SURREY V WORCESTERSHIRE at the Kia Oval (SSCC1), 4-7 MAY 2018

Sixth in Division One plays host to the side propping up the table. A bit like the weather recently, Surrey have blown hot and then cold. A dominant victory over Hampshire was followed by a bad three days in the office up at Old Trafford, where, as it turned out, the loss of the opening day to the weather did the Oval outfit a massive favour. But spare a thought for Worcestershire, who have played three and lost three.

With just two players, to date, averaging over 20.50 with the bat, it's not hard to work out why the Pears' return to Division One has got off to a disastrous start. Overseas signing Travis Head goes into the Surrey clash as their leading run-maker, with 174 championship runs at 34.80; but so far only 22-year-old all-rounder Ed Barnard and wicketkeeper Ben Cox have half-centuries under their belts. Assuming changes are in the offing, Brett D'Oliveira looks vulnerable with a meagre 13 runs from six visits to the crease. Not that George Rhodes has a great deal to shout about, having mustered just 22 himself.

Thankfully, the bowling continues to possess the cutting edge that helped power Worcestershire to the Division Two title in 2017. Barnard (14 victims at 18.71 runs apiece) and new skipper Joe Leach (14 at 20.85) are their joint leading wicket-takers. Furthermore, 20-year-old Josh Tongue's first-class tally has progressed to 62 poles at an average of 25.03 and former skipper Daryl Mitchell continues to display the knack of prizing batsmen out with his occasional seam up. If he plays, keep an eye out for slow left-armer Ben Twohig, who would appear to be in line for his first-class debut.

The only Surrey man named with a championship hundred against the Pears is Scott Borthwick, who has also taken 16 first-class wickets at an average of 20.00 against the Pears. If you feel you haven't seen a great deal of Worcestershire in recent times, there's a good reason. They're one of three teams (along with Durham and Notts) to have played Surrey just 12 times since the introduction of two divisions in 2000.

Surrey v Worcestershire - First-Class Records Sheet

Scott Borthwick and Rikki Clarke will start to this contest with 7,914 and 9,938 first-class runs respectively, while Worcestershire's Ben Twohig appears to be on the brink of making his f-c debut.

With Tom Curran and Jason Roy getting practically no cricket in the IPL, it's doubling galling for Surrey that overseas signing Dean Elgar has to miss the visit by Worcestershire due to a commitment arranged before joining the club on top of Matt Dunn sustaining a fractured rib. The good news is that Gareth Batty (back) and Rikki Clarke (flu) are both named in the hosts' 13-man squad. Fast bowlers Conor McKerr (fit again following a side strain) and Stuart Meaker are also included.

Surrey have gone eight clashes without victory against Worcestershire in the County Championship. Their last success came was 12 years ago, while their most recent win over the Pears at the Oval was in 2004. In the absence of Dean Elgar, Mark Stoneman could hold the key to this contest. With scores of 4, 24, 0 and 29, it would be timely if Rocky could remind the England selectors that they would be unwise to look at other options at the top of the order. He averages 59.30 at the Oval, which should help. Prediction - Surrey to continue Worcestershire's losing streak, but without Elgar, the hosts' tail simply has to stand up and be counted for once.

D,Mitchell, B.D’Oliveira, T.Fell, J.Clarke, T.Head, B.Cox (wk), E.Barnard, J.Leach (capt), J.Tongue, C.Morris and B.Twohig.

Jeff Evans and Alex Wharf.

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