Squad named for final home game of 2012

Chris Adams has named a 14 man squad for the final home game of the season; the LVCC Division One match against Nottinghamshire at the Kia Oval.

Once again Kevin Pietersen has been named in the squad, off the back of his century and half century in the draw at Taunton last week, and his quality and experience is proving pivotal in the relegation dogfight.  He has now scored 100 more runs than Zander de Bruyn in the Championship this season, and is our 3^rd leading run scorer behind Rory Hamilton-Brown and Jason Roy.

Another player who KP has more runs than is Steve Davies, who has been named in the squad alongside Gary Wilson, but will presumably replace the Irishman in the starting X1 after being ill for the Somerset game last week. Rory Burns and Zafar Ansari will once again open the batting for us, after the pair completed the first hundred opening partnership of the season last week, which was the third time the pair had put on at least 50. However, I’m not totally convinced that Zaf is an opener, and feel he may prosper better down the order in the future.

A man who could open with Burns in the future is Arun Harinath, who after completing back to back hundreds last week, has surely secured a contract for next season, and with Ansari away at University at the start of next season, he could fit into the second vacant opening slot in the Championship.

The man who seems to be in most LVCC squads, Chris Jordan, has been named in the 14, but will presumably not play, with Lewis and Meaker the two seamers likely to be picked in the final X1, ahead of Linley and the West Indian. However, if Jordan does get picked, it is very much last chance saloon for him at our club, as his contract is up at the end of the year and after an indifferent season, it is unlikely to be renewed. But if he does get a chance, everyone at Surrey will be hoping he can rediscover the form of 2007, and the back end of 2011 in our promotion push.

Murali Kartik and Gareth Batty will once again be named in the team as after the Middlesex win a couple of weeks ago, the pitch will be prepared to suit spinners, and with Nottinghamshire having just the one recognised spinner in Graeme White, we will be looking to use our qualities to our advantage.

Chris Adams set us a target of 2 wins from our final 4 games, and with the win over Middlesex, we require just the one victory to all but confirm our status in this Division for next season. That is easier said than done though, as Notts are still mathematically in the title race, and will no doubt be trying all they can to gain maximum points from this game.

If we slip up and lose this game, and Lancashire beat the inconsistent Middlesex, the final game of the season at Liverpool will become one of the most vital games in recent years for our club. However, Adams has said that our players are “determined to produce their best cricket” this week, and let’s hope they can do that. Good luck lads, and Come on the Rey!!

Surrey Squad:

Gareth Batty (C)

Rory Burns

Zafar Ansari

Arun Harinath

Kevin Pietersen

Zander de Bruyn

Jason Roy

Steve Davies

Gary Wilson

Murali Kartik

Jon Lewis

Stuart Meaker

Chris Jordan

Tim Linley