Seventh in Division Two meets bottom. The season has not started promisingly for either side, least of all the hop county who lost to Worcestershire before drawing with Leicestershire.

Kent's batting has looked fragile, which is surprising given the weight of runs Rob Key, Brendan Nash and Darren Stevens made in 2013. This term, just two Kent batsmen have hit half centuries - 20-year-old Daniel Bell-Drummond and the former Durham all-rounder Ben Harmison. Nash is currently averaging 20.50, while Key, who was won back the captaincy, has only scored 58 runs in four visits to the crease.

With the ball, Doug Bollinger has led the way. The 32-year-old New South Wales left-armer has already claimed 12 championship wickets at 19.08 runs apiece. Stevens continues to be a seamer teams under-estimate at their peril. The 38-year-old claimed match figures of 11 for 70 when Surrey last travelled to the St Lawrence ground. Robbie Joseph has returned from the wilderness to bowl creditably, but perhaps the most encouraging thing is the progression of off-spinner Adam Riley. Riley already has 56 first-class wickets at an average of 31.32 to his name - not bad at all for a 22-year-old twirler.

It would seem no significant milestones are approaching.

With Gareth Batty (broken finger), Tom Curran (exams), Tom Jewell (back), Kevin Pietersen (IPL), Vikram Solanki (indefinite leave), Chris Tremlett (back) and Gary Wilson (international duty) all missing, the former Worcestershire and England U19 batsman, 20-year-old Aneesh Kapil has been registered to play. Also, Tim Linley returns to the squad, in place of Curran; who was arguably the pick of Surrey's attack at Southampton.

Surrey have only beaten Kent twice in 11 championship meetings going into this clash. Against all comers, the Oval outifit have won just one of their last 20 in four-day cricket. But Kent's form suggests this is a game Surrey can win, provided the weather is kinder than of late. Looking at the forecast, day four might not see much action. Still, if I didn't predict a Surrey victory, you would start to question my loyalty.

R Key (capt), S Northeast, D Bell-Drummond, B Nash, B Harmison, D Stevens, S Billings (wk), A Riley, M Claydon, D Bollinger and R Joseph.

Richard Illingworth and Graham Lloyd.

GO TO:




BACK TO: