Marcus Hook’s Surrey CCC column: A reversal of fortunes for my club and England team
With England’s footballers suffering their worst home defeat in 94 years, perhaps it was no surprise that the thrilling outcome to the Trent Bridge Test struggled for space on Wednesday morning’s back pages.
Whether you’re for The Hundred or not, it’s undeniable the 100-ball competition, launched last summer, has boosted the game’s profile. But football will always win out when it comes to media coverage.
For all of the ECB’s strategy to increase cricket’s reach and participation numbers, to which The Hundred is central, success at international level is what ultimately inspires the next generation.
The impact of the 2005 Ashes lasted until England relinquished the number one spot in the ICC’s Test rankings in 2012.
Winning the 50-over World Cup in 2019, coupled with Ben Stokes’ heroics in the Headingley Test a few weeks later, helped recover some lost ground. But the last two years has been a tale of woe.
England came into the current Test series against New Zealand with just one Test victory in 17 attempts, which is why what has transpired since Stokes was recalled to the crease in the first Test at Lord’s – after being out to a no-ball – has been nothing short of sensational.
Surrey have also turned their fortunes around this season. It’s hard to believe, now, that since winning the County Championship in 2018, the Oval outfit only had five wins in 32 in four-day cricket coming into the campaign.
Even though England calls meant a weakened Surrey travelled to Taunton this week, they remain top of Division One following a tense three-wicket victory over Somerset.
The focus now turns back to the Vitality Blast, in which the South Londoners have dominated their group. If next week’s rail strikes go ahead, some of the matches may need to be moved to when punters can get to them, but nothing, it seems, is likely to derail Surrey from progressing to the knockout phase for only the third time in eight seasons.
Looking at the South Group, the middle of the table looks congested, but Hampshire, who have won four matches on the trot after being taken down by Surrey at the Oval (or, to be more precise, Sam Curran) seem to be firing just at the right time.
All eyes will be on this Sunday’s rematch between Surrey and Hampshire, at the Ageas Bowl.
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
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