Ansari back for Durham test

Zafar Ansari has returned to a 13 man squad named for the CB40 game against the Durham Dynamos at the Kia Oval tomorrow.

Ansari returns to the squad after missing the Scotland game due to University commitments. In the one game he has played this season, he claimed 3 wickets and bowled wonderfully well, in Surrey’s victory over Somerset. Gareth Batty and Matthew Spriegel make it 3 full time spinners in the squad, and with RHB as well, there is plenty of variety in the bowling department.

Jade Dernbach will return to the starting X1 after being rested for the LVCC game against Somerset this week. Gary Wilson will be one of the 2 players who miss out, so Adams will have to decide if it will be a batsman or a bowler who will be the other. He may want to give Meaker or Lewis a rest, considering Lewis is 36 and has played every game so far this season. In the Somerset game, Rudolph was left out so that Ansari could play, and that could be another option for Adams.

The batsman have all found some form in one way or another this week, and will want to transfer this into the game tomorrow. Davies is fresh off the back of the century against Somerset, and will want to add to the half century he already has in the competition this year. Tom Maynard missed the game against Scotland due to family commitments, and he has also been in very good touch recently, so will be looking to make his first big impact in List A cricket this season.

Zander de Bruyn scored just his second half century of the season against Somerset, and once again failed in the second innings, so there is a possibility that he may be left out in favour of Rudolph. However, Rudolph hasn’t been in the greatest nick either, but did score 69 against Scotland in the last CB40 game, which could give him the nod over his fellow South African. Jason Roy hasn’t made a big score so far this year, so is definitely due one.

RHB has been in good form all throughout the season, and has already struck a sublime century in the competition. However, it won’t be an easy game at all, with many saying that Durham pose the largest threat to Surrey this season. They have the likes of Mustard, Collingwood and Stokes in their team, as well as Graham Onions after being released by the ECB to play.

Surrey Squad

Rory Hamilton-Brown (C)

Steve Davies (WK)

Jason Roy

Tom Maynard

Zander de Bruyn

Jacques Rudolph

Matthew Spriegel

Zafar Ansari

Gareth Batty

Stuart Meaker

Jon Lewis

Jade Dernbach

Gary Wilson

Durham Squad

Paul Collingwood (C)

Phil Mustard (WK)

Mark Stoneman

Ben Stokes

Gordon Muchall

Will Smith

Gareth Breese

Scott Borthwick

Chris Rushworth

Graham Onions

Mitchell Claydon

Jamie Harrison