12 named for 1st First Class game

Chris Adams has named a 12 man squad for the 1^st first class game of the summer, starting tomorrow at the Kia Oval against Leeds-Bradford MCCU.

After the disappointing batting performances of the last two weeks, they will be looking to get some practice in against a team who have only been given first class status in the last few months. Rory Hamilton- Brown will obviously skipper the side, but he himself needs some runs, as he hardly made double figures against in the games at Chelmsford and Taunton. Converting starts to significant scores will be vital this season for RHB, as he did that too rarely last campaign.

Tom Maynard will also be looking to find some form, as he has probably been in the poorest form of the batsman likely to play against Sussex, reaching double figures just once in 7 innings. Jason Roy and Matthew Spriegel make up the batsman, with both of them fighting for that number 7 spot against Sussex. At the moment, Roy is the favourite, but Adams has persisted with the out of form Spriegel, so if he finds some nick, then he may get the nod due to the extra bowling option.

Gary Wilson has been named in the squad for the first time in 2012, after playing for Ireland in the ICC World T20 qualifying competition in Abu Dhabi. Rory Burns has also kept his place after impressing with bat and behind the stumps in pre season, and it will be a shootout between them for the wicket keepers spot against Sussex. Wilson is the favourite, as he has been in great form himself, but don’t disregard Burns, with this weekend’s game proving vital.

Jade Dernbach and Jon Lewis have both been rested for this game, suggesting that they both have done enough in pre-season to be in the starting X1 next week. Young bowlers Matthew Dunn and Tom Jewell have been called into the squad, alongside Tim Linley, Stuart Meaker and Chris Jordan. After his wonderful season last year, Linley is also likely to play next week, but the 4^th seamer’s spot is up for grabs, with Meaker and Jordan looking to impress and get the nod. Young left arm spinner Freddie van den Bergh makes up the 12, but it isn’t known how much he will be involved this year with possible University commitments.

Full Surrey Squad:

The game starts at 11am at the Kia Oval, and continues until Monday (if we can bat that long!). Even though it won’t be a great opposition, we need all the practice we can get before the big return to Division 1 cricket.