SURREY V YORKSHIRE at Guildford (SSCC1), 10-13 JUNE 2019

Sixth plays host to third in Division One. In the period since Yorkshire's last County Championship visit to Guildford, Surrey's record at Woodbridge Road has been P17, W1, D7 and L9. That was back in 2002, when the Oval outfit were en route to a third championship title in the space of four summers. The chances of the Oval outfit breaking their duck in this year's championship looks set to be thwarted by the weather, which is significant because history suggests they need to get off the mark this week if they're to mount a successful challenge for the title.

In the 19 seasons Surrey have won the County Championship, their first six outings have produced at least one victory. In 2000, the Oval outfit had a solitary win at the same stage, along with 3 draws and 2 losses. Their best opening to a championship campaign was in 1955, when they strung together 9 successive victories; closely followed by 1891, when Surrey opened their account with 8 successes on the trot.

Yorkshire go into this match on the back of two draws - following away wins over Hampshire and Kent - while Surrey are licking their wounds after back-to-back defeats. The Tykes look well equipped for a sustained title challenge, with Gary Ballance at the centre of everything that's looking rosey. Ballance, who hasn't played for England for nearly two years, has thus far scored 603 championship runs at an average of 86.14. Dom Bess - recently arrived on loan from Somerset - is averaging 52.00 with the willow, closely followed by opener Adam Lyth (48.87) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (45.14).

The Yorkies' bowling is led by the seam quartet of Ben Coad (22 champo wickets at 23.63 runs apiece), skipper Steven Patterson, David Willey and Kolpak signing Duanne Olivier (21 at 30.52). Bess supplies the spin, Jack Leaning has chipped in the with ball on top of averaging a respectable 37.66 with the bat and Kohler-Cadmore (18 catches in five games) is making grab after grab in the field.

Of Surrey's 13-man squad for tomorrow, the following have enjoyed some success against Yorkshire in the Champo - Mark Stoneman (1,183 runs at an average of 40.79), Rikki Clarke (952 at 36.61), Rory Burns (561 at 43.15) and Ben Foakes, who is averaging 50.57 with the bat. Of the bowlers, the pick, arguably, is Clarke (43 wickets at 31.34 runs apiece). Mind you, Morne Morkel, in his only game against the Tykes last season, bagged seven victims for just 102.

Surrey v Yorkshire - First-Class Records Sheet

Ben Foakes will start with 196 first-class dismissals as wicketkeeper, while, of the Yorkshire contingent, Gary Ballance (10,910) is approaching 11,000 f-c runs with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (2,820) and Jack Leaning (2,886) eyeing up three thousand.

Surrey's 13-man squad has a similar look to it. Jordan Clark and Jamie Smith are the names in addition to the eleven that lost to Somerset by 102 runs. Sam Curran could be seen being put through his paces by England's strength and conditioning lead Rob Ahmun during that game, but, clearly, it's too soon to risk a recurrence of the hamstring strain Curran picked up on the final day at Beckenham. Jade Dernbach will play for Surrey's 2nd XI this week, against Kent. However, Gus Atkinson, Arun Harinath and Stuart Meaker all picked up injuries in the recent weather-affected draw with Sussex in the Second Eleven Championship, while Conor McKerr remains sidelined with a heel issue.

Rain - and plenty of it, if the weather forecasters have read their barometers correctly. Indeed, the prospect of seeing more than a day's play over the four looks optimistic at this stage. So, it has to be "draw" for me.

A.Lyth, W.Fraine, G.Ballance, T.Kohler-Cadmore, J.Leaning, J.Tattersall (wk), D.Willey, D.Bess, S.Patterson (capt), B.Coad and D.Olivier.

Jeremy Lloyds and Tim Robinson.

SURREY AT GUILDFORD

OPPONENT	DATE	RESULT	TOSS	DECISION	SURREY	OPPONENT
Somerset	3-6 June 2019	Lost By 102 Runs	Somerset	Bat	231 & 164	344 & 153
Somerset	20-22 Jun 2018	Won By An Inns & 69 Runs	Uncontested	Field	459	180 & 210
Essex	9-12 Jun 2017	Lost By 8 Wickets	Uncontested	Field	399 & 288	435 & 253-2
Warwickshire	2-4 Jul 2016	Lost By 10 Wickets	Surrey	Bat	273 & 177	449 & 5-0
Glamorgan	15-18 Jun 2015	Lost By 7 Wickets	Surrey	Bat	406 & 277	437 & 247-3
Kent	20-23 Jul 2014	Lost By 89 Runs	Surrey	Field	398 & 213	408 & 292
Warwickshire	5-8 Jun 2013	Match Drawn	Warwickshire	Bat	274 & 234-4	631-9d
Lancashire	11-14 Jul 2012	Match Drawn	Surrey	Field	430-5	485-7d
Middlesex	20-23 Jul 2011	Lost By 6 Wickets	Surrey	Field	117 & 379	308 & 190-4
Sussex	9-12 Aug 2010	Match Drawn	Surrey	Field	292	217 & 275-6d
Essex	15-18 Jul 2009	Match Drawn	Essex	Bat	352-8d	401 & 201-3
Durham	16-19 Jul 2008	Lost By 10 Wickets	Surrey	Bat	220 & 323	410 & 134-0
Worcestershire	25-28 Jul 2007	Match Drawn	Surrey	Bat	369	217 & 307-5
Somerset	19-22 Jul 2006	Match Drawn	Somerset	Bat	717	688-8d
Kent	20-23 Jul 2005	Lost By 4 Wickets	Surrey	Bat	452-8d & 350	572 & 232-6
Warwickshire	21-24 Jul 2004	Lost By 7 Wickets	Surrey	Field	331 & 412	537 & 207-3
Middlesex	23-26 Jul 2003	Match Drawn	Middlesex	Field	411 & 94-0	385
Yorkshire	24-27 Jul 2002	Won By 6 Wickets	Yorkshire	Bat	382 & 237-4	172 & 446
Northamptonshire	18-20 Jul 2001	Won By An Inns & 55 Runs	Northamptonshire	Bat	368	120 & 193
Leicestershire	19-21 Jul 2000	Won By 10 Wickets	Leicestershire	Bat	288 & 119-0	318 & 87

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