Ansari in squad for Sussex clash

Zafar Ansari has been named in a 13 man squad for the LV County Championship match against Division One leaders Sussex at Arundel starting tomorrow.

After finishing his studies at Cambridge University last week, Ansari has been drafted straight into the squad for the first time this season for another must win game for Surrey.

Here is the squad in full:

Vikram Solanki (C)

Rory Burns

Arun Harinath

Ricky Ponting

Zander de Bruyn

Steve Davies

Gary Wilson

Zafar Ansari

Jon Lewis

Tim Linley

Chris Tremlett

Jade Dernbach

Gary Keedy

Even though it isn’t certain that Ansari will play, it is still great to see him back in the set up as his temperament and ability has certainly been missed. I personally would select him in the final X1 and bring him in for de Bruyn, who once again struggled at Guildford last week. So far this season we have predominantly gone with 3 seamers, 1 spinner and de Bruyn as the makeup of the bowling attack and de Bruyn has bowled far more often than he did last season, so possibly Adams will stick with him ahead of Ansari as a 4^th seamer, but I do hope that is not the case.

Ansari opened the batting for the last half of the 2012 season but not with sustained success, hitting just one half century in 12 innings, averaging just over 22. Therefore, I would put him in the middle order at perhaps 5 or 6 because I feel in the long term that would be his position in the side. Anyway, why tamper with an opening partnership between Burns and Harinath which put on two stands at Guildford larger than any previous this season.  

You may well have noticed that Stuart Meaker is missing from the party and this is because he sustained a knee injury at Guildford and will be missing for around two weeks. That is a blow because on his day Meaker can make things happen that others can’t, but this season he has struggled to start games well, often going at an expensive run rate. That gives another bowler their chance however and I presume that alongside Dernbach and Tremlett will be one of Lewis and Linley. I’m not too sure who I would go with but Lewis may get the nod as he can bat, because a tail with Tremlett or Linley at number 8 is extremely long!

However, it all depends on who other selections in the side. If Ansari plays ahead of de Bruyn, Adams may opt to have him as the sole spinner in the side and play all 4 seamers and not Keedy. However, Ansari’s left armers were reluctantly used last year in the 4 day game so Keedy may be picked despite his average being over 120 so far this season.

As stated previously, Sussex sit at the top of the Division and will prove another tough test this week. With the league’s top wicket takers in Magoffin and Jordan and the likes of Prior, Joyce and an in form Luke Wright, no wonder they are doing so well but we have to ignore that and go out and win the game.

By the laws of averages we are due a win in this competition and it could propel us up 3 or 4 places if we manage it, which would certainly reinstall some much needed confidence and belief into the dressing room.