WORCESTERSHIRE V SURREY at Worcester (RCC)
22-25 JUNE 2025

Bottom of the table plays host to second. Poor old Worcestershire have scored only four victories in all competitions this season, while Surrey, hard to beat in the championship, come into this contest having strung together five successive wins in the Vitality Blast.

The first thing that jumps out when one looks at Worcestershire's averages (not to mention the Division One table) is the degree to which their batters just haven't been at the races this term: A mere 3 batting bonus points from 7 games and one man averaging over thirty in red-ball - the former Yorkshire all-rounder Matthew Waite (353 runs at 32.09, including a couple of half-centuries). Five are stuck in the twenties, so to speak - Jake Libby (28.78) Ethan Brooks (28.07), Adam Hose (24.87), Kashif Ali (23.33) and skipper Brett D'Oliveira (23.00).

The bowlers have done their job, though. Waite (26 championship wickets thus far) is averaging 19.69, while Tom Taylor has grabbed 28 at 24.46, Ben Allison 21 at 27.19 and New Zealander Jacob Duffy 18 at 26.72.

Rory Burns has enjoyed facing Worcestershire over the years - 672 championship runs at 61.09.

Surrey v Worcestershire - First-Class Records Sheet

Matt Fisher looks set to make his 50th first-class appearance, and Dom Sibley his 150th. Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence will start with 44 and 45 f-c career wickets respectively. Lawrence is also one away from 100 catches. Turning to the hosts... This will be Gareth Roderick's 150th first-class outing. Brett D'Oliveira (5,905) and Tom Taylor (1,920) are closing in on 6,000 and 2,000 f-c career runs respectively, while Jake Libby currently has 48 first-class catches to his name.

Ben Foakes is taking paternity leave for this one, which suggests Rory Burns will keep wicket. The Kiwi pair of Mitchell Santer and Nathan Smith are both available, plus Dan Lawrence looks set to return after injuring his back in the four-dayer against Yorkshire at the Oval.

Given Surrey's record away from home, as well as in Kookaburra matches, this one should be a nailed on draw. The key will be Santner, who, on paper at least, could be the ideal foil for Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence's twirlers, not to mention the answer to Surrey's deficiency in top class spin. Go on then... Surrey to make it three successive victories at New Road; albeit that one was seven years ago, when the South Londoners clinched the title in 2018.

G.Roderick (wk), J.Libby, H.Nicholls, K.Ali, A.Hose, B.D'Oliveira (capt), E.Brookes, M.Waite, B.Allison, T.Taylor and J.Duffy.

Nigel Llong and Surendiran Shanmugam.

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