ESSEX V SURREY at Chelmsford (SSCC1), 26-29 MAY 2017

Top plays host to second. Division One leaders Essex have won two and drawn two this summer, as opposed to second-placed Surrey, who, despite only boasting a solitary victory, are just one point behind their opponents with the same number of games played.

Essex are fresh from a convincing innings and 97-run victory over Hampshire. That's right - the same Hampshire who raised a number of eyebrows when they beat the mighty Yorkshire a month ago. Last week, however, the Ageas Bowl outfit were skittled out twice in the space of 85 overs as Essex cantered home to win inside three days.

Essex's big strength is they bat all the way down, although one glance at their averages would suggest otherwise. Currently, only Alastair Cook (67.40), Dan Lawrence (56.80) and Tom Westley (54.50) are averaging over 23 in this season's championship. One suspects it's only a matter of time before Ravi Bopara and Nick Browne are amongst the runs. The biggest worry is wicketkeeper Adam Wheater's form with the bat. How much longer before Essex turn back to James Foster, one wonders?

Everyone seemed to think Essex would not find it as easy to bowl sides out twice as they did last summer, in Division Two, especially following the retirements of David Masters and Graham Napier. But 23-year-old seamer Jamie Porter looks like one for the future while off-spinner Simon Harmer, a veteran of 5 Tests for South Africa, could turn out to be the shrewdest of this season's Kolpak signings - of which, sadly for English cricket, there have been quite a few of late.

Surrey v Essex - First-Class Records Sheet

The Currans are both approaching 1,000 first-class career runs. Sam (average 29.56) has 946 and Tom (average 16.77) currently has 906. Across all formats, Kumar Sangakkara stands on 98 career hundreds. With the ball, Scott Borthwick has 197 f-c wickets. Of the Essex contingent, seamer Matthew Quinn needs two more poles for 100 first-class victims.

No real surprises in the Surrey squad. A case of how you were, compared with the 13 for the last game. Sadly, still no sign of or word on Jade Dernbach.

It's soon to be the Bank Holiday, so, right on cue... rain. What do you mean, no?! Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs... the forecasters are saying the first three days will be akin to a mini heat-wave. Surrey haven't lost to Essex in the County Championship since 2009. Mind you, they've only met six times in the last seven seasons. The key to this match is which batsmen put the highest price on their wickets. Sangakkara and Stoneman will be key for Surrey, who should be capable of edging this.

N.Browne, A.Cook, T.Westley, D.Lawrence, R.Bopara, A.Wheater (wk), R.ten Doeschate (capt), S.Harmer, N.Wagner, M.Quinn and J.Porter.

Jeremy Lloyds and Neil Mallender.

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