back. He's been playing with confidence and the freedom to play his way, scoring at a quick rate and pretty consistently. Looks a completely different player. If he keeps it up selectors wont be able to ignore him for too long. He plays the positive way I suspect Stokes will want his side to play.
His bowling however part time would also be useful in case of injuries/emergencies.
Not sure what Patel was trying to do with his shot
I didn't see it, but...impress the new England head coach?
The innings yes but the shot definitely not. I'm all for positivity but as Crawley has found you still have to have a solid technique but, as important, is decision making. Chasing a ball that is a yard wide of off stump when you've done all the hard work already is not a sound decision.
Patel has a FC average of 27. This season he has scored 360 runs at 51 which demonstrates how much he has improved but also how poor his performances were prior to this season. If the selectors are going to pick someone on a small sample of innings then why is Compton out of the frame - 560 runs at 93. Or, for that matter, Sean Dickson, who has 729 runs at 81 albeit that his have been scored in Div 2.
Comments
We've named a 13 man squad. I expect Topley to come back in after being rested for the last match with one of Overton or Clark taking their turn to be rested under Batty's policy of managing fast bowlers overs. Expect Atkinson to be the one who loses out now Pope is over his illness.
Burns
Patel
Amla
Pope
Foakes
Curran
CDG
Jacks
Clark/Overton
Topley
Worrall
Given Jacks has been batting at 8 (bar the last game when we lost Smith and Pope last min) I don't see the point in playing him. We have enough batting so might as well play a proper spinner. Not sure where all of this leaves Virdi. Moriarty plays all formats but Amar Virdi has never played a professional white ball game. If he's not playing in half the County champ games in a season it must be hard to justify his pay.
Big game for Crawley
I'm enjoying this
He's still very young (particularly for a spinner) and I still have high hopes for him but hes not gonna develop if hes not playing. As for the start of this season - I get that in April and May its hard to pick a spinner (or certainly has been over the last few seasons) even harder if that spinner doesnt bat at all (hes a couple of places too high at 11) and his fielding makes the ageing Hashim Amla look mobile. But, this year pitches have been better, the weather has generally been good and we have been bowling on some relatively dry tracks in high scoring draw games when 5 or 6 seamers haven't done it and you find yourself wishing for a quality spinner to see if he can make something happen and open the game up.
Virdi hasn't exactly been setting the world alight in the 2s which is worrying. Moriarty did take 4-40 the other day so maybe he is closer to selection. He actually has a better career average than Virdi and could play with Jacks as he is a left armer.
Jacks isn't a spinner in this format (hes a perfectly good 2nd spinner in T20's). I think his 2 wickets so far this season has doubled his career tally. All the talk from Batty of him being our first choice spinner on merit is clearly to try and build his confidence. to be honest I expected better from Batty. If a spinner as coach isn't going to select a spinner what hope do we have of developing them.
His bowling however part time would also be useful in case of injuries/emergencies.
Look at all this bright, fresh young batting talent that's coming through.
Watch out, Kiwis.
Patel has a FC average of 27. This season he has scored 360 runs at 51 which demonstrates how much he has improved but also how poor his performances were prior to this season. If the selectors are going to pick someone on a small sample of innings then why is Compton out of the frame - 560 runs at 93. Or, for that matter, Sean Dickson, who has 729 runs at 81 albeit that his have been scored in Div 2.
As soon as Smith is back from his hamstring injury he has to come in for Amla