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."
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