SURREY V KENT at the Kia Oval (LVCC)
26-29 JUNE 2022

The leaders in Division One play host to 7th. But, with England calls and injuries, it could be a much-changed Surrey line-up compared with the one that did battle with Kent at Beckenham six weeks ago.

The positive for Kent, who enjoyed their first championship victory of the season against Gloucestershire last time out, is that their batting continues to look strong.

Ben Compton is averaging 98.80 with willow in hand. Bell-Drummond, Cox and Leaning are also averaging over 48. So, the return of Sam Billings (from the IPL) and Joe Denly now fit again - after sustaining a hamstring pull - Surrey's bowlers will need to have plans in place.

Thanks to the arrival of Kiwi seamer Jacob Duffy, who took 3-96 and 5-66 in the eight-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Canterbury, the Spitfires' attack has stopped conceding first innings totals of 500-plus. 

But with Nathan Gilchrist (their leading wicket-taker in this summer's championship), Matt Quinn, Harry Podmore and Darren Stevens all sidelined by injury, the hop county have been forced to draft in 24-year-old seamer Toby Pettman on loan from Notts.

Surrey v Kent - First-Class Records Sheet

Hashim Amla (18,974) is now within touching distance of 19,000 first-class career runs, while Dan Worrall (247) is approaching 250 f-c wickets. Kent's Ben Compton is just 18 runs away from 1,000 first-class runs in domestic cricket this summer. Daniel Bell-Drummond (6,907) is eyeing up a 7,000th career run, Sam Billings (196) a double century of f-c dismissals and New Zealander Jacob Duffy (913) one thousand runs in all first-class.

Of the Surrey trio involved in England's recent ODI series against the Netherlands (Sam Curran, Jason Roy and Reece Topley), only Curran junior returns to the four-day fold. With Jordan Clark (side strain) out injured - on top of England calls - Tom Lawes, Conor McKerr, Dan Moriarty and Amar Virdi are vying for their first championship appearances of the summer.

Surrey will be keen to make amends for failing to press home their advantage in the corresponding fixture, at Beckenham, which came to a soggy end. However, the weather forecast suggests some time could be lost to rain on day two here. On the whole, though, it has been dry of late, which means spin could come into the equation. The key to this contest will whether Surrey's batters can impose themselves on Kent's inconsistent and beaten up bowling resources.

B.Compton, J.Denly, D.Bell-Drummond, J.Leaning, J.Cox, S.Billings (capt), O.Robinson (wk), G.Linde, G.Stewart, J.Duffy and Hamidullah Qadri.

Mike Burns and James Middlebrook.

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