KENT V SURREY at Beckenham (LVCC2), 24-27 MAY 2015

Kent, who, until last week, hadn't won a championship game since overwhelming Surrey at Guildford last July, go into the 278th first-class meeting between these two sides sitting sixth in the Division Two table, nine points behind the visitors, who have a game in hand.

Kent's decision to not bother signing an overseas player and thus bolster a squad that has relied on the likes of Rob Key and Darren Stevens year after year has not backfired in the way some predicted. Far from it. Matt Coles (25 championship wickets at 25.40 runs apiece) and Joe Denly (404 runs at an average of 44.88) have both enjoyed happy homecomings and Sam Northeast (419 championship runs at 46.55), who has had numerous chances to establish himself as a reliable top order batsman, has suddenly hit form.

With opener Daniel Bell-Drummond coming on in leaps and bounds, plus Sam Billings and Adam Riley - a keeper-batsman and an off-spinner with the potential to play for England - firmly established, Kent's future looks very bright indeed.

And what of the two old stagers? If Stevens (23 championship wickets at 22.04) ever broke down with injury, it would be like losing two players. The former Leicestershire man always seems to do something whenever he comes up against the Oval outfit, while Key's record of 2,007 first-class runs and eight f-c hundreds, all at an average of 62.71 against Surrey speaks for itself.

If he plays, James Burke will be making his County Championship debut. Meanwhile, two Surrey batsmen are closing in on 3,000 first-class career runs - Rory Burns (2,971) and Jason Roy (2,859).

The Oval outfit have named a 13-man squad. James Burke and Matt Dunn joining the eleven that played at Northampton.

Surrey's recent championship meetings with Kent have contained more than their fair share of misery and disappointment for the South Londoners, who have won just two of the last 13 and lost seven. The unknown variable on this occasion is that Kent have chosen Beckenham, rather than Canterbury, as the venue. Looking back, Worsley Bridge Road has only played host to three County Championship matches. Two have ended in draws and Kent won the last one, in 2009, by 76 runs. The weather forecast suggests days two, three and four should be devoid of rain. It promises to be a fascinating contest, especially now that Kent's Denly and Northeast have discovered some form with the bat. Even more worryingly for the visitors, Rob Key has recalled himself. I wonder why?! Prediction - A seesawing draw.

D Bell-Drummond, J Denly, R Key, S Northeast (capt), A Blake, D Stevens, S Billings (wk), C Haggett, M Coles, A Riley and I Thomas.

Peter Hartley and Paul Pollard.

GO TO:




BACK TO: