SURREY V KENT at the Kia Oval (LVCC)
18-21 MAY 2023

The leaders play host to ninth. For Surrey, who returned to the top of Division One following a third victory in the space of four games, back-to-back four-day fixtures against the hop county gives the Oval outfit an opportunity to really stamp their authority on the Champo.

Kent face another nervous battle for survival despite opening the season with a win over Northants. Since then, they have lost to Warwickshire and Middlesex, and garnered draws (with help from the weather) against Essex and Hampshire.

Ben Compton has followed up averaging 54.22 for the hop county in last summer’s County Championship with 53.87 this, which is just as well given Kent’s lack of runs. Zak Crawley (38.88) is the only other batter amongst their ranks with a century to his name this season, but it was a "daddy" one - 170 v Essex at Canterbury.

Jack Leaning (36.00) and Joey Evision (27.50) have shown a modicum of consistency, but Daniel Bell Drummond (18.71), Sam Billings (11.50) and Jordan Cox (18.00) have looked woefully out of touch with the willow in hand.

Thankfully, there has been more for Kent to celebrate with the ball, even though no one has so far notched up more than nine wickets. Matt Quinn (23.33), Grant Stewart (24.83) and Aussie Wes Agar (27.77) have been the pick.

Dom Sibley could be a key man for the hosts. While he has looked solid at the top of the order since returning to the Oval from Warwickshire, he would dearly like to notch up his first century of the season – and what better time for Sibley to do it than against the side he took for a career best 244 in 2019.

Surrey v Kent - First-Class Records Sheet

Rory Burns (11,940) is closing in on 12,000 first-class career runs, while Will Jacks (1,941) and Dan Worrall (970) are approaching 2,000 and 1,000 f-c runs respectively. Ben Foakes (390 dismissals as keeper and fielder) also has 400 f-c victims in his sights. For Kent, Arafat Bhuiyan looks set to make his pro debut, while Ben Compton (2,915) is eyeing up a 3,000th first-class run.

With Kemar Roach returning home to Barbados due to a family matter, Tom Lawes, Conor McKerr (who has recently played for Kent on loan) and Cam Steel are lining up to replace the West Indian. That said, Ollie Pope, who was rested for the London derby at the request of the England hierarchy, is available once again with the bat.

Last year, Kent enjoyed draws both at home and away against Surrey. But given the hosts' home form and the prospect of four days of rain-free weather, it's difficult to envisage anything other than a victory for the Oval outfit.

B.Compton, Z.Crawley, T.Muyeye, J.Leaning, S.Billings (capt), J.Cox (wk), J.Evison, G.Stewart, Hamidullah Qadri, W.Agar and Arafat Bhuiyan.

Rob Bailey and Nigel Llong.

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