SEPTEMBER 2011

SUPPORTERS' CLUB NEWS

SUPPORTERS' CLUB PLAYER OF THE SEASON AWARDS
It is soon to be awards time and, as always, there are four categories of Surrey CCC Supporters' Club awards for you to vote on:

1) Player of the Season
2) Most Improved Player of the Season
3) Young Player of the Season, and
4) The Sylvester Clarke Rum Moment of the Season.

In case you are wondering about the last of these prizes, it was introduced in 2002 to mark the most memorable Surrey-related moment of the summer. For example, three years ago the Rum Moment was Mark Ramprakash achieving one hundred first-class hundreds. In 2010, Jason Roy received the award for his T20 century against Kent. Last we heard, Surrey's end of season awards reception is on September 21. So, the closing date for the voting is September 14.

ALCOCK ROOM
This season Surrey CCC have, once again, kindly allowed the Supporters' Club use of the Alcock Room on home match days at the Kia Oval. The Alcock Room, which is situated on the top floor of the Main Pavilion (next door to the Library), affords an excellent view of events. Visitors are always guaranteed a warm welcome from Ann Atkins and various other members of the Supporters' Club committee.

MEMBERSHIP 2011
If you haven't yet renewed your membership of the Surrey CCC Supporters' Club, please make sure you do so as soon as possible, or you could miss out on future editions of 'Oval World'. The annual subscription rates are £6.00 for full members, £4.00 for senior citizens and £1.00 for juniors. Subs, along with a note of your current address, should be sent to Marcus Hook at Flat 1, 67 Birdhurst Rise, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 7EJ. Cheques should be made payable to: 'SCCC Supporters' Club'.

FANTASY LEAGUE - WITH THREE TO COME
As at August 27, with three rounds of County Championship matches to go, the Oval World Fantasy Cricket League table looked like this:

TEAM, CLUB AND OTHER NEWS

HAMILTON-BROWN: DEFEAT WAS A REALITY CHECK
Even though Surrey's one hundred per cent record in the Clydesdale Bank 40 came to an end on August Bank Holiday Monday, Matthew Spriegel's enthralling 86 off 57 balls won the Lions plenty of admirers. But Rory Hamilton-Brown, the Surrey captain, described the loss as a reality check. After the match he said: "It was a superb game. I think the way Phil Mustard started off and then Paul Collingwood played was outstanding. They (Durham) got I'm sure what was better than a par score. We certainly could have bowled and fielded better, so we've got some improvements to make. But on the whole it was an exciting game of cricket, which we came out the wrong side of." Hamilton-Brown added: "We're blessed with fantastic one-day wickets and today was no different. Obviously with the short boundary on one side it's a bit tougher for bowlers and captains. But we've been good at adjusting to things like that this year and today we came slightly unstuck. That happens and it gives us a good reality check. We had three new faces in today, which shows that when you've got a winning formula and you change things about it's not easy to mix things up. But we've got some guys who can come back and make a difference, like Yasir Arafat. There are two games to win a trophy and we're really excited."

SKIPPER: WE VERY MUCH SEE OURSELVES IN THE PROMOTION RACE
Rory Hamilton-Brown believes Surrey are not yet out of the reckoning in terms of promotion in the County Championship. Immediately following the ten-wicket victory at Leicester, he said: "We very much see ourselves in the promotion race. There's no reason why we can't win three more games and almost guarantee going up. We're very much in two competitions. We're playing good cricket. When you get the performances it's really positive because it's young blokes standing up and performing. So, from that aspect, with Jason Roy, Matthew Spriegel, Steven Davies and Tim Linley we've had some contributions from people that you wouldn't necessarily see as senior boys. We've got a lot of people performing at the right time of the year. We've also got a real good buzz around the dressing room. There's a lot of good characters and a lot of mates up there. We try and have a good time, through the good and the bad, but, obviously, we're slightly happier when we're playing good cricket."

BROWNEY REFLECTS
In a recent interview for Spin magazine Alistair Brown looked back to his early days as a Surrey player, and the turning point in the fortunes of the Oval outfit that went off the boil after winning three championships in four years. Brown said: "The dressing-room was quite a poor place when I joined. Ian Greig was in charge and I don’t think he had the full support of the players. I remember as a youngster I was sent to find Sylvester Clarke one morning. I was told he’d either be in his flat or at Ladbrokes. But I couldn’t find him in either, so he didn’t play the game. Greig wasn’t happy but I think it showed the lack of respect that Clarke then came for a drink in the Tavern at the end of the day’s play. It was indicative of what was wrong. And if the dressing-room isn’t right, it doesn’t matter who you’ve got in your team. When you’ve got people like Waqar Younus or Clarke in your side and you’re not getting close to winning trophies, it suggests something’s not quite right. I got into the first team in 1992 and within two or three years it had gelled and by 1995 we were capable of winning trophies. A lot of our players came through at the same time: Graham Thorpe, Martin Bicknell, Mark Butcher, Ian Ward... and a lot of that gelling was down to the captaincy of Adam Hollioake. He was the best captain I played under: he was a strong leader, he had a lot of ideas, he was well respected and he got the team playing as one." On Surrey's decline post-2002, Brown said: "I think it all started when Ben (Hollioake) died. The season after that we felt, ‘We’re going to win this for Ben’. But it was a hard blow for Adam and he was never the same player again. Adam was an extraordinary leader, a very hard leader. And, of course when Ben died that affected Adam and we didn’t have that leadership from the top. That was the start of the end for us as a team. Ian Ward was sacked, which I found difficult to understand. He was sacked, basically, to bring in younger players as I was, in the end. Ward was sacked to bring in Scott Newman as I was sacked to bring in James Benning. But that was the start of it, in 2002. the whole atmosphere in the dressing-room changed. Add to that, Saqlain Mushtaq, who had been outstanding for us, had a knee injury and I don’t think he ever came back to be as good a bowler again. When Adam stood down, Jon Batty came in as captain. Jon was a great guy but it was difficult for him to follow someone who was Surrey’s best captain for 30 years. In that good era if we had a team meal everyone would go out and get on well together. But post-2002, it started to fragment a bit."

SURREY PAY TRIBUTE TO ALISTAIR BROWN
On August 26, the Surrey chairman Richard Thompson paid tribute to Alistair Brown, who announced his retirement from first-class cricket on August 17. Thompson said: "Alistair Brown was one of the best - and most popular - players to pull on a Surrey shirt in the last twenty years. He hit some deeply memorable innings for the club and played his part in the fantastic era of success that defined Surrey CCC throughout the late nineties and early part of the new millennium. After winning the title with Surrey he then also won the County Championship with Nottinghamshire, something very few players in the game are able to achieve. Whilst it is sad to see him retire, I hope we may now be able to welcome him to the Kia Oval more regularly and - as both his sons are being educated in the county - possibly look forward to another Brown pulling on a Surrey shirt sometime in the future. On behalf of Surrey County Cricket Club, I would like to congratulate Ali Brown on an extraordinary career and thank him for everything he has done for us."

U15s CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
In a tense final at Oakham School on August 19, Surrey Under-15s avenged their defeat by Yorkshire in last year's Under-14 ECB Cup final. After the abandonment of both semi-finals the day before, it was agreed to play two 20-over semis, followed by a 35-over final. With Surrey beating Notts and Yorkshire sneaking home against Somerset, the final brought together the same teams as had contested the climax to the 2010 Under-14 competition. Surrey's captain Dominic Sibley won his second toss of the day and, this time, elected to bat. Both he and opening partner, Jack Lloyd got Surrey off to a good start, putting on 81 off 94 balls before Sibley (46) was bowled. Nathan Thorpe and Harry Allen came and went and when Lloyd (65) edged behind in the 28th over, to followed shortly afterwards by Greg Dann, Surrey were 136-5 with two new batsmen at the crease and seven overs to utilise. However, an inventive knock from Matt Stiddard, who made 35 in 25 deliveries, abetted by James Smith helped Surrey to a competitive 195-6. Yorkshire's batting line-up included seven boys who had represented the North at this year's Bunbury Festival. But the Tykes were soon reduced to 20-2 when Satbir Mann had Goldthorpe claimed at slip and Darshan Chohan had Budge brilliantly caught at short mid-wicket by Smith. Elliott (32) then joined forces with Gibson (21), but the introduction of Bhavesh Pankhania saw Gibson loft a the ball to extra cover. When Elliott fell to the bowling of Lloyd, Yorkshire were 79-4, needing 116 to win off 16 overs. But until Surrey saw the back Josh Shaw (69), the game remained in the balance. With 34 needed from the last three, the 33rd over had already gone for fourteen runs when Thompson straight drove Chris Leith firmly, only for the bowler to deflect the ball on to the stumps, running out Shaw in the unluckiest of circumstances. Surrey went on to hold their nerve and clinch the title by just five runs.

