Marcus Hook’s Surrey CCC column: Jamie Smith delivers inspired innings against Glamorgan and Somerset

Surrey might have had their wobbles, but they’re three out of three in the Vitality Blast. In truