SEPTEMBER 2010

SUPPORTERS' CLUB NEWS

REMEMBERED
We regret to inform you that Mr.E.J.Tyler, a long-standing member of the Surrey CCC Supporters' Club, passed away on May 26. Our sincere condolences go out to his son Steve and the rest of the family at this extremely sad time.

SUPPORTERS' CLUB PLAYER OF THE SEASON AWARDS
The September edition of Oval World contains a Player Of The Season voting slip so that you, the supporters, can reward the players for their efforts this summer. The four categories, as always, are Player of the Season, Most Improved Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and the Sylvester Clarke Rum Moment of the Season. In case any of you are wondering about the last of these, it was introduced in 2002 to mark the most memorable Surrey-related moment of the summer. For example, two years ago the Rum Moment was Mark Ramprakash achieving a hundred first-class hundreds. Get the idea? Of course you do. The Supporters' Club will present its awards at Surrey CCC's end of season awards reception at the Brit Oval.

FANTASY LEAGUE LATEST
As at August 8, the standings in the Oval World Fantasy Cricket League 2010 were as follows:

1 Chris Stoneman Banza Forever 420.3 23= Paul Blake Blakey's Eleven 348.0
2 Brian Cowley Ruislip Ramblers 412.0 23= Graham Hill Tavernier Towne 348.0
3 Chris Payne Theakston's Old Peculiars 410.7 25 Chris Keene Keene As Mustard 343.3
4 Vic Faulkner Vic's Young Bucks 394.5 26 Nick Robinson Come On The Ree 342.0
5 Tony Raisborough Ishouldbesolucky 393.7 27 Mick Shaw Lukesmile 341.8
6 Paul Witney Sunbury Blues 388.9 28 Rob Lewis Oval The Bars… 337.0
7 Dave Taylor Hot Chocolates 383.3 29 Paul Stedman Stedders Corinthians 335.9
8 Jean Galsworthy Rosebery Ramblers 381.6 30 Michael Wright The Bitter End 331.7
9 David Barker Comics 377.2 31 Grahame Cove GeoffArnoldLong 330.2
10 A E Ratcliff Bertie's Bash Hits 377.1 32 Nigel Sharp Strictly Cricket 324.2
11 Richard Budden Surrey Stars 376.7 33 Tracey Field Perfect Picnic 317.4
12 John Flatley The Sole Judges 373.6 34 Ann Millington-Jones Liquorice Allsorts 312.9
13 Bob Parsons Ever Hopefuls 372.2 35 Leigh Jones Coaches Galore 304.9
14 Mike Jackson Jacko Bunch 366.2 36 N Wheeler Waiverers 299.3
15 Michael Greensmith Blackway Allstars 2010 364.4 37 Mark Smith Mountain Madness 299.1
16 Chris Levitt The Mottley Crew 359.8 38 David Pearce Stars And Woodbees 298.5
17 Barry Chrysanthou-Toms Barry's 20-10 Hopefulls 357.4 39 Marcus Hook Depeche Modi 297.7
18 Alistair Gordon Alistair's Allstars 354.0 40 Roger Hudson The Wild Rovers 294.1
19 Andy Woodhouse The Silver Blankeys 353.6 41 Sarah Atkins The Hash Browns 288.5
20 Anthony Earl ACE XI 352.2 42 Thomas Earl It's Not Their Fault 287.3
21 Colin Bayly Free George Davis 350.2 43 Vanessa Ellis Nessie & Dave's Dream Team 276.4
22 Doug Minde Dougie's Wonders 2010 350.1 44 Bill Bateman Tribute To John-Boy 257.7

TEAM, CLUB AND OTHER NEWS

UNDER-15s RECORD NOTABLE HAT-TRICK OF TITLES
On August 20, Surrey won the ECB U15 County Cup after holding their nerve to beat Yorkshire by 6 runs in a thrilling climax at Oakham School. The victory completes the unique sequence of the same age-group side winning three successive national finals - in 2008 they clinched the U13 County Cup and followed that up in 2009 with the U14 County Cup. After Surrey won the toss, openers Jack Scriven and Dominic Sibley gradually grew in confidence, putting on 44 in 14 overs. But, six overs later, that became 63-3 when Sibley (34) was run out following an ill-fated mix-up with Charlie O'Brien. After skipper Richard O'Grady, abetted by O'Brien, repaired the damage, the South Londoners slipped again, to 101-5 in the 34th over. But thanks to a tenth wicket stand of 27 in 25 deliveries between Harshil Patel and Will Rollings, the young Ovalites posted a competitive 161. Twenty-seven overs into their reply, Yorkshire were 81-2, but by the end of the 31st over the Tykes were wobbling at 97-5. Needing 65 to win off nineteen overs, Yorkshire rallied. Opener James McNichol was caught behind for 57, to make it 114-6. That soon became 118-7, but then Ryan Sharrocks threatened to carry his side over the line. However, with the total on 143, Rollings provided the killer blow when he accounted for Sharrocks, who was also claimed behind by keeper Bradley Gayler. Requiring eleven from the final over, the Tykes were held in check by seamer Harshil Patel. Will Rollings finished with figures of 3-30 from seven overs, while Jack Scriven and Tom Winslade picked up 2-23 and 2-29 respectively.

SHELDON CALLS FOR MORE MEANINGFUL CRICKET
Surrey's chief executive Paul Sheldon blamed the saturated domestic schedule for the ticket sales for the Third Test between England and Pakistan at the Brit Oval. For first time since 1986, the opening day of the Oval Test failed to sell-out and Sheldon fears it could be the beginning of a negative trend unless steps are taken to cut down the packed fixture list. He told the Daily Telegraph (August 19): "There are an enormous number of complex issues around scheduling, too much cricket both domestically and internationally. It is a complex situation we find ourselves in and we have gradually moved in this direction. One does wonder if it is the beginning of something. If Lord's and the Oval Test are not selling out it is time to ask some fundamental questions. We are very close to a substantial crisis unless we do that. If we are feeling it at the Oval then those in the shires must be feeling it much, much worse. We need less cricket and more meaningful cricket. Every match must matter and must be of high quality. I have an absolute conviction we are playing too much cricket." The problem is not just confined to the international arena, with Sheldon concerned that overall attendance figures were the same for five 20-over matches at the Brit Oval last summer as they were for eight matches this year. He added: "Domestically in the T20 we have a situation where we had 16 matches per county this season. It was incredibly demanding and overall we had the same number of people watching eight home matches that watched five last year. That does not feel right."

BATTY UNLIKELY TO FACE CENSURE AFTER ALTERCATION
On August 18, Gareth Batty was involved in heated exchanges with spectators on an unhappy return to New Road as Surrey succumbed to Worcestershire. Batty, who parted company with the Pears at the end of last season, twice turned back as he climbed the pavilion steps to speak to spectators who had heckled him after he drilled Matt Mason to point. Having removed his pads Batty then left the pavilion and sought out a middle-aged-looking man who was sat in front of the New Road Stand. Batty, who is Surrey's vice captain, was believed to have asked the spectator what he had done to offend him, but was eventually led away by Surrey's first team coach, Ian Salisbury. After the match, which the visitors lost by 238 runs, the Ovalites' professional cricket manager, Chris Adams said: "He got worded as he came off. It's a difficult fixture for anybody returning to their old club and it's quite sad that he wasn't afforded the respect from the supporters after putting in a long stretch of service here. I think that shows a lack of respect and it's disappointing from that angle and he will be disappointed that he allowed himself to react to it. I know he came down to have a chat to perhaps clear up with the guy, but I don't know other than that anything around the incident. Unfortunately there are people who don't understand what it is like to play professional sport but, equally, supporters are passionate and if nothing else they will let you know what they are feeling." Worcestershire's chief executive, Mark Newton said that he had spoken to Batty and the spectators involved and that no further action would be taken. Batty, who was also jeered during a CB40 match at New Road earlier this season, is thought unlikely to be reprimanded. The incident rounded off a wretched and eventful 48 minutes for the visitors, who lost their last six wickets in just 27 balls after Steven Davies and Rory Hamilton-Brown had plundered 46 from the final day's opening five overs.

SURREY UNDER-14s REACH NATIONAL FINAL
Surrey finished this year's ECB U14 National County Cup competition as runners-up to Yorkshire, who won the final at Oakham School on August 18 by 39 runs. Replying to the Tykes' 222-7 in 45 overs - which saw Callum Goldthorpe and Dylan Budge put on 80 for the fourth wicket as well as 76 runs come off the last ten overs - Surrey's openers, Nathan Thorpe and Dominic Sibley, started watchfully. In the tenth over, Thorpe, who made an unbeaten 68 in the semi-final victory over Hampshire, was the first to go. Sibley (38) followed him eleven overs later to make it 64-2. With the asking rate increasing by the over, a fourth wicket partnership of 43 between keeper-batsman Matthew Stiddard (38) and Harry Allen (24) left the South Londoners needing 100 off the last ten overs. Sadly, it proved to be far too tall and order. With wickets tumbling, Surrey ended up making 183-8.

YARDY THWARTS SURREY IN RAIN-AFFECTED DRAW AT GUILDFORD
Rain and, not for the first time, Sussex's Michael Yardy thwarted Surrey's attempts to record a fourth win in this summer's County Championship, at Guildford. But 21-year-old paceman Stuart Meaker turned in another promising display, taking four wickets in the visitors' second innings. After the match Meaker revealed that manager Chris Adams has challenged the players to finish the season on a high. Meaker said: "We've won more games than we did last year, but Grizz has taken us to one side and said he wants us to go at it really hard in the last four championship games, up the tempo and carry that into next season. Hopefully it'll be the same bunch of guys and we need to build on the performances we've already made this year. That might not result in us going up, but it results in a lot of experience, team bonding and characters putting their hands up. We had seven players in the side under the age of 24, so that bodes very well for us going into the future. I know a couple of the older guys - Ramprakash and Tremlett - are the key performers, but some of the youngsters are starting to put in some performances themselves and it's nice to see that young opening batting attack as well. It's very exciting for the club." Yardy reached his hundred on the final afternoon by hooking Meaker for six. Asked if he had ever been hooked for six before, Meaker replied: "Not when I have been going for my five-fer. Credit to Yardy, he deserved his hundred the way he approached his innings. I just wish it hadn't been off me." But the outcome of the match was dictated by the loss of the second day to the weather. Meaker said: "That day of rain absolutely ruined the game for us. There was still a glimmer of hope coming into today, if we had rattled them quickly. First ball we were thinking this could be it, but credit to Sussex, who played very well. They made sure they had partnerships and killed off the game. It was still evenly poised, but if we had not lost that day of rain I'd like to say we would have come out the winners." Chris Adams echoed Meaker's assessment. The Surrey supremo said: "I think Sussex showed today why they are where they are. They're resilient, they dug in, I thought Yardy's innings was exceptional. Young Ben Brown played a very important knock as well. But the evidence for me over the three days that we managed to play is that we dominated a good team and that's with seven under 24-year-olds, who have all come through the system at Surrey. That has to be a huge positive for the club. It's a massive positive for me. I'm delighted in one or two special performances - in particular I thought Stuart Meaker bowled magnificent through this game, with great pace. He was great against Northants, consistently went past the outside edge and backed it up here. He's getting very close to what I would perceive to be the type of bowler that makes people come and watch you with a view to taking you to another level. For that to happen he must perform consistently in back-to-back games and that's very much the challenge I've set him."

SURREY NOT IN THE MARKET FOR OVERSEAS PLAYER
Surrey's director of cricket, Gus Mackay has confirmed that the club will not be signing another overseas player this season. He said: "It's been a tough couple of years overseas player-wise. As a club we've made the decision that we're not going to go for an overseas player for the rest of the season, we're going to back our youngsters. That's obviously been a tough decision and a tough one for the team to take, but equally it provides a lot of opportunity. We only want to be signing overseas players who are quality. We don't want someone to come in just because we feel we've got to have an overseas player. We set out twelve months ago to make sure we had an overseas player in place, because our track record wasn't good. Unfortunately that fell through. We had three goes at trying to get Piyush Chawla and it just wouldn't happen." Mackay also admitted the summer has not been without its frustrations on the field. He said: "What I'm learning about the side is we're very up and down. That said, we've won 16 games in all competitions this year versus eight last year and nine the year before. That's progress. The management team should be congratulated for the progress they've made. But equally we do accept that when we play like we did against Middlesex and Leicestershire (in the championship) and the two games at the start of the Twenty20 that's when the frustration comes in and we understand how our members and supporters get frustrated with that. At least we're winning games now, which is something the changing room hasn't been used to. Rory Hamilton-Brown, as a captain, is developing both as a player and as a person. As long as we accept that we will have good days and we will have bad days, which is the nature of a group of young players, then things bode well in terms of our 3 to 5-year plan."

RAMPRAKASH: CUT BACK ON T20 GROUP GAMES
Mark Ramprakash has urged cricket chiefs to revamp the domestic fixture list or risk damaging the level of competition required to breed Test-class players. Ramprakash, who is in his 24th season as a professional, has said he cannot recall a campaign as punishing as this year's. He told the Evening Standard (August 11): "The County Championship has been accused of being a soft competition. It's anything but, but it will become so if we play too much cricket. Bowling attacks get tired and the cricket starts to lack intensity. For a player, this summer's fixture list has been a nightmare. I can't remember a season being this congested for a long time. To play 16 group games in the T20 was nonsense; they have certainly over-egged the pudding. Every player used to be desperate to play Twenty20 cricket, whereas this year clubs have rotated because their players are knackered. Twenty20 used to be special but this year it has become just another competition. The Oval used to be sold out when we played Middlesex and we'd get big crowds against Kent and Essex but the crowds have been way down. Let's cut these T20 group games and have the competition over three weeks in the middle of the summer. If you could lose six group games, it would be a great start."

EVANS BEMOANS LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES
On August 10, Surrey announced the release of Laurie Evans, who, after making his second eleven debut in 2005, was handed just seven first team starts in all competitions. But, in an interview with the Croydon Advertiser (August 13), the 22-year-old batsman said he has been "spurred on" by being told he is surplus to requirements at the Oval. Evans said: "If I'm not going to play here, I will play somewhere else. I have wanted to play for Surrey all my life, but I have been told that I won't play for the first eleven as long as Chris Adams is there. The belief I have in myself, and the fact that I can still have a county career and try to play for England - this doesn't mean that has gone. There are better players than me who this has happened to. It spurs me on, more than anything else." Evans, who hit 98 for the first team against Bangladesh in May, had been in top form, hitting four hundreds in little over a week for the Surrey Academy, the county's second eleven and two for Old Whitgiftians. He added: "Surrey seemed to think I have had enough opportunities, but they're going to say that. The bottom line is I've played two matches this season - one against Middlesex and one against the Bangladeshis, and that was it. I don't really see that as opportunity. I had an idea I might be released as I was scoring a lot of runs and not playing. But all you can do is keep going and keep trying to score runs. It's tough when you know the door is shut but you have to keep pushing yourself to play first team cricket. After a while I realised they had no intention of playing me, so it was a case of making sure I did well for myself and for people immediately around me." A Surrey CCC press release stated: "With his contract due to expire at the end of the current season, the decision to release Evans from the deal has been made now to give him every chance to seek an alternative club at which to continue his county career."

