SURREY V YORKSHIRE at the Kia Oval (RCC)
16-19 MAY 2025

Fourth plays host to eighth. However, Yorkshire would now be sitting just below Surrey in the table had Essex's last pair not held on in gripping fashion at Chelmsford earlier this week.

Ahead of the two most successful sides in the history of the County Championship in Division One are Sussex third, Warwickshire second and Notts at the head of affairs. Now, who would have predicted that top three before everything got underway this season?

Yorkshire seamers George Hill (22 championship wickets at 15.00 apiece) and Jack White, formerly of Northants (16 at 17.56), have really hit the ground running, plus you always know what you're going to get from Ben Coad and Jordan Thompson. The spin threat is posed by Dom Bess and Dan Moriarty, once of this parish, of course. Don't forget, Moriarty took 42 f-c wickets at an average of 28.52 during his time at the Oval. 

With the bat, Adam Lyth has been in scintillating form (611 Champo runs at 61.10). Jonny Bairstow (359 at 44.87) has also dipped his bread on occasions, but when the likes of Brook, Malan and Root haven't been around Finlay Bean (14.87) and Johnny Tattersall (17.50) have been found wanting.

Surrey v Yorkshire - First-Class Records Sheet

Aussie batter Kurtis Patterson looks set to make his Surrey debut, a week later than anticipated. Jason Roy (4,852) will start with the landmark of 5,000 first-class career runs in his sights, while Dom Sibley (8,892) is approaching 9,000. Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow (598) is on the cusp of 600 f-c dismissals as both a keeper and fielder. Finlay Bean (1,986) and Matt Revis (987) are within touching distance of a 2,000th and 1,000th first-class career run respectively. Finally, as for the Tykes' attack, Jordan Buckingham currently has 93 f-c wickets and George Hill 96. 

The South Londoners have named a 13-strong squad - the eleven that took on Warwickshire last week plus Kurtis Patterson and James Taylor. A foot injury means Dan Worrall is sidelined.

Given that Surrey's three games on the road this term have produced just 47 wickets in 12 days of cricket, leading to suggestions their opponents are preparing surfaces that negate the threat posed by the South Londoners' seam attack, Rory Burns' men will be glad to be back in SE11. But, with just one victory out of five, so far, and the prospect of four Kookaburra matches in the Champo in June in July, this contest as well as next week's, against Essex, could define Surrey's four-day season. I've got to feel positive - Surrey win.

A.Lyth, F.Bean, J.Wharton, D.Malan, J.Bairstow (capt, wk), G.Hill, M.Revis, D.Bess, B.Coad, D.Moriarty and J.White.

David Millns and Mark Newell.

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