ESSEX V SURREY at Chelmsford (SSCC1), 4-7 SEPTEMBER 2018

Third in Division One plays host to top of the table. Even though there's just four more games to go, this will be the first time Surrey and Essex have faced-off in the County Championship this summer. Both go into this contest on the back of innings victories. But, the way things have shaped up, the reigning champions look as certain of staying in top flight as Surrey do in terms of taking the title off them.

This time last year it was the combination of Jamie Porter, with the new ball, and off-spinner Simon Harmer getting the older cherry to turn that proved instrumental in Essex being crowned County Champions. While Harmer (43 championship wickets at 23.72 runs apiece this term) has continued where he left off, it is Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle who has recently become his chief accomplice, with 34 scalps at an average of just 15.32. Nevertheless, Porter, who boasts a more than respectable 29.21 average, and 21-year-old seamer Sam Cook both demand respect.

Essex's biggest worry is a lack of runs, underlined by the fact that they've been responsible for just three individual championship hundreds in 2018 - the best of which, so far, is Ryan ten Doeschate's unbeaten 173 against Somerset at Chelmsford back in June. The Essex skipper is also their leading run-maker with 527 championship runs at 41.30. Ravi Bopara is close behind ten Doeschate with 518 at an average of 37.00, but, at the other end of the scale, Varun Chopra and Tom Westley are averaging a mere 17.54 and 18.50 respectively.

Rory Burns appears to like playing Essex. His first-class record against them reads 503 runs at an average of 55.88. But of the current Surrey squad, Arun Harinath could be said to like them even more, given he averages 61.33. With the ball, Gareth Batty (47 scalps at 30.57 runs apiece) is closing in on his 50th Essex wicket in f-c and Rikki Clarke has a respectable 21 victims at 27.38.

It has been 28 years since Surrey lost a championship game at Chelmsford, where, interestingly, neither side has previously racked up a total of 400 in head-to-head clashes. If runs do prove hard to come by, Burns could be a key player. Barring a surprise call-up to the England team (which shouldn't be that much of a shock given he is the leading run-maker in Division One) and the absence of Scott Borthwick and Jason Roy, both injured, much could rest on the shoulders of the Surrey captain.

Surrey v Essex - First-Class Records Sheet

Rory Burns has passed 1,000 first-class runs for the season, but not yet in the County Championship. With 961, he needs just 39 more. Of the bowlers on show, two have the chance to reach 50 f-c wickets for the season during this game - Morne Morkel (42) and Essex's Simon Harmer (43). Sticking with the Essex contingent, Varun Chopra (9,969) is closing in on 10,000 f-c career runs and Sam Cook (44) needs six wickets for a first-class 50th. Both Ravi Bopara (248) and Jamie Porter (245) are approaching 250 f-c career wickets. Meanwhile, Peter Siddle looks set to make his 150th first-class appearance and Adam Wheater (5,907) needs another 93 runs to hit the 6,000-mark.

Surrey's 16-man squad is pretty much as expected, but given that they usually announce squads of fifteen, do they know something the rest of us don't in terms of possible Test call-ups? Those who didn't feature in the Notts win at the Oval are Gareth Batty, Arun Harinath, Stuart Meaker and Jamie Smith. Scott Borthwick, as we know, is out for the rest of the season, but there's still no word as yet as regards Jason Roy's likely return from a facial injury.

The weather forecast for all four days says we can expect cloud cover, which, in terms of the light, will do nothing in terms of ensuring the evening sessions last the duration. The good news, though, is it should remain mostly dry throughout (Day 3 looks likely to see some rain). Surrey have now bowled their opponents out twice 8 times out of ten in the County Championship this summer and if ball does dominate bat, which is a reasonable assumption given the 10.30am starts, I can only see one outcome - another win for the 'rey; which would be their eighth on the trot in the Champo. The last time Surrey did that was back in 1999.

N.Browne, V.Chopra, T.Westley, D.Lawrence, R.Bopara, R.ten Doeschate (capt), A.Wheater (wk), S.Harmer, P.Siddle, J.Porter and S.Cook.

Jeff Evans and Nigel Llong.

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