CMJ DIVULGES REVISED PLANS FOR 2011 DOMESTIC SCHEDULE
In an article in The Times (August 10), Christopher Martin-Jenkins revealed that the ECB is set to respond to the general dissatisfaction with this year's incoherent domestic fixture list by making cuts to the Twenty20 and 40-over programmes. The ECB had been preparing a reduced County Championship from 2011, but both players and county members insisted it is the one-day programme that needed trimming. The article claimed that the 18 first-class counties have been asked to consider a reversion to ten T20 matches for each county, in three groups, followed by quarter-finals and the finals day, already earmarked for Chester-le-Street. This year's organisation of the counties into north and south for the FPt20 resulted in more travelling and costs. Crowds and gate money fell below expectations, although David Collier, the ECB's chief executive, estimated the expanded programme increased income to the game overall by more than £1 million. Martin-Jenkins's article also stated that next summer's Clydesdale Bank 40 is likely to switch from three groups of seven to four groups of five, involving two of Scotland, the Netherlands, Ireland and the Unicorns, followed by quarter and semi-finals and the traditional Lord's final. With eight group games, each county would be guaranteed four home fixtures.

BUTCHER RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM
Since retiring from cricket at the end of last season, former Surrey and England batsman Mark Butcher has moved into the music world with the release of his debut album Songs From The Sun House on August 9. The 37-year-old enjoyed gigging with his self-titled band during his playing career, but has now had the chance to sit down and record his blend of blues and soul. He said: "I've been playing since I was 15-years-old, but it took a cricket career to get round to recording the album. It's not a vanity project, it's taken a lot of hard work and money to produce and I'm very proud of it. I listen to all kinds of music from country to Mozart, but the inspiration that set me on my way to singing and playing guitar would be Eric Clapton. Having retired from playing this is the next thing to throw my energies into - I'm very serious about it." One of the tracks on the long player is a reprise of You're Never Gone, the song Butcher penned as a tribute to his former team-mate Ben Hollioake, who tragically died in a car accident in 2002. Butcher admits playing the song live still affects him from time-to-time, but the feedback he has received makes it all worth it. He said: "You're Never Gone is the song on the album people may know from before. The album is full of songs I've written on the road during my cricket career and up to now. I guess it's my life on one little CD. Some nights playing Ben's song can be really emotional. Even so, I still love playing it. People have written to me about the song and how much it meant to them, which has been great to hear." For gig dates and where to buy The Mark Butcher Band: Songs From The Sun House go to: www.markbutcher.net

NEL'S INJURY DEEPENS MOOD AFTER LORD'S DEFEAT
Following Surrey's defeat by an innings and 44 runs at Lord's, Chris Adams called on his players to get an edge back into their cricket. After the match Surrey's professional cricket manager said: "Whilst we've played some positive cricket for a month, to lose, now, two games in a row, quite comfortably as well - the one-dayer against Somerset and now this four-dayer - it's time for the lads to really check themselves and get an edge back into their cricket. Whether there was any complacency or not is difficult to nail down. Certainly, we never got in this game from ball one." Adams also acknowledged that for Surrey to lose to Middlesex in the manner they did is a bitter pill for everyone connected with the club to swallow. He said: "It's disappointing and there's an added disappointment because it is the local derby. I know that the fans and loyal supporters will be hurting that little bit more, because it is Middlesex. But equally they've seen the worst of us in this game and the best of us in the last game, against Northants. That's where we are as a team. We are progressing and we are improving - that is clear to see. But at our best we're brilliant and at our worst we're like we were in this game. I want to make sure we're not too reactionary as a management group. I think you have to stay consistent in terms of how we deal with defeat as well as victory. There wasn't too much to really shout home about the batting in this game. We won't let that affect us too much. I think the most important thing is we take this on the chin and we go away from here and regroup." Adams also admitted that losing Andre Nel to injury was a blow. He said: "In the last four to six weeks Andre really has stepped up a level. He's been heroic and immense for the side. He's such a huge character to have leading from the front. Of course you miss him when, suddenly, he's not there. It's a big blow for us. It's been a very difficult schedule of late and I think he's just succumbed finally to the workload that's been asked of him. But does that mean we should have been beaten quite so soundly? No it doesn't. I don't think we managed to deal with what I would call good swing bowling. I wouldn't say it was unplayable swing bowling. The wicket was certainly saying bat first, the conditions were favourable for swing. It's one of those awful decisions. I know that Middlesex were in the same situation - they would have batted first as well." Adams also revealed that Nel could be out of action for a while. He said: "It's a hamstring issue. It's a really unusual presentation, so we're looking to get the clinical diagnosis. At the moment the signs aren't terrifically good, but rather than jump in and make rash statements about how long, I want to make sure we get another opinion just to back up what we're being told. But I envisage that Andre won't figure for us for some time."

