Surrey will play in Group 2 of the 2021 County Championship – here’s their team preview and fixtures list.
This preview first appeared in issue 42 of Wisden Cricket Monthly.
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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
