SURREY V NOTTINGHAMSHIRE at the Kia Oval (LVCC)
10-13 JULY 2023

First plays host to seventh. Both of these sides lost last time out, but whereas Surrey's defeat to Lancashire merely trimmed their cushion at the top to 23 points, Nottinghamshire's 399-run thumping at the hands of Somerset saw them fall below the Cidermen to leave only Kent between them and the dropzone.

Notts main issue is a lack of runs. Other than Joe Clarke (581 at 44.69 in the championship) and Ben Duckett (now on England duty) no one has enjoyed any consistency with the willow. That said, 23-year-old Matthew Montgomery - a former captain of South Africa's U19s - did hit 177 against Essex at Trent Bridge seven weeks ago to make him the only centurion in a drawn contest.

It's little surprise, therefore, that Nottinghamshire have drafted in New Zealand opener Will Young for three games as second overseas player. Young played for Durham in 2021 and Northants last term, scoring 950 first-class runs at an average of 38.00 across both stints.

Notts' bowlers have fared markedly better. Just three players up and down the land have taken more championship wickets than Brett Hutton (34 scalps at 19.64 runs apiece), while Dane Paterson (28 at 24.50) currently occupies joint 13th in the list.

But for Stuart Broad's Ashes involvement and the injuries that have plagued Luke Fletcher and Olly Stone the Outlaws would possess a dream attack, especially given the manner in which tall leggie Calvin Harrison has transitioned from T20 to red-ball cricket this summer; arguably overtaking Liam Patterson-White as Notts' primary spin option.

In terms of past battles with Notts, Dom Sibley averages 205.50 due to a sequence in 2019 (for Warwickshire) of 87, 215* and 109, while Amar Virdi ("Who he?" I hear some of you ask) has an impressive red-ball record against the Outlaws that reads 17 wickets at 10.76.

Surrey v Notts - First-Class Records Sheet

Jordan Clark (195) is approaching 200 f-c career wickets, while Tom Latham looks set to make his 150th first-class appearance. Of the Notts contingent, Joe Clarke has 6,872 f-c runs, Matthew Montgomery 877, Ben Slater 6,887 and Will Young 6,963. Also Tom Moores (194) has a 200th first-class dismissal in his sights, while Liam Patterson-White needs five more for 100 f-c wickets.

Ten of those involved in Surrey's last four-dayer make the 14-strong squad for this one, with Sam Curran (resting up) the man to miss out. The four in line to replace him are Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton (who, due to injury, is yet to see any Champo action this summer), Ryan Patel and Cameron Steel.

The South Londoners have won four and drawn once since against Notts since the Outlaws' last four-day victory over Surrey, who haven't lost to Nottinghamshire at the Oval since 2008. More significantly, though, the weather forecast for days two and three look less than promising, so the head says draw.

B.Slater, W.Young, H.Hameed, M.Montgomery, J.Clarke, L.James, S.Mullaney (capt), T.Moores (wk), C.Harrison, B.Hutton and D.Paterson.

Rob Bailey and Nigel Llong.

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