Surrey will play in Group 2 of the 2021 County Championship – here’s their team preview and fixtures list.

County Championship 2021: Surrey preview

Captain

Rory Burns

Last year

5/6 South Group

Player movements

In: Laurie Evans (Sussex), Jamie Overton (Somerset), Kemar Roach (WI)

Out: Scott Borthwick (Durham), Morne Morkel (released)

Key player

Jamie Overton – Surrey’s pace attack was a shadow of its former self last season and the Somerset quick has been brought in to fill the size 14s vacated by Morné Morkel. He’ll form a dynamic new-ball partnership with the wily West Indian Kemar Roach, who has signed for the first seven matches of the season.

Bolter

Amar Virdi – now firmly established as Surrey’s premier spinner, with the impressive young southpaw Dan Moriarty in support, we can expect some turning tracks at The Oval this summer, giving Virdi the opportunity to stake a claim for Test selection. When he’s played, the 22-year-old offie’s record has been superb: 45 wickets at 23 across the last two seasons.

County Championship 2021: Surrey Fixtures

Gloucestershire v Surrey, Thursday April 8, County Ground

Surrey v Leicestershire, Thursday April 15, Kennington Oval

Middlesex v Surrey, Thursday April 22, Lord’s

Surrey v Hampshire, Thursday April 29, Kennington Oval

Leicestershire vs Surrey, Thursday May 6, Grace Road

Somerset v Surrey, Thursday May 13, The Cooper Associates County Ground

Surrey v Middlesex, Thursday May 20, Kennington Oval

Surrey v Gloucestershire, Thursday May 27, Woodbridge Road

Hampshire v Surrey, Sunday July 4, The Rose Bowl

Surrey v Somerset, Sunday July 11, Kennington Oval

Wisden says

When Surrey ended their 16-year wait to lift the Championship in 2018, it felt like a legacy was being built. Since that triumph they’ve won just three of their last 19 red-ball matches. England call-ups and a spate of injuries have played a large part in that, but it’s still a curiously barren run for a county with such enviable resources. With the bowling attack bolstered, attention now turns to their misfiring batsmen.

Hashim Amla, who made a solitary appearance last summer could be the glue that holds the top-order together, but more will be expected from Mark Stoneman, who has averaged 27 since being dropped by England three years ago.

Prediction

1st in Division 2

This preview first appeared in issue 42 of Wisden Cricket Monthly.

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