Zafar AnsariLVCC- 6 wickets @ 26.33, 43 runs @ 7.17
CB40- 4 wickets @ 42.25, 47 runs @ 23.50
T20- 4 wickets @ 55.25, 108 runs @ 36.00
The figures don’t tell the story for Zafar Ansari. The 19 year old all rounder sprung onto the scene in a T20 match against Essex at The Kia Oval and never looked back. In that match, he struck an unbeaten 30 and bowled 4 tidy overs, which was good enough for the Sky commentators to give him the Man of the Match Award. After that, he became a regular in the Surrey side, especially in one day cricket, where he played most of Surrey’s CB40 campaign, including getting the wicket of Nick Compton in the final. He definitely has a bright future, with a remarkable temperament for someone of his age, with the wicket of Rob Key in the championship game against Kent, a moment Surrey fans will remember for a long time.
Yasir ArafatLVCC- 20 wickets @ 47.40, 255 runs @ 28.33
CB40- 19 wickets @ 24.21, 85 runs @ 21.25
T20- 10 wickets @ 28.40, 71 runs @ 23.67
Overall, I think Surrey fans and Yasir Arafat himself will be slightly disappointed at his performance in 2011, especially in the Championship. He struggled to get a wicket at the beginning of the season, losing his place in the team, and when Pragyan Ojha arrived he didn’t get a look in. However, he did put together some good performances with bat and ball, not often together mind, in the CB40, where his experience was vital in a young inexperienced team. He was one of the leading wicket taker’s in the competition and, even though he didn’t bowl brilliantly, was part of the winning team at Lord’s in the final. Chris Adams will most likely not sign him again for next season, as I feel a world class spinner is his overseas priority.
Gareth Batty
LVCC- 36 wickets @ 33.33, 532 runs @ 26.60
CB40- 13 wickets @ 23.15, 29 runs @ 7.25
T20- 8 wickets @ 33.13, 24 runs @ 8.00
Gareth Batty’s passion, experience and ability was a vital asset for Surrey in 2011. He is a player who puts 100% effort into his game, and, after his slightly disappointing season in 2010, the hard work in the winter paid off. He didn’t take buckets of wickets, but often came up with the vital wicket just at the right time and was perfect foil for Pragyan Ojha towards the end of the season. His batting should also not be underestimated, with him scoring 4 fifties in the championship, putting together some important partnerships with the lower order. He also played an important role in the CB40, picking up figures of 2-35 in the final, to help Surrey to the silverware.
Zander de BruynLVCC- 1383 runs @ 55.32, 15 wickets @ 39.27
CB40- 328 runs @ 32.80, 7 wickets @ 26.71
T20- 275 runs @ 34.38, 6 wickets @ 24.67
After moving from Somerset in late 2010, Zander de Bruyn has had a fantastic first season at Surrey. He scored 4 hundreds in the championship, finishing the division’s highest scorer, and also picked up vital wickets, for his team, sometimes opening the bowling. He also had a good, but not spectacular, one day season, with the innings at Guildford against Warwickshire sticking in my mind, hitting an unbeaten 84 to keep the 100% run going. At the age of 36, he has undoubted experience, and this helped Surrey win the CB40, as he was at the crease when Spriegel carved the ball down to third man. He has been rewarded with a two year contract extension, and he has now gained a British passport.
Steven DaviesLVCC- 1035 runs @ 39.81
CB40- 395 runs @ 30.38
T20- 365 runs @ 33.18
At times in 2011, Steven Davies looked on of the greatest batsman in the world. His timing of the ball is exquisite and ability to score at a rapid pace is second to none. However, what lets him down is his consistency and failure to score big. There have been many memorable innings this season from him, including an unbeaten 99 in the T20 at Whitgift and two hundreds in the championship. If he can, which I am sure he will, have more regular innings like this, he will without doubt be England’s wicket keeper for years to come.
Rory Hamilton- BrownLVCC- 1039 runs @ 37.11, 1 wicket @ 107.00
CB40- 372 runs @ 28.62, 3 wickets @ 58.00
T20- 232 runs @ 17.85, 2 wickets @ 32.50
2011 was a great season for the skipper. Passing 1000 runs in the championship for the first time in his career and captaining his side to promotion and their first silverware since 2003. Similar to Davies, if Hamilton- Brown can score bigger more regularly, then England will be sniffing around him. His 1039 runs in the championship included just the 1 century, less than the three other batsman to past the milestone, which backs up the argument that he gets lost of 30’s and 40’s, but fails to kick on. He proved a reliable source in the powerplay’s in the CB40, bowling several tight spells, but his highlight of the season has to be his 78 in the CB40 final, which almost single handily took them to Somerset’s score.
Chris JordanLVCC- 11 wickets @ 48.00, 228 runs @ 28.50
CB40- 1 wicket @ 92.00, 0 runs @ 0.00
After suffering an awful last two seasons due to injury, 2011 was all about settling back into cricket for Jordan. At first, he struggled to pick up wickets, due to lack of confidence and sometimes lack of luck. However, he did find his feet and in the championship game at Chelmsford, Chris Jordan had his finest Surrey game. He twice past his highest first class score in that match scoring 71 and 79*, and on the final day, took 4-57, to help his side to a vital victory. If he remains to stay injury free, he surely has a big future ahead of him, but he has to take it easy, as another more long term injury could ruin his career.
Chris Schofield LVCC- 5 wickets @ 46.00, 179 runs @ 59.67
CB40- 17 wickets @ 23.12, 246 runs @ 35.14
T20- 3 wickets @ 61.00, 37 runs @ 18.50
Chris Schofield was an ever present for Surrey in their CB40 success. He was a vital asset with both bat and ball, claiming two 4-fers, and hitting a fantastic 72 chasing 296 against Northampton, the highest successful chase in 40 over cricket. However, he struggled to gain a regular place in the championship side, despite hitting a 99, for the second time in his career! This lack of first class cricket seemingly was the main factor for his release at the end of the season, and I hope he can find another club in the near future.
Matthew SpriegelCB40- 424 runs @ 53.00, 11 wickets @ 27.18
T20- 16 runs @ 5.33, 0 wickets @ N/A
Matthew Spriegel will go down in Surrey folk law after hitting the winning runs in the CB40 final against Somerset. He showed great maturity throughout the competition and it was fitting that he was the player that finished the job off. He scored 3 fifties, top scoring with a fantastic 86 against Durham, showing a never give up attitude as it was in a losing cause, and had Surrey’s highest average in the competition with 53.00. He also claimed vital wickets, with possibly the most important one of the tournament, when he had Marcus Trescothick stumped in the final. He has recently signed a new 1 year contract at the club, but has openly admitted to being disappointed at not playing a single championship game, so 2012 must be the breakthrough year for Matthew Spriegel.
Gary WilsonLVCC- 110 runs @ 22.00
CB40- 0 runs @ 0.00
T20- 11 runs @ 5.50
2011 was a disappointing year for the Irish wicket keeper, Gary Wilson. He started the season off opening in the championship, but failed to cement his place and after falling out of the team, he never returned. He played the odd one day game, but was named in the squads mainly due to his fantastic fielding ability as 12th man. Wilson will be hoping that Steven Davies gets called up by England so he gets more of a regular role, but will still have to be careful as young keeper Rory Burns is waiting in the wings.
