Ramps returns for vital game

Mark Ramprakash has returned to a 13 man squad for the critical LVCC Division One match against Sussex at Horsham starting tomorrow. He comes in for Jacques Rudolph, who has gone back to South Africa.

The 42 year old hasn’t played for the first team since the draw at New Road a month ago, a game in which he registered just his 3^rd pair in his First Class career. He hasn’t exactly found form in the second X1, top scoring with 29 out of 3 innings, so some may say that he doesn’t deserve to come back in. Rory Burns has been consistent in the 2’s this year and will be disappointed not to get the call.

However, Ramps has been given the nod, and I am just happy to see him back in our side. He has played 3 times for his club side Stanmore CC in the Middlesex Premier Division since being dropped, and has scored 3 half centuries, including an unbeaten 80 on Saturday to lead his side to victory. I admit this isn’t the greatest standard of cricket, but it is competitive, and has enabled Ramps to have some time in the middle. Let’s hope it pays off this week.

Gary Wilson has come into the squad as a batsman after hitting hundreds in his last 2 appearances in the Second Eleven Championship. He has replaced Chris Jordan, who seemed to be suffering with low confidence in the games he has played so far. Presumably he will play, and bat at 7, as the tail would look rather long otherwise.

After his impressive debut on Saturday against the Welsh Dragons, and his rather expensive spell against Scotland today, Murali Kartik will be making his first appearance in red ball cricket for Surrey this season. Chris Adams will now face the dilemma of who to leave out, with Batty, Lewis, Dernbach Meaker and Linley all vying for 3 spots. Batty will certainly play after his 10 wickets against Somerset last week, and Meaker will presumably keep his spot.

So it may be between Dernbach, Lewis and Linley for that last place. Lewis has had a very good season so far, whereas Dernbach has been a bit hit and miss. However, the 36 year old has played every game so far, so may be in need of a rest, and Adams will want to get the most out of Jade before the ODI series against the West Indies next week. The Viscount will without doubt get his chance in the next few weeks.

Jason Roy will want to add to the 70 he scored against Warwickshire last week, and make a more sizeable contribution, to cement his place at the top of the order. He always looks in good form but then seems to get himself out. If he continues to fail to kick on from good starts, then Burns will be ready to pounce.

Zander de Bruyn seemed to find some form on Saturday with his vital 52 at the Swalec Stadium, which is much needed, as his stick-ability has been sorely missed in the middle order so far this season. RHB and Maynard will want to rediscover their form from a few weeks ago, after the pair failed to make an impact in the defeat to Warwickshire.

This game is huge for both sides, who find themselves next to each other towards the bottom of Division One, separated by just 3 points. With just 2 wins between us this season, it has been a struggle for both parties, but our only win was against tomorrow’s opposition in the first game back at the Kia Oval, so confidence from that will be taken into this one.

Their squad contains former Surrey bowler Steve Magoffin, who didn’t play when the sides met before, and Luke Wright who seems to be in superb form after his IPL exploits. Surrey’s (and many other teams!) nemesis Murray Goodwin has once again been named after a poor start to the season, as a half century last week has seemingly kept his place in the team.

Win this game, and we will move up a few places, lose, and the fight to stay in Division One will be on.

Surrey Squad:

R. Hamilton-Brown (C)

S. Davies (WK)
J. Roy

M. Ramprakash

Z. De Bruyn

T. Maynard

G. Wilson

G. Batty

M. Kartik

J. Lewis

S. Meaker

J. Dernbach

T. Linley

Sussex Squad:

M. Yardy (C)

C. Nash

E. Joyce

L. Wells

M. Goodwin

J. Gatting

B. Brown (WK)

L. Wright

N. Arif

J. Anyon

S. Magoffin

A. Khan

M. Panesar