SURREY V LEICESTERSHIRE at the Kia Oval (RCC)
10-13 APRIL 2026

Sixth hosts ninth. Much water has passed under the bridge since these two sides last met in Division One of the County Championship, way back in 2003 (when the competition was sponsored by Frizzell and both of their four-day head-to-heads ended in draws).

While Surrey opened their 2026 account with a high-scoring stalemate at Edgbaston, Leicestershire suffered a heavy defeat at home to Sussex.

The Foxes' push for promotion last summer was a real team effort, but the stand-out was Rehan Ahmed's 5 championship hundreds en route to averaging 50.66 with the bat.

Stevie Eskinazi also averaged over fifty at the back end of the campaign, after making the move from Middlesex, while Sol Budinger, keeper Ben Cox, Lewis Hill, Peter Handscomb (as overseas) and Rishi Patel were all consistent contributors with the willow.

Last term, Ahmed (averaging just 19.00), Ben Green, Ian Holland (38 championship wickets at 20.44), Tom Scriven and Logan van Beek shared the spoils with the ball.

In the last week New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. who has guested for Yorkshire (in 2019), Glamorgan (2022) and Durham (three years ago), has been recruited. But on the evidence of his 9 championship appearances to date, must be hoping his association with the Foxes proves significantly more fruitful.

Surrey v Leicestershire - First-Class Records Sheet

Sean Abbott is 11 shy of 3,000 first-class career runs, while Matt Fisher (960) is eyeing up 1,000. Turning to the Foxes... Ajaz Patel looks set to make his Leicestershire debut, while Lewis Hill (1,958 f-c runs) and Jake Weatherald (5,898 f-c runs) are closing in on career milestones.

The hosts' squad is the same as it was for last week's trip to Birmingham, where Jordan Clark missed out due to a last-minute illness.

The weather forecasters reckon light showers could make an appearance on days two and four, so we might be looking at the equivalent of three days' play. Much will depend on the pitch, but Surrey's recent red-ball record at the Oval remains impressive. The early indications are that Leicestershire could take a while finding their feet back in Division One, so this is a good time to be playing them. Prediction - a victory for the hosts. 

R.Patel, J.Weatherald, I.Holland (capt), R.Ahmed, L.Hill, S.Eskinazi, B.Cox (wk), B.Green, A.Patel, T.Scriven and S.Wood.

Mike Burns and Tom Lungley.

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