Marcus Hook’s Surrey CCC column: I can’t honestly see where the next win is going to come from

BY MARCUS HOOK

If, like me, you saw The Edge when it was on BBC2 a few weeks ago, the most astonishing thing to come out of it was how the slightest loss of confidence or equilibrium in team sport is potentially a step or two away from mental disintegration.

The film charts the journey England embarked on between 2009 and 2013, as they clawed their way up the Test rankings to reach the number one spot.

But just over a year after being crowned the best team in the world, England copped a bloody nose in Australia – losing all five Tests in the Ashes series of 2013-14 by massive margins – as underlying issues surfaced and confidence evaporated.

I’m not for one moment suggesting there are underlying problems at Surrey, but there’s no escaping the fact that, in four out of their last six four-dayers, they have been bundled out for less than 200 in both innings. By any cricketing measure, that’s a formula for failure.

One fan wrote on social media: “So this is what it feels like to be a Leicestershire fan.” I didn’t think it would be helpful to point out that the Foxes beat Lancashire in their opening game of the season.

As for when Surrey will break their duck, I can’t, in all honesty, see where the next win is coming from.

What is it they say? If you keep doing the same things, don’t be surprised if you get the same result.

Due to international calls and injuries, Surrey have little choice but to keep going with pretty much the same side that has now lost three out of three in the Bob Willis Trophy.

Even though the weather stripped the Hampshire game of 170 overs, the players were packing their bags by 5pm on the final day.

Before this week, the last time Surrey lost by an innings to a side posting less than 300 was in 1986.

Okay, so there were some debatable umpiring decisions, but no team with three Test batsmen in their top five should be 36-5 in their first dig (after winning the toss) and 39-5 in the second.

County cricketers walk a constant tightrope. You only need to look at Who’s Who from four or five years ago to see how many are no longer playing first-class cricket.

This year, as if the players aren’t already under pressure to make up for the absence of the star names, there are 130 – which is around a third – who are due to be out of contract in October.

A recent report in the Daily Telegraph suggested the financial effect on county cricket of the Covid-19 pandemic is a 20 per cent drop in income. Until the crowds are able to return, the only way the 18 first-class counties will be able to balance their books is to cut rosters.

Surrey are financially secure, though by no means insulated. Their buying power will mean more players like Somerset fast bowler Jamie Overton will be snapped up. But the development of future England cricketers across the board will suffer if squad sizes are reduced.

Overton hit a career best 120 against Warwickshire this week. Only two higher scores have been made by a number 10 in county cricket. Given that he’s also taken 14 wickets at 12.00 in the Bob Willis Trophy, Somerset – who are breathing down Worcestershire’s necks in the Central group – are unlikely to let Surrey have him any earlier than they’re obliged.

I’m just wondering whether he would also be interested in opening the batting.