With, on one hand, spin accounting for more than a hundred of the first-class wickets taken by Surrey this summer and, on the other, the impending announcement of Martin Bicknell's retirement, things are certainly undergoing a change at the Oval. Not since 2000 have the Brown Caps' spinners enjoyed such a rich harvest. Anil Kumble and Ian Salisbury bagged another nine victims between them yesterday as only Phil Jaques posed the visitors any real problems. Without a set of yearbooks to hand, one is almost in danger of forgetting that for seven out of the last 16 seasons, it has been Bicknell's unerringly accurate seam-up fare which has served the Ovalites best of all.

In this first versus second Division Two clash, Worcestershire will be somewhat disappointed to only have earned themselves three bonus points after winning the toss and electing to bat. Their total of 304 was put into some context when Scott Newman and Jonathan Batty managed to shave the hosts' advantage to 262 by the close.

It had all begun so promisingly for Vikram Solanki's men, with Jacques, in partnership with Stephen Moore, collecting 23 runs off Azhar Mahmood's first two overs and having 70 runs in the book by the end of the fourteenth over.

With Surrey opting to play the extra batsman, it looked as if the home side were on course to claim the opening day honours. But from over number 23 onwards things went gradually downhill, beginning with Salisbury's removal of Moore, who struck nine fours in a 70-ball 44.

Solanki went to the fourth delivery after lunch, caught and bowled by Kumble. Three overs later, Ben Smith was stumped without scoring, not long after being dropped at short leg by Scott Newman off the same bowler.

Jacques and Davies added 51 for the fourth wicket, but 190 for three four soon became 190 for five as both of Surrey's front-line spinners had shouts for lbw answered in the affirmative.

Playing in his last County Championship match before returning to Australia for an international training camp, Phil Jaques hit 95, including one six and 13 fours, from 148 deliveries.

In the 61st over, Azhar Mahmood brought about the downfall of Gareth Batty, who was caught at slip. Daryl Mitchell and Roger Sillence enjoyed themselves by adding 34 in six overs for the seventh wicket. But immediately after tea, Sillence prodded forward and was caught at short leg to hand Salisbury his 50th first-class wicket of the season.

Kumble then wrapped up things up quickly by claiming the last three wickets, thus leaving Mitchell with an unbeaten 54 off 120 balls, which included six fours. Salisbury finished with figures of four for 89, while Kumble took five for 80.

The only concern for the visitors was the fitness of Rikki Clarke, who left the field just before lunch, after conceding 29 runs off four overs, when he took a knock to the same thumb he injured on the final day of Surrey's seven-wicket win over Northamptonshire at the Brit Oval.

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