Gareth Batty: This Surrey squad better than my championship-winning one

BY MARCUS HOOK

Head coach Gareth Batty reckons this year’s Surrey squad is even better than the one crowned county champions in 2022.

The South Londoners went top of Division One last weekend with seamers Kemar Roach and Dan Worrall sharing 15 wickets as Warwickshire were brushed aside for 150 and 141. Jamie Smith (88) also caught the eye as the Bears were dismantled inside three days.

“I truly believe we’re a better squad this year,” said Batty, shortly after the Oval outfit made it two wins out of three. “I’m pleased with the points and I’m pleased with how we’re applying ourselves.

“Going into the season I was pleased with how everyone – and we’re going to need the whole squad again this year – had used the winter to get even better.

“It was a solid win and a great game of cricket, considering how little time it took us to get over the line. We were magnificent with the ball in the first innings, led yet again by Dan Worrall and Kemar Roach.

“Our batting was very good against a high-class attack with some high-quality international bowlers, who came at us hard.

“We applied ourselves quite brilliantly. To get that 131-run lead made the difference in terms of the momentum shift. Then Kemar was dynamite this morning (Monday), again with Dan, and here we are on the third afternoon with a win.

“Kemar and Dan complement each other perfectly. They are basic opposites which is great. But they are both highly-skilled and highly intelligent, with the experience to back it up.

“We said: ‘Look we just need to tighten up in certain areas’, and the response has been through the roof.

“We have been pretty dominant in this game and it is led by the two opening bowlers, but Jamie Smith’s innings was superb as well. It’s not his highest score by any stretch, but it’s the best I have seen him play.

“Against a very strong attack in difficult conditions – it was overcast with a bit of nip off the surface – for him to play with the maturity he did and then to have the flourish at the end with that extra 30 quick runs just showed what he can get to and how good a player he can be.

“If Jamie keeps playing like that, and keeps applying himself, he will be another one that we won’t be seeing around too much, which is a big positive for him and for England.”

South East Stars bounced back from the disappointment of losing to Southern Vipers to make it two wins out of three in the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.

New signing Paige Scholfield followed up her 111 in the thumping 131-run curtain-raising victory over Thunder at Old Trafford with an unbeaten 134 off 109 balls against Western Storm, who were brushed aside at Bristol, the Stars cruising home by 207 runs.

Stars captain Bryony Smith said: “That was the perfect way to bounce back after a defeat. We were so disappointed with the manner in which we lost to Vipers, because we didn’t play our way. This time you saw our brand of cricket – positive, enterprising and on the front foot.

“Despite losing some early wickets, batting first was definitely the right thing to do on that wicket, and we saw that as the game unfolded.

“Young Jemima Spence played brilliantly for a 16-year-old and we were able to put on a decent partnership to get out of trouble.

“Then Paige Scholfield did what she does best and exploded. That’s twice she’s played like than in three matches now and shows exactly why we signed her.

“We knew that 296 was a very good score. The plan was always to open up with the seamers and then squeeze them with spin. Alice Capsey [6-28] bowled extremely well to wrap things up and she deserves that success.”