SURREY SNAP UP OJHA
On August 23, Surrey announced the signing of India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for the remainder of the season. The club's professional cricket manager, Chris Adams said: "We did our homework on him with Anil Kumble who rates him very highly. He said: 'Sign him, bring him here, he'll be great.' It's a great opportunity for both parties. We've been talking for a long time about getting a world-class spinner into the side to complement everything else and it looks like finally we're going to get that luxury so hopefully he'll make a difference." Since making his international debut in 2008, Ojha has gone on to represent India in 11 Tests, 16 ODIs and six T20 internationals, taking 72 wickets.

SURREY PROPOSE FLOODLIT CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET
According to a story in the Daily Mail (August 23), Surrey believe they have come up with a way of increasing County Championship attendances. It said: "The Oval want partly floodlit games from 3pm to 10pm to take advantage of the after-work crowd and a solid wi-fi connection across the ground to allow early arrivals to keep in touch with the office." The idea is in response to the consultation currently being conducted by the former ECB chairman, Derek Morgan into the financial health of the county game.

DERBACH LINED-UP FOR BIG BASH STINT
Surrey and England fast bowler, Jade Dernbach is being courted by the Australian Twenty20 franchise the Melbourne Stars, who, having already signed Sussex's Luke Wright for this winter's Big Bash League, are keen for Jade Dernbach to fill its second import spot. The 25-year-old is said to have agreed in principle to be part of the Cameron White-led green machine. ADAMS: WE COULDN'T HAVE PLANNED FOR STEVENS After watching his side capitulate to Kent, in the County Championship, Surrey's professional cricket manager, Chris Adams said that he had not foreseen Darren Stevens's medium pace as being a threat. The visitors were skittled out for 127 and 104 at Canterbury to record their heaviest defeat, in terms of runs, under Adams. Eight Surrey batsmen recorded ducks as only Rory Hamilton-Brown and Tom Maynard reached double figures in both digs. After the match Adams challenged his players to learn from the experience. He said: "We must move on. We can't dwell on defeat too much. Above all else we've probably been exposed by how much youth we had in the side in this game. More experience in the side would have identified the issues earlier. But that's part of their development. As long as they go away from this, learn from what's happened and come back with a better plan next time then that's all we can ask." Going into the second day, Surrey appeared to be in command, having made 50 without loss in reply to Kent's 266. Adams said: "The lads had high hopes after day one. We had a long chat (on day two) about how to go about playing and we couldn't do it. We weren't, for whatever reason, equal to the task. I think before the game had anybody said to me that the biggest threat would come from Darren Stevens, I would have said that they've got far more dangerous bowling prospects than that. So, to get blown away in the first innings by Darren Stevens's seven for 21 runs, you can't really plan for that as a coach. That's disappointing because, whilst Darren's a good performer and a decent little bowler, I think those figures are very flattering. We've got some experienced players in the dressing room, like Mark Ramprakash and Zander de Bruyn, and some very exciting young talent; some of which is in great form. Tom Maynard and Rory Hamilton-Brown have been terrific all season. So to see them get blown away for 127 was mind-boggling." He added: "I think today was a difficult day. I thought the conditions were appalling. But that is in no way a reason for why the game was lost. In both innings our guys bowled really well and to plan. To bowl Kent out twice for less than 300, I think we would have taken that at the start of the game. It was a reasonable pitch, but the ball swung consistently throughout the game and that's really been the undoing of the team. They're disappointed and I'm disappointed. We know we've got issues to address in terms of that department. That's the challenge ahead. Morale is a big issue. We've given ourselves a very difficult task to get a promotion spot. We know that with four (championship) games to go we've got to win at least three, maybe all four."

