Author: Marcus Hook

Kemar Roach is delighted to be back at Surrey for a third stint as the Oval outfit’s first-choice overseas representative.

Marcus Hook, the South London Press’ Surrey CCC writer, previews the start of the new cricket season.

So, the curtain has come down on another summer of county cricket. Surrey turn in some stellar performances in the 2022 County Championship, very nearly going unbeaten.

The South London Press’ Surrey CCC reporter Marcus Hook breaks down the key factors behind their latest County Championship title win.

Clark has appeared in 10 of the 13 matches the South Londoners needed to clinch the title, with victory over Yorkshire yesterday coming shortly after news filtered through that Kent had beaten second-placed Hampshire.

With members at a number of counties making it clear to their clubs that any reduction to the County Championship schedule should be opposed, the England and Wales Cricket Board has put back the intended vote on the proposals in its High Performance Review – prompted by last winter’s dismal Ashes campaign – until this time next year.

When Surrey were last in County Championship action at the end of July, it was their two overseas players, Kemar Roach and Hashim Amla, who steered the South Londoners to victory over Warwickshire at the Oval.

Oval Invincibles Women’s Marizanne Kapp said Emily Windsor’s unbeaten 13 in Saturday’s final at Lord’s was just as key to retaining their Hundred title as her own contributions with bat as well as ball.

The Oval outfit were without 15 players due to a combination of The Hundred and Test calls and fielded just two players over the age of 24. They were also the only side in the competition without an overseas player and the only one without a capped player.

It would be unfair to be overly critical given the extent to which the South Londoners’ roster has been ravaged by The Hundred. But what’s disappointing is their decision not to imbue the side with any overseas players – guys who can not only act as role models, but also make the Oval outfit competitive.

While Roy has made just 10 runs in four innings for the Invincibles, Jacks has hit 81 against Welsh Fire and an unbeaten 108 – the highest score ever posted in The Hundred – against last year’s champions Southern Brave.

Anyone who thinks Erik ten Hag has his work cut out reviving the fortunes of Manchester United should spare a thought for the new chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Richard Thompson.

Nick Kimber says his swashbuckling innings of 84 off just 51 balls, which very nearly helped carry Surrey’s youngsters to victory over Warwickshire last weekend, typifies the message they have been given by head coach Gareth Batty and his staff to go out and express themselves.

The Oval outfit defied similar odds by reaching the semi-finals of the competition last summer, and there’s no sign of their production line drying up, with batter Ben Geddes, 20, and all-rounder Tom Lawes, 19, pictured top, the latest to catch the eye.

Surrey are now odds on to win the County Championship, which makes me extremely uneasy because it suggests it’s theirs to lose.

Surely, if you’ve finished in the top four of your group, you’ve earned the right to be at full strength for the business end, not significantly weakened.

As many as 10 key players – five on each side – could be missing from Wednesday night’s Vitality Blast quarter-final between Surrey and Yorkshire Vikings at the Kia Oval. But the prize that awaits the winner is a trip to finals day on July 16.