KENT V SURREY at Canterbury (VCC)
19-22 APRIL 2024

Sixth in Division One play host to the defending champions, who also find themselves mid-table following draws with Lancashire and Somerset in the opening two rounds of the Champo.

Kent have flirted with relegation in each of the last couple of seasons and the early indications are 2024 will be no different, but the return of England's Zak Crawley at the top of the order will be a shot in the arm for the hop county.

Kent's batting hasn't been the issue, though. Daniel Bell-Drummond (266 runs at an average of 88.66), who has taken over as captain, already has two centuries under his belt; while Ben Compton has started the campaign with 206 runs at 51.50, and Joe Denly is averaging 46.00 with the willow.

The fact that 32 batters are averaging over 80 in the championship - half of those are averaging over 100 – after two rounds with the Kookaburra ball tells its own story.

For only the third time since 1989 (when the number of first-class counties increased from 17 to 18), there was not a single positive result across last week’s nine County Championship matches.

If the aim of the Kookaburra for certain rounds is to both encourage spin as well as give batters the chance to build an innings, the ECB’s ploy seems to be working.

For Kent, only seamer George Garrett, recently arrived from Warwickshire, is averaging less than 50 runs per victim with the ball. Garrett has picked up 5 scalps at 32.00. A fellow fresh face - the former Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson also has 5 wickets, but at a cost of 69.80.

Surrey v Kent - First-Class Records Sheet

If he plays, Surrey wicketkeeper Josh Blake will be making his first-class debut. Jordan Clark and Ben Foakes look set to make their 50th and 100th f-c appearances for the Oval outfit. Of the Kent contingent, Ben Compton (3,897) is approaching a 4,000th first-class career run.

Gus Atkinson and Ollie Pope are missing from Surrey's squad (at the England management's request), but Dan Worrall has been declared fit and is expected to start alongside Ryan Patel.

The weather forecast suggests there will be a bit of rain around on all four days, with day one the most likely to be affected. But with teams using the Dukes ball for the first time this season, there's a greater chance of a result even if some time is lost to the elements. Surrey will start as strong favourites, so, call me predictable, but I'm going to say the South Londoners look set to get off the mark.

B.Compton, Z.Crawley, D.Bell-Drummond (capt), J.Leaning, Joe Denly, H.Finch (wk), Jaydn Denly, W.Agar, N.Gilchrist, M.Parkinson and G.Garrett.

Mike Burns and Ben Debenham.

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