SURREY OPEN GALADARI MUSEUM
On August 17, the Galadari Museum at the Kia Oval was opened to visitors for the first time. The redesigned and refurbished museum, which is situated on the first floor of the Members' Pavilion, contains memorabilia from Surrey's long cricketing history; as well as replicas of the many trophies the club has won over the years. It was reopened during the pre Test Match lunch in celebration of the life of Surrey and England legend Sir Alec Bedser. Appropriately, Micky Stewart, one of Sir Alec's closest friends, marked the reopening by donating three caps from different stages of Bedser's career. The oldest was the 'Three Lions' England cap given to Sir Alec on his Test Match debut at Lord's in June 1946. There is also his 'St. George and Dragon' MCC Touring Cap, presented to him on being selected for his first overseas tour, to Australia in 1946/47. The Galadari Museum will also contain the ICC Hall of Fame Cap presented to Sir Alec in 2009, when he was named as a member of the, then, newly formed Cricket Hall of Fame. The renovation and reopening of the museum has been kindly supported by Mr M.A.R.Galadari, a lifelong cricket fan who has watched cricket at the Oval since the 1970s. He has also kindly sponsored Surrey’s home games in this years Friends Life t20. Speaking at the museum opening, Surrey's chief executive Richard Gould said: "The new Galadari Museum is an excellent addition to our Members' Pavilion. Surrey is one of the most historic cricket clubs in the world and its great past deserves a stylish and well visited museum. We are extremely grateful to Mr Galadari, a true friend of Surrey County Cricket Club, for enabling us to make this a reality."

ADAMS SALUTES CAPTAIN'S PERFORMANCE
Following Rory Hamilton-Brown's man-of-the-match performance against the Northamptonshire Steelbacks on August 3, Surrey's professional cricket manager Chris Adams paid tribute to the Lions' skipper. Adams said: "What can I say other than: 'Welcome back captain.' I thought he had a brilliant game. He batted well. I've been working with him on his batting, to get him still. He struck the ball beautifully today. He bowled as well as I've seen him bowl in that situation. But it was his captaincy which was really impressive. He made all the right calls in a difficult situation. He deserves to take a lot of the credit. We were 25 runs short, we know that. We accepted that. We were probably about par. Although, 270-plus is still a good score and the boys played well, we want batsmen to go on. That's the key element. But to go out and defend that, particularly after the start that Northamptonshire got, was outstanding." In the absence of three key bowlers, Surrey had to rely heavily on spin. Just ten of the forty overs were bowled by their seamers, Yasir Arafat and Tim Linley. Adams added: " We've lost some decent quick bowlers, as well as a senior quick bowler in Chris Tremlett, to England this week. So, we knew that we had to go into it with a slightly different formula. But a lot of these lads now are starting to produce the goods at different times. That's what I look for in a good team - dovetailing performances. I thought Gareth Batty, when he came on and Northants had got off to a flier, he bowled very well and go us back in the game by gaining some control back. It'll probably go unnoticed to many just how important that spell was. I thought we fielded really well again. We set ourselves high standards in that department and they keep delivering."

EDWARDS AND VAN DEN BERG SIGN UP FOR 2012
On August 11, Surrey CCC announced that fast bowler George Edwards and left-arm spinner Freddie van den Bergh have signed professional contracts for the 2012 season. Edwards and van den Bergh, who are both 19 and graduates of the Pemberton Greenish Surrey Academy, made their first-class debuts earlier this season against Cambridge MCCU at Fenner's. Surrey's professional cricket manager, Chris Adams said: "Both these players are Surrey developed cricketers and have worked very hard indeed to earn their professional deals. I am very excited about working with them over the next twelve months and seeing the next stage of their development." Pemberton Greenish Academy director, Gareth Townsend added: "Following the successes of Matthew Dunn and Zafar Ansari in recent games, it is very pleasing to see the club rewarding two more PG Academy graduates with professional contracts." The addition of Edwards and van den Bergh, who is soon to begin his studies at Durham University, means there are thirteen players in Surrey’s professional squad who have graduated from the Pemberton Greenish Academy. Freddie van den Bergh said: "It's a great honour for me to get a contract at Surrey and I’d like to thank all the coaches I have worked with over the years for all their hard work. I hope to make the most of this opportunity and play for Surrey for many years to come." George Edwards said: "I'm very excited to get a contract with Surrey and am looking forward to continuing all my hard work over the winter and next summer. I'd like to thank everyone at Spencer CC, all the coaches who have worked with me and especially my parents for all the support they have given me."

LINLEY HAPPY TO TAKE A BACK SEAT
Surrey seamer Tim Linley has been a revelation this summer. Despite having taken 59 first-class wickets at an average of 18.89, the 29-year-old is rarely talked about, be he doesn't care. When asked whether he is envious of the attention the likes of Chris Tremlett and Jade Dernbach are currently receiving, Linley said: "It doesn't really bother me to be honest. I just try and concentrate on doing what I do best. It doesn't matter who plays it's absolutely magnificent bowling at the other end to these guys. Chris Tremlett is currently the tenth best bowler in the world and I have opened the bowling with him. It gives me great motivation. I want to compete at the same level as these guys. I enjoy playing with them and if it means I have to take kind of a back seat then that's fine." Next season the experienced Jon Lewis will be joining Surrey's fast bowling ranks. Again, Linley viewed it as a positive. He said: "I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him. I'm sure he's got some tricks. He's going to add a lot to our line-up. So I can't wait. He's just a seasoned campaigner. He's very canny with very good skills. None of our batters enjoy facing him. They might relish it, but they're thinking he's a tough bowler. His record in county cricket speaks for itself."

SIBLEY IMPRESSES FOR ASHTEAD
On July 30, Dominic Sibley marked himself down as one for the future by scoring 200 off 218 balls for Ashtead against Weybridge in the Surrey Championship Premier Division. Sibley, who turns sixteen on September 5, was just 20 runs short of the league record held by his coach at Whitgift School, David Ward. Sibley, who has represented Surrey at U13s, U14s, U15s and U17s level and has opened for Surrey's Second XI this summer, said: "I just kept on batting, I was out there for 61 overs and it was tough in the heat, but I love pressure. I like a good challenge and the more difficult it is the better I am." An admirer of Michael Clark and Sachin Tendulkar, the teenager described facing an attack that included the former Surrey and England pace bowler Jimmy Ormond as "surreal". He said: "It was a good challenge and I felt I performed well. I was really pleased with the way it went. I want to play as a professional."

RAMPRAKASH JOINS A SELECT BAND
On July 30, Mark Ramprakash became the first player to be given out for obstructing the field in county cricket for 110 years. Law 37 states that a batsman is deemed to have obstructed the field if he wilfully obstructs the opposition by word or action, which is what umpires Nigel Llong and George Sharp found Ramprakash guilty of in Surrey’s second innings against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. Ramprakash was on 35 when Jason Roy called him through for a second run to square leg. Kane Williamson threw to the non-striker's end, which was being manned by Ian Saxelby. The veteran Surrey batsman ran in-between the fielder and the stumps. The ball did not strike him or his bat, neither was he ball watching, but Saxelby complained to the umpires, who then got together and, after a brief discussion, gave Ramprakash out. Speaking to the Gloucestershire Echo (July 31), Gloucestershire's Ian Saxelby said: "Ramprakash waved his bat in the air as if he were going to block the ball. He didn't, but the action distracted me and that is why we appealed." After the match, which Surrey won by two wickets, their manager, Chris Adams's said: "Mark is upset and very disappointed that the umpires felt he deliberately set out to obstruct the field. The laws of cricket are there and sometimes umpires see things one way and you see it another. At the end of the day it is their decision that counts. It was all rather bizarre and confusing. We were disappointed because Mark was playing beautifully in a high-pressure situation." The last man, before Ramprakash, to have obstructed the field in a County Championship match was Thomas Straw, for Worcestershire against Warwickshire, at Edgbaston, on August 6, 1901.

SURREY CAPTURE JON LEWIS IN TWO-YEAR DEAL
On July 29, Surrey CCC announced the signing of Gloucestershire stalwart Jon Lewis, on a two-year contract from the start of the 2012 season. Lewis, 35, who is regarded as one of the most reliable seam bowlers in county cricket, has taken approaching 800 first-class wickets at less than 26.00 runs apiece. Surrey's professional cricket manager, Chris Adams said: "Jon Lewis has been the most consistent seam bowler in English Domestic cricket for some time now and is exactly the right character and personality I have been looking for. We have a developing group of very exciting young quick bowlers and it is fantastic to know that Jon will be leading that group in the heat of the battle. He will bring a host of qualities on and off the field and is a terrific addition to the squad; I am delighted he has decided to join us." Lewis, speaking to the Bristol Evening Post (July 31), said: "Gloucestershire will always be close to my heart, but I had no choice in the end. I am 36 years of age and I could have been out of work in September. I am in a situation where I have to secure my future and do what is best for my family. I spoke to Gloucestershire in May and made my situation very clear to them. But with everything going on with the ground redevelopment scheme (at Bristol), it became clear they were not in a position to offer me anything until after the season had ended. I had to put my family first and could not afford to wait that long." Although five counties made official 28-day approaches for Lewis, Surrey's offer was the only one Lewis was interested in. He said: "I was very impressed with their passion and commitment to cricket and, because of that, never really looked beyond Surrey." Speaking to the Gloucestershire Gazette (August 4), Lewis said: "I have had some wonderful times with Gloucestershire, been privileged to captain the club, play with many fantastic players and enjoy terrific backing from the supporters over 17 seasons, which have brought many highlights. I am very grateful for all the opportunities the club have given me." Gloucestershire's director of cricket, John Bracewell added: "Jon was one of the players involved at the start of an era that stands out in Gloucestershire's history and went on from there to captain the club and represent England both in Test cricket and at a World Cup. His contribution both as a player and latterly as a mentor to the young players at Gloucestershire is immeasurable."

MAYNARD: ANGER FIRED ME TO BLAST 67-BALL HUNDRED
Guildford has not been a happy hunting ground for Surrey in recent years. Their last championship victory at Woodbridge Road was back in 2002. With Middlesex claiming the spoils this year, the Oval outfit conceded their first championship home and away 'double' to their North London rivals since 1983. Also, the hosts' first innings total of 117 was their worst for ten years and their lowest at Guildford since 1958. The only highlight was Tom Maynard's career best 141, after Surrey were asked to follow-on. The 22-year-old Welshman brought up his century in just 67 deliveries, making it the fastest championship hundred by a Surrey batsman for thirty years. Maynard revealed that his incredible knock was born out of the frustration of recording a third ball duck in the first dig. He said: "There was still a lot of anger left over from the first innings - how we'd gone about it and how I'd got no runs. But I managed to channel that into some aggression in the second innings. Me and Rory (Hamilton-Brown) had a chat and decided that the way to go was to be ultra positive. I came out on a pair and with a really positive attitude and, some days, it goes right for you." Maynard added: "Zander (de Bruyn) wasn't too happy, though, because I wasn't really talking to him much in the middle. He said I was quite concentrated and in the zone. I did slip into quite an aggressive and focused mental state, which allowed me to hit the ball cleanly." But Maynard admitted that coming back from being bowled out for 117 was always going to be an uphill task. He said: "It was a devastating blow, alongside having them 51 for four on the first morning and letting things slip. Those were the contributing factors to why we lost the game. If we had been more ruthless in both of the first innings, with the ball and the bat, then it might have been a different story."

SURREY'S MICHAEL BROWN IS FORCED TO RETIRE BECAUSE OF INJURY
On July 26, Surrey opening batsman Michael Brown announced his retirement from first-class cricket with immediate effect. Brown, who made 96 first-class appearances, scoring 5,273 runs at an average of 34.01, bowed to the inevitable after sustaining a succession of injuries. He said: "I would like to thank Surrey CCC for the opportunity to play for such a great county and the supporters for getting behind me over the last three years. Unfortunately, the number of injuries I have experienced in the last 18 months have made it very difficult for me to maintain the high standards I have always required of myself and a club of Surrey's stature requires. As a result, it was felt that it would be in both of our interests to bring forward my retirement. I am disappointed to be finishing my career in this manner but look back with many great memories and highlights. I wish Surrey CCC all the best for the future as I look forward to the next chapter in my life." Surrey's professional cricket manager, Chris Adams said: "There is always sadness when any career comes to an end but Michael can be very proud of his achievements and that he was able to play the game at a level many are not fortunate enough to experience. On behalf of the team and club I would like to thank Michael for his efforts and contribution on and off the field. He leaves behind the impression of a hard working, honest, committed and intelligent lad, qualities which will stand him in great stead in his future ventures."

ADAMS: TWENTY20 ELIMINATION WAS A HAMMER BLOW
Following Surrey's elimination from the Friends Life T20, Chris Adams said his young Lions could learn a lot from the experienced sides, like Kent and Sussex, who, combined, halted Surrey's T20 charge in its tracks. Immediately following Surrey's second defeat in as many days to round off the group phase, Adams said: "To have manoeuvred ourselves into a very good position, having won four on the bounce to get us to the stage where we needed just one win, and come up against Kent and Sussex and lose both is a real hammer blow - particularly yesterday's game at the Oval, against Kent, on our home ground where we've been very good this year. We got blown away by a very experienced batting line-up. This form of the game is brutal at times, and so it's proved over the last two days. We lost two really important tosses. If you look through the stats in the South Group, chasing has been really difficult and heavily weighted in favour of the team batting first. To get really close tonight against a decent attack, I won't say quality attack, but a decent attack who know their roles, was a good effort. Once again, Tom Maynard proved that he's one hell of a signing, but Murray Goodwin played an innings that single-handedly won the game for Sussex." Adams added: "It was a step too far. I think the last twelve days have been pretty gruelling. We just couldn't get over the line. I'm disappointed and gutted for the lads, as much as I am for the supporters and the followers of the team. It's been a rollercoaster ride through the tournament. Look, we've won some friends and we've shown at times that we are going to be a spectacular team in one-day cricket. At least now teams around the country are expecting a tough game when we come and play them. That hasn't been the case in the last two or three years, so that's work in progress as far as I'm concerned." Adams agreed that Surrey will be measured in terms of how they bounce back, believing the relentless schedule would help. He said: "When you had significant wins it bothered me that you didn't have enough time to enjoy that moment. Equally, when you get disappointing losses like this one it can be a benefit to have to focus on another game. This week is a significant week. I've outlined that to the lads. We have to find strength and resolve and I guess a lot will be revealed of our character and exactly where the lads are. I know they're young. They haven't experienced too many nights like this, but this will no doubt strengthen them in the long run. Their time will come. They're a young side. There's a lot of youngsters out there... but everything is very good in terms of the future of this side. They would have felt that they could have got to the quarter-finals. We certainly felt as a management team that we could get to the quarter-finals, but unfortunately we came up against two more experienced sides in Kent and Sussex. We lost important tosses and found ourselves chasing big scores. Both chases were entertaining, but we weren't able to get over the line. That's the nature of this game."

RAMPRAKASH CRITICISES TWENTY20 SCHEDULE
Surrey's Mark Ramprakash has warned the ECB that a glut of Twenty20 cricket is ruining the first-class game in England, and that it could lead to talent being diluted at Test level. In an interview for the Times (July 18) and the cricketer.com website, Ramprakash said: "I hope people do not think I am over-egging this, but I am afraid cricket's authorities in this country are aiding and abetting the demise of Test match cricket by their continued insistence that we should play County Championship and Twenty20 matches right on top of each other in our domestic game." The former England batsman felt the County Championship clash between Surrey and Kent at the Oval backed him up. He said: "None of the young front-line batsmen who played in the match - such as Jason Roy, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Tom Maynard and Steven Davies for Surrey, and Joe Denly and Sam Northeast for Kent - scored many runs. Most of their dismissals were as a result of ill-judged strokes. But I have a lot of sympathy for young players desperately trying to get the balance right between the adrenalin-fuelled Twenty20 and needing patience and discipline for the four-day game." He added: "I understand fully the need for county clubs to make money from Twenty20, and county finances are currently under a lot of strain, but the domestic fixture list is so confused and damaging to our players at the moment that the English game's authorities are effectively saying that practice - proper practice and preparation for different formats of the game - is not anywhere close to being a priority. It is the bottom line that worries me most, though. I'll say it again: sixteen Twenty20s mixed in with County Championship cricket is seriously affecting the standard of our first-class domestic game, and that will in turn filter into our Test team. A lot of Championship matches have also been shunted back into April in the last few years, because of the fixture over-crowding. If we get to the stage where the England Test team is underperforming, because those players being brought into it are not up to standard due to a below-par domestic game, where would that leave Test cricket in this country?"

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