A win for Surrey this week could seal it
The top two meet in Taunton this week and Somerset need a win to keep themselves in the contest. With both now through to finals day of the Blast and Somerset likely to start favourites for the One Day Cup, facing Glamorgan in the final, it is short odds that all the silverware will be shared between the two clubs this year.
A positive result looks likely, weather premitting, with four of the five Championship matches played at The Cooper Associates County Ground this season ending in victory for the home side. In recent seasons Taunton has developed a reputation as being spin-friendly and in the last game against Durham it was Jack Leach who did the damage, taking 12 wickets to move his tally to 26 for the season, from just six matches. He operated in tandem with Archie Vaughan, son of Michael Vaughan, who ended with three wickets on his Championship debut, as well as scoring some useful runs. Surrey also have spin options, although the leg spin of Cameron Steel has been less effective in more recent games. After three rounds he had 20 wickets, but has taken just three in the remaining four matches he has taken part in. Last week it was Will Jacks who prospered, with seven in Nottinghamshire’s first innings, but he will be away with England’s T20 squad.
Both sides have strong seam attacks and Surrey’s has been boosted by the return of Kemar Roach. He was included in the squad for the last game, although did not start and it is assumed he will come in this week. Dan Worrall has been superb for the South London side this summer, taking 40 wickets at just 16.77, while Jordan Clark has 33 at 24.78. Sam Curran is not available as he is also involved in the T20 internationals against Australia. Craig Overton leads the way for Somerset with 27 wickets at 34.66, while Migael Pretorius has 23 wickets at 39.43. Unfortunately Pretorius picked up an injury whilst on international duty and has returned home. Riley Meredith is also not available, so Somerset have signed 29-year-old New Zealander Brett Randell for the last three matches. He has played 30 first class games, taking 86 wickets at 25.15, most recently for Central Districts and was called up to the New Zealand A squad last year.
Two strong batting line ups will be on show and they look evenly matched. Rory Burns has 953 runs at 59.56 and Jordan Smith 677 at 56.41. Tom Lammonby leads the way for Somerset with 806 runs at 44.77, followed by Tom Banton with 713 at 44.56.
When the two sides met at the Oval back in April, after conceding a first innings lead of 143, Somerset fought back in their second innings. The game looked to be heading for a tame draw with Somerset finally bowled out after tea on day four, 208 runs ahead with just 19 overs left in the day. However Surrey had other plans and they embarked on a most unlikely run chase. Dan Lawrence and Jamie Smith were promoted to open and put on 90 in the first eight overs, hitting six fours and three sixes despite Lewis Gregory stationing nine fielders on the boundary. Somerset held there nerve and a flurry of wickets brought the chase to an end as the game finished in a draw.
Surrey are unlikely to be as adventurous this week, with a draw keeping them in the driving seat. Given the balance of the bowling in the two sides, with Surrey slightly stronger in the pace department and Somerset the stronger spin attack, with the experience of Leach to call upon, a pitch which will turn is to be expected.
Key players:
Jack Leach is favoured over Shoaib Bashir at Somerset and his performance in the last game perhaps explains why. He has taken 26 wickets at 28.80 this summer and if Somerset do manage to win their first Championship crown, he will have undoubtedly made a big contribution over the next four weeks. He has not featured for England this summer, having now played in 36 Tests, taking 126 wickets at 34.40, but we expect him to be bowling plenty of overs this week.
Rory Burns has led from the front this summer for Surrey and will undoubtedly reach the 1000 run mark, a feat he has not achieved since 2018, the year he took over the captaincy. Surrey won the County Championship that year as well as in 2022 and 2023 and Burns will be pleased to have regained his form following a disappointing 2023 campaign, scoring 631 runs at 27.43. He will be keen to do his bit to make it three in a row for Surrey under his leadership.
Team News:
Pretorius has returned home and Riley Meredith has been called into the Australian T20 squad. Brett Randell therefore comes in.
Somerset squad (probable): Lewis Gregory (c), Tom Abell, Kasey Aldridge, Jake Ball, Tom Banton, Josh Davey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Lewis Goldsworthy, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Brett Randell, James Rew (wk), Andy Umeed, Archie Vaughan.
Will Jacks is involved with England and it is possible Surrey will call Amar Virdi back from Worcestershire. Jamie Overton was in the squad for the Notts game as a batter, but did not play.
Surrey squad (probable): Rory Burns (c), Jordan Clark, Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Lawes, Conor McKerr, Jamie Overton, Ryan Patel, Kemar Roach, Dom Sibley, Cam Steel, Sai Sudharsan, Amar Virdi, Dan Worrall
Weather and Conditions
The current forecast is for showers over the first two days, brightening up as the game progresses.
We would expect the orders to the groundsman to be for a pitch that turns and therefore the captain winning the toss will want to bat first. However the damp start to the game may complicate the decision.
Date: 8th September 2024
Time: 10:30
Ground: The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