BATTY UPBEAT AFTER NORTHANTS DOUBLE
On July 22, Surrey's vice captain, Gareth Batty, hailed the Oval outfit's second victory this season against Northants, by an innings and 175 runs, as a great team effort. After the match, the 32-year-old off-spinner said: "It's been a very good three days for us. We set the tone from practice, to the first ball of the game, to the very last. I thought we were as good as you're likely to see. Everybody will say this and that about individuals, but as a bunch of eleven blokes I don't think you can do or ask for any more than every single one of us gave. We're not playing on result pitches like some of the other teams. We're playing proper cricket on proper cricket pitches and we're doing the hard yards, hence we've got a few niggles around. But the boys are going through them and playing some really good cricket. We're starting to get some real momentum and consistency. It ridiculously exciting at the minute. The young lads are really pushing the older blokes and the older blokes are pushing the young lads. It's a really good environment and if we keep doing what we're doing there'll be more results like that." Batty's main contribution was figures of 5-76 in the first innings, his first five-wicket haul in a Surrey shirt. He said: "It's a weight off the shoulders more than anything, I suppose. But the boys backed it up. Stevie D's been great behind the stumps. There's been some great catches and the two big fellas (Nel and Tremlett) set it up. Sometimes Neller and Tremmers don't get the accolades that they should do, but they've been absolutely phenomenal. Tremmers is arguably the best bowler in the country at the moment. I can't see a fast bowler touching him, and I say that with the utmost respect for all the others." However, Batty admitted that Surrey's purple patch in four-day cricket did not make up for the disappointment of missing out on a place in the last eight of the Twenty20. He said: "Whether it was the wrong formation or whatever, we certainly had a hold on a quarter-final place. It was down to us as individuals and as a team. We burden that responsibility together and we move on. We can't do anything about it this year, but next year we can learn from it. We're going pretty well in the CB40 and we've got some real momentum now in four-day cricket. People would have expected massive things, in the winter, and rightly so - it's a massive club. But sometimes you need a fraction of time. Hopefully, the management are going to be allowed that time to get the formula right. As far as I'm concerned I've never been in a better environment. Even in the very short time I was around England."

TONY MURPHY REJOINS SURREY CRICKET
The former Lancashire and Surrey seamer and current Surrey committee member, Tony Murphy, has been appointed to the position of non-executive director of cricket. He will now also sit on the Surrey Cricket Board. Murphy's appointment replaces the chairman of cricket role, held previously by Roger Harman. Murphy, 48, who made 67 first-class appearances for Surrey between 1989 and 1994, taking 175 wickets, said: "I am proud to have been appointed into this role at a time when Surrey is looking to rebuild and return to the top of English cricket. These are exciting times for the club and I'm looking forward to working with all those who are involved in the cricket department in the rebuilding process, which is already well underway and showing positive improvements."

SURREY EDGED OUT OF T20 QUARTER-FINAL PLACE ON RUN-RATE
On July 18, despite an emphatic six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol, Surrey were edged out of a place in the last eight of the FPt20 on run-rate, by Hampshire. After the match, Chris Adams admitted the away defeat to Essex was a pivotal moment in the Lions' tilt at the FPt20. The Surrey supremo said: "The lads put in a really polished and professional performance today. They did everything that could be asked of them. Sadly it was a little bit too late. Nonetheless, on today's performance and several others in the competition there's a lot to take out of this. We played enough good cricket to be there (in the quarter-finals). I think we'll look back at that game at Chelmsford - 78 runs from four overs and that was is it, the game was gone in a flash. That particular game was one where, for the first time, I saw us as a real threat. Up until those four overs we'd put in the most polished of performances, bossed a very good team and then one flash of brilliance from Scott Styris and a couple of guys not quite getting it right and the game was gone." Having restricted Gloucestershire to 147-9, the Lions victory was all but sealed by Steven Davies and the Surrey skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown's first wicket stand of 112 in eight and a half overs. Adams said: "Steve Davies was just incredible today. He was a real class act, above anybody else in the game. The captain is also starting to show what a talent he is. He is far from being the finished article, but if he doesn't go on and play for England I'll be very surprised." Adams added: "All of the bowlers have done well at various stages in this competition, but Chris Tremlett has been outstanding throughout. He has been a real warrior for the team of late. It was a sticky start for him, but we got him off and running eventually, after his problems with his groin and a shoulder, but I think you saw the true colours of Chris Tremlett at Chesterfield (in the championship) in that brutal game. He's backed it up in the Twenty20 and has been the stand out bowler in the tournament."

ICC PLANNING FOR TEST CHAMPIONSHIP
The ICC's chief executive Haroon Lorgat has revealed that England could play host to an inaugural Test championship during the 2013 Ashes summer. Cricket's governing body has been considering the possibility of introducing a Test championship as they seek to create extra interest in the longer format of the game. An ICC sub-committee has been tasked with investigating the idea, with issues such as the format and scheduling of the tournament in a busy international calendar key being factors to overcome. On July 16, Lorgat told BBC's Radio Five Live Extra: "There's real talk of a Test play-off in the not too distant future around 2012 or 2013. There's a slot in 2013 that we think could work, where they would take the existing rankings table and the top four would progress into a semi-final and final. We have an open mind. We will structure the formats and events correctly so we are not sitting with the mindset that this is not negotiable. If that (the Champions Trophy) has to be replaced by the Test championship final, then so be it. I'm confident when I see a lot more of the full members are beginning to see the need for context and the need for generating more interest in Test cricket."

HAMILTON-BROWN PROUD OF CHESTERFIELD EFFORT
Surrey's captain Rory Hamilton-Brown could not praise his side enough after the Oval outfit's tense 42-run championship victory over Derbyshire at Chesterfield. Going into the final day, Derbyshire needed 272 to win with nine wickets remaining. But with Surrey a bowler short, following the injury to Tim Linley on day two, and Andre Nel fighting a sore hamstring, the visitors had to dig deep. Their hopes then took another knock when Gareth Batty broke a finger on his left hand attempting to take a catch. But thanks to Chris Tremlett's 4-94 and Nel's heroic 3-74, the visitors made it two wins in three in the four-day format. After the match, Hamilton-Brown said: "I don't think I could be any prouder. We were left with one and a half seamers, one spinner who was injured, but eleven blokes who were desperate to win and who showed a huge amount of heart. The game ebbed a flowed all through today. To come out with a win, I thought the rain was going to get us at the end - I would have retired if the rain had done us - but I'm almost lost for words because the effort was more than I have ever experienced. Over the last four weeks we've been like that pretty much, to a man, every game. I think it shows how far we've come in a short space of time. We've got eleven blokes on the pitch, consistently, who are desperate to win - brave guys who will do everything to make this club successful. We've had a tough start in the championship. We've now got two wins in three and we're starting to play good cricket. For Chris Tremlett to lead the attack like that, on his own, the pressure that him and Gareth Batty were under to basically do it on their own. Also, for Usman Afzaal to get two wickets, huge, and for Arun Harinath to have the energy to take the catch to dismiss Robin Peterson - all of it together just shows a real brave bunch of guys who are fearless. I'm hugely proud and it's a great performance to draw from."

BACK TO: