Author: Marcus Hook

I reckon even if Roach had told Sam Hain and Aamer Jamal what he was about to bowl to them, they’d have still got out.

The 23-year-old already has a championship double-hundred and the fastest ever century for the England Lions on his CV, but his 155 against the Bears now takes his tally in the season’s County Championship to 322 runs at an average of 64.40.

If Sam Hain, yet to feature this summer due to personal reasons, returns to the fold then Warwickshire could prove a tough nut to crack.

Already this season the South Londoners have made spin a weapon and, not content with four-day success, it irks Batty that Surrey haven’t won the T20 Blast since 2003.

Worrall, who was absent for the opening two games due to a neck issue – with the Kookaburra they were good ones for the 32-year-old seamer to miss – was one of my ‘Three Who Will Be Key’ going into the campaign.

The filling in the sandwich was the Oval outfit’s 359, which was founded on Rory Burns’ continued return to form and capped by a whirlwind 106 not out off 102 balls from all-rounder Jordan Clark.

Roach will be looking to add to his tally when West Indies take on England in July but, for now, his affection for the County Championship continues to grow.

The 28-year-old, who has been absent from the international scene since playing the last of his 22 Tests in 2021, puts his form down to a winter’s break after which he took the decision to adopt a more fluent approach to his batting.

It was disappointing to read Durham’s chief executive Tim Bostock labelling those warning of a further cut as ‘Luddites’.

But for back-to-back half-centuries from Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory, and the loss of 20 overs to rain on the final day, the South Londoners’ decision to bat last in the hope of chasing a score in the fourth innings at the Oval very nearly paid off.

Batting coach Jim Troughton revealed this week that, despite winning back-to-back titles, the Oval outfit feel there’s still room for improvement.

The 26-year-old, who has played 11 Tests, also believes his move to the Oval will lead to an international recall, after watching England’s last two series from the sidelines.

Stewart says that even the signing of Dan Lawrence from Essex is no guarantee the Oval outfit will continue to boss the domestic four-day game.

Will Jacks was halfway through an over when Surrey were confirmed as this summer’s County Championship champions – and admitted he was thrown by the enormity of being part of the South London club’s first side in 23 years to win back-to-back County Championships.

Surrey’s players might be forgiven for enjoying the recent heatwave, after completing a two-and-a-bit day rout of Warwickshire ahead of a 13-day gap until their next County Championship fixture, at home to Northants next week.

The sight of conkers hitting the ground is the surest sign the English cricket season is drawing to a close – which is why it’s so frustrating that, when Surrey line-up to take on Northants next week, the South Londoners will have seen just three days of action since August 22.

Even though the end of the road to this year’s Couny Championship title is now within sight – yes there could be some twists and turns – but, barring a catastrophe, Surrey should make it back-to-back crowns – certainly on the evidence of this week’s clash with fourth-placed Warwickshire.

Surrey skipper Rory Burns says his side simply need to concentrate on performing to their maximum after the South Londoners took another step closer to clinching a second successive County Championship title by delivering a crushing win over Warwickshire at The Oval this week.

Surrey, the 2022 champions, have been long-time leaders of Division One and are 17 points clear of nearest challengers Essex.