SURREY V ESSEX at the Kia Oval (SSCC1), 11-14 APRIL 2019

It’s finally here - a season that will bring us a home World Cup, an Ashes Test series and, hopefully, another championship title for the 'rey. The defending champions begin the defence of their title by playing host to the only team that managed to beat them in the County Championship last term.

In the last two seasons, we've seen the title go to the team that made the shrewdest Kolpak acquisition. Fast bowler Duanne Olivier promises to fit that billing, so expect Yorkshire to be there or thereabouts. But my tip for nearest challengers (even following their surprise defeat to Hampshire last week) are Essex, for whom Peter Siddle, Jamie Porter, Simon Harmer (the Kolpak signing of 2017)and, now, Sam Cook make for an impressive bowling line-up. But their chances could hinge on having too many Cooks - Sir Alastair being the other. If the former England captain plays a full part this summer, Essex might just have the batting too.

Essex's leading championship run-maker last summer was the evergreen Ravi Bopara, however a tally of 751 runs at an average of 41.72 doesn't quite do justice to his talents. At the top of the order Nick Browne (24.35), Varun Chopra (15.46), Dan Lawrence (23.40) and Tom Westley (31.22) all underachieved. Even Alastair Cook only managed to average 37.45 in the six games in which he featured.

But, on the flip side, Essex's bowling impressed with Harmer (24.45) and Porter (24.63) topping 50 championship wickets again, and, as I say, look out for the other Cook - Sam, who weighed in with 27 victims at 25.33 runs apiece.

Surrey v Essex - First-Class Records Sheet

Liam Plunkett looks set to make his first-class debut for Surrey, Tom Curran needs eight more poles to reach 200 f-c wickets and Essex's Nick Browne (4,935) is eyeing 5,000 f-c career runs.

Surrey's first teamsheet of the season throws up a number of surprises, not least in terms of who hasn't made the 13-man squad. With Dean Elgar's overseas deal yet to kick in and Jason Roy nursing a slight hamstring strain, Will Jacks and Ryan Patel could get a chance with the bat that they wouldn't have had otherwise; while the main bowling absentees are Jordan Clark, Jade Dernbach, Conor McKerr and Amar Virdi. However, spin is represented in the shape of Gareth Batty and Freddie van den Bergh.

The forecast is for there to be some weather around, but not much - although the temperatures predicted for all four days suggests it would be wise to don multiple layers and to arm yourself with a large flask of coffee. Also, with two strong bowling attacks on display, there should be a definitive result. It could all come down to who succeeds with the bat and, in that regard, Surrey have a slight advantage, but only a slight one. Could we see a repeat of the fascinating tussle between these two sides in the final game of 2018? Prediction - a narrow win for the hosts.

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

Nick Cook and Richard Kettleborough.

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