BATTY FIGHTING FOR MORE THAN JUST PRIDE by Marcus Hook
Warwickshire 546 v Surrey 190-7

Sparing a miracle or two days of rain – both of which appear to be as remote a possibility as George W Bush winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize – Surrey are on course for their fifth championship defeat in seven matches; a sequence that would represent their worst start to a campaign for seven seasons.

Following what can only be described as the Brad Hogg show, the Ovalites’ captain Jonathan Batty, by way of contrast, was still there at the close of play yesterday, having grafted 53 overs for an unbeaten thirty-seven. He seemed intent on proving that even if survival was out of the question, it was still possible to go down fighting and to collect a few bonus points along the way. However, if there is any truth in the recent reports that Batty is losing his grip on his position as captain just five weeks into the new season, he may also have been batting for more than just pride.

One cannot help but have sympathy with Batty, who was placed in a “no win” situation the moment he took over the captaincy. If Surrey had started the year with a bang it is unlikely their revitalisation would have been put down to the new man at the helm; rather the abundance of quality in the squad. Now they have learnt that even the best players still have to score runs, take wickets and claim catches to win games of cricket, Batty’s handling of the side in the field has come under intense scrutiny.

Yesterday, as Hogg and Giles compiled what was a record seventh wicket stand for Warwickshire in this fixture – 191 in 167 minutes – the 30-year-old wicketkeeper could have been accused of setting fields for bad bowling. In the absence of Saqlain Mushtaq, who, to add to Batty’s concerns is out for up to four weeks with a knee problem, much of what was served up was not of the quality one has come to expect from the Surrey attack. The home side duly took full advantage and racked up their second highest total ever against the brown caps.

Australian all-rounder Brad Hogg, who struck a career-best 158 before being caught behind off an inside edge, led the way with the bat. When it was Surrey’s turn, first Neil Carter and then Mark Wagh captured two wickets apiece to leave the visitors well and truly on the ropes. Still trailing by 356, they need an improbable 207 more runs just to avoid the follow-on.

There were 13 boundaries in Hogg’s 103-ball century and six more fours and a six in an innings that spanned just 149 deliveries. But after the second new ball was eventually replaced following the umpteenth appeal by the Surrey bowlers Ashley Giles followed his fellow slow-left-armer, out to a straightforward catch at slip.

Soon after being deposited over backward square leg for six by Carter, Martin Bicknell polished off the tail to finish with his best bowling figures for his county – a not particularly flattering 4 for 130 – since the middle of August last year.

Less than two overs into their reply Surrey lost Mark Butcher to a catch at short-leg. Scott Newman hit three fours and a hooked six before driving wildly at Pretorius and the total became 50 for three when Mark Ramprakash was caught at second slip by Wagh, whose off-spin then accounted for Graham Thorpe and Adam Hollioake in the space of four balls after tea.

Thorpe, who was given a reprieve on 13 when an edge to the keeper off Giles went to ground, made a cultured 42 before being caught behind. In no time at all Hollioake was also walking back to the pavilion after offering the bowler a return catch. To complete an awful day for the visitors, Azhar Mahmood was lbw padding up to Hogg’s left-arm spin and, just before the close, Bicknell went leg-before to Giles after he had made 37 out of fifty for the seventh wicket.

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