Fans are back at The Kia Oval – but weather unlikely to aid Surrey’s attempts to fire up County Championship prospects

Surrey must surely be hoping the return of spectators coincides with both a return to the four-day form they showed en route to being crowned county champions three years ago as well as the sunny weather that characterised the opening weeks of this campaign.

Okay, so only a quarter of the Oval’s seating capacity can be allocated, but, on the field, it’s a case of giving no quarter over the four remaining group games.

The fact of the matter is that Surrey haven’t won back-to-back matches in four-day cricket since the end of 2018.

In their group, Gloucestershire and Somerset have four wins under their belts, so to be in with a realistic chance of finishing in the top two (and thus qualify for Division One in the championship), Surrey have to add at least three victories to their solitary win over Hampshire.

The last thing they need is rain, which, looking at the forecast, might well scupper their chances of taking full advantage of a Middlesex team on the slide.

The north Londoners have suffered a trio of successive defeats since beating Surrey by 10 wickets at Lord’s four weeks ago.

Their captain, Australia’s Peter Handscomb, has made just 55 runs at an average of 7.85. Also, key all-rounder, Toby Roland-Jones, has been forced to undergo cartilage surgery.

But when you hear that Stevie Eskinazi – one of only four Middlesex batsmen to make a half-century this season – is seeking a loan deal, it suggests all is not well in the state of St John’s Wood.

Draws are no good for Surrey, even though they’re now worth eight points instead of five. That said, draws are better than abandonments, for which sides get no points.

So, although only 68 overs were possible at Taunton, at least it meant Surrey didn’t fall even further behind in Group 2 where they remain fourth.

But the lack of play didn’t stop Somerset’s live stream notching up 280,000 views over the four days. As Ben Warren, their comms lead, commented on social media: “Two-hundred and eighty thousand views of people watching rain fall on grass mostly.”

In what play there was the ball nipped around and edges were beaten. So, to make 206-4 was as encouraging as it was frustrating.

The news this week that Surrey’s Richard Gould is leaving the club to take up a similar post at Bristol City marks the end of an era.

In my many dealings with Richard over the last 10 years, I can honestly say I believe every decision he has taken has been in Surrey’s long-term interests.

Let’s not forget that before Surrey fell into line over the introduction of The Hundred, Richard was one of only a few county CEOs who posed some uncomfortable questions about the competition’s concept and the way the ECB were railroading it through.

On a personal level, I will miss regularly passing the time of day with Richard, when he has been cycling around the ground before the start of start of play, to check that everything was as it should be.

He leaves big shoes to fill, but we all wish Richard the best of luck at Bristol City where he has worked previously as commercial director, despite his father Bobby having had two spells as manager of Bristol Rovers in the 1980s.

SURREY v MIDDLESEX
probable line-ups

Surrey:
Burns (capt), Stoneman, Amla, Pope, Foakes (wk), Smith, Clark, Clarke, Topley, Roach, Virdi.

Middlesex:
Robson, Davies, Gubbins, Handscomb (capt), White, Simpson (wk), Andersson, Harris, Cullen, Bamber, Murtagh.

KEY PLAYERS
Kemar Roach (Surrey) – Enjoyed match aggregate figures of 10 for 80 (including a career best 8-40) in the win against Hampshire, when Surrey last played at the Oval.
Nick Gubbins (Middlesex) – The only Middlesex batsman in any sort of form going into this contest, having made 75, 3, 18, 52, 51 and 2 in his last six innings.

FORM GUIDE
Middlesex are fifth in Group Two with five defeats and a solitary win, having played one game more than Leicestershire, the only team below them. Surrey (fourth) also have just the one victory, but three of their four remaining group fixtures are at home.

STAT
Since beating Middlesex by 280 runs at Guildford in 1998, Surrey have only registered two wins (both at the Oval) in 23 four-day meetings with their North London rivals. Middlesex have won eight, with 13 ending as draws.

STAR MAN
Rory Burns – has been a model of consistency for this season. Burns’ 55 at Taunton was his fifth 50 in seven innings.

BEST MOMENT
Rory Burns punching Somerset’s Lewis Gregory through midwicket for four to bring up the hundred for Surrey, for the loss of just one wicket.

NEXT FIXTURE
May 20-23: Surrey v Middlesex at the Kia Oval (LV County Championship)
May 27-30: Surrey v Gloucestershire at the Kia Oval (LV County Championship

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD