SURREY V LANCASHIRE at the Kia Oval (SSCC1), 14-17 APRIL 2017

Top plays host to third, but it’s very early days. In the opening round of matches Lancashire were held to a draw at Chelmsford by newly-promoted Essex while Surrey turned over Warwickshire, which augurs well for the latter, who have a reputation for being notoriously slow starters.

Were it not for Dane Vilas’s first innings 74, Lancashire’s clash with Essex might have been a tighter affair at the halfway stage. But on a pitch that had a tad more in it for the bowlers as the contest progressed, new signing Vilas, in tandem with emerging keeper-batsman Alex Davies (140 not out), put the visitors in the ascendancy heading into the final day. In hindsight, perhaps they could have declared earlier. Still, if you cannot bowl a side out in 130-odd overs, you probably don’t deserve to win and, from afar, Dan Lawrence’s 141 not out was further evidence that the 19-year-old is destined for great things.

Last summer, in terms of Lancashire’s batting, while Alviro Petersen's sun gradually waned as the season unfolded, Haseeb Hameed and Liam Livingstone's rose. The latter averaged 50.93 in the County Championship, while Hameed's 1,198 runs at 49.91 were enough to earn an England call-up. But of the rest of the regular cast for the Red Rose, Luke Proctor, who averaged 34.25 with the bat, Tom Smith 32.07 and Steven Croft 29.70, were somewhat hit and miss. To make matters worse, the tail rarely wagged.

James Anderson's four championship appearances in 2016 translated into two Lancashire wins, and the last of their three victories - all of which were at Old Trafford - came at the end of May, against Surrey. When Anderson was on England duty, the bowling line-up comprised Kyle Jarvis (51 champo wickets at 32.80 apiece), overseas signing Neil Wagner (now at Essex) and Tom Bailey (when fit), while Simon Kerrigan provided the spin threat. However, that mantle appears to have passed to Stephen Parry, a slow left-armer who, hitherto, has been regarded a white ball specialist. At Chelmsford, Parry impressed with an aggregate 5 for 80 from 48.2 overs.

Surrey v Lancashire - First-Class Records Sheet

Jade Dernbach looks set to make his 100th first-class appearance, while Scott Borthwick remains four wickets shy of his 200th f-c scalp.

Surrey have named the same 13-man squad as they did prior to the curtain-raiser against Warwickshire. But will, or indeed why would you want to tinker with a winning team? Expect Zafar Ansari and Stuart Meaker to miss out again.

Surrey look like they really mean business while Lancashire - who haven't won an away championship game since Colwyn Bay in July 2015 - couldn't polish off newly-promoted Essex last week, WITH Anderson. But, unfortunately, the forecasters are saying there could be a bit of rain around on all four days of the Easter break. Prediction - Draw.

A.Davies (wk), H.Hameed, L.Livingstone, S.Croft (capt), S.Chanderpaul, D.Vilas, R.McLaren, J.Clark, S.Parry, K.Jarvis and J.Anderson.

Jeff Evans and David Millns.

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