Meaker returns for vital Championship game

Stuart Meaker has been named in a 13 man squad has been named for the LV County Championship match against Durham at the Kia Oval tomorrow.

It’s great to see Meaker back after his thigh injury, and there is of course one other enforced change from the squad that took on Middlesex last week, with Jason Roy coming in for Graeme Smith. Roy has hit form at just the right time and will no doubt come straight into the side at number 7.

Here is the squad in full:

Gareth Batty (C)

Rory Burns

Arun Harinath

Gary Wilson

Vikram Solanki

Zander de Bruyn

Steve Davies

Jason Roy

Stuart Meaker

Chris Tremlett

Jade Dernbach

Tim Linley

Gary Keedy

I don’t expect any other changes in the final X1 other than Roy coming in, because especially in the batting, there aren’t many other options, and Meaker also coming in if fully fit. Jon Lewis will be desperate for a game, but Meaker has taken his place in the squad. I would consider bringing Meaker in ahead of Chris Tremlett, who hasn’t looked at his best over the last two games. Some would argue that he will get better once he plays more, but a win is needed, and we can’t afford to “carry” a bowler. All the wickets he has got this year have either been tailenders (Roland-Jones and Panesar), or batsman who have been looking to kick on (Malan and Stirling). He hasn’t had a “proper” bowlers dismissal as such, so maybe Linley will be kept in ahead of him.

Gareth Batty certainly has big shoes to fill, but I believe he is up to the job. Last year he captained the side superbly in extremely difficult circumstances, and hopefully this year, with a stronger squad, we can rediscover some of that late season form. I presume that he will be the sole spinner in the side again, as Keedy hasn’t looked that effective in the odd appearance he has made, and pitches haven’t really been suited to spinners as yet, or just bowlers full stop!

As you know, we have yet to pick up a victory in the Championship this season. In each of the games we have managed to get ourselves into a good position, especially in the Middlesex game last week, but have lacked the ruthlessness. We have lacked that cutting edge for quite a few years now, but I suppose that what makes the top sides like Warwickshire last year and Lancashire the year before better than everybody else. Becoming ruthless isn’t something that just comes about overnight!

We come up against a side who currently sit top of the Division, with 2 wins and 2 losses from their 4 games. Just by looking at the fact that they have yet to draw a game this season shows that they are playing positive cricket, going for the victory whenever possible. I’m not saying I want to lose, but I would certainly take 2 wins and 2 losses ahead of the position we are in at the moment, 7^th, with the proof being in the pudding with them being top. They are without Graham Onions who is with the England Lions, which is a bonus, and they may be without Ben Stokes after his injury in the YB40 washout, so we will try to capitalise on a slightly depleted squad.

The game starts at 12:00 tomorrow due to the YB40 game this evening, even though it didn’t go the full distance, and hopefully we can get off to a good start and push on for our first win of the season.