SURREY V KENT at the Kia Oval (Royal London One-Day Cup), 2 MAY 2019

Surrey's 1,001st List A game sees two sides who are already in a situation akin to treating the Royal London One-Day Cup as a "development competition." Injuries and international calls mean that Surrey have had no option but to give those players on the fringes of the first choice eleven some playing time. For Kent, who are just as low on confidence, it's a case of limited options accentuated by a shoulder injury to Sam Billings, Joe Denly's back issue and the side strain suffered by Darren Stevens.

When Kent have threatened with the bat in this year's Royal London, it's 21-year-old Zak Crawley (169 runs at an average of 42.25) and Australian Matt Renshaw (41.33) who have delivered the runs. Alex Blake is averaging 14.00, Heino Kuhn 12.00 and Sean Dickson only 11.33.

It's a similar tale on the other side of the equation - Matt Milnes, although expensive, has proved a decent recruit with 9 Royal London wickets at 34.44 runs apiece. But, other than the former Notts man, only left-armer Fred Klaassen (34.80) has struck regularly enough to give the Spitfires a sniff.

Just three members of the current Surrey squad have made List A half-centuries against Kent - Jason Roy (the only one to have a one-day hundred at the Spitfires' expense), who averages 64.00, Dean Elgar 55.00 and Ben Foakes 45.00. A number of bowlers would ordinarily be queuing up to play Kent tomorrow - Stuart Meaker (10 List A wickets at 18.80 runs apiece), Sam Curran (6 at 20.83), Liam Plunkett (8 at 21.00) and Tom Curran (8 at 22.87). Sadly, of those, only Meaker is currently in a position to add to his tally.

Surrey v Kent - List A Records Sheet

Jordan Clark, who is set to make his 50th List A appearance, has 919 one-day career runs to his name. Kent's Sean Dickson (992) is within touching distance of 1,000 List A career runs.

With 13 players either sidelined by injury or with England, Surrey's side continues to almost pick itself. Sam Curran, who is also missing, due to his stint in the IPL, is expected to return to the Surrey fold for their next County Championship match - a crucial one - against Somerset at Taunton.

History suggests Surrey will struggle against the Spitfires, with just two victories and one tied contest with Kent in 9 meetings prior to this one. The weather could also be a factor, according to tomorrow's forecast. Taking all the absentees into account, the hosts will start as favourites, so, all being well... a win for the 'rey.

Z.Crawley, S.Dickson, M.Renshaw, O.Robinson, A.Blake, A.Rouse (capt, wk), C.Haggett, H.Podmore, M.Milnes, I.Qayyum and F.Klaassen.

Richard Kettleborough and Billy Taylor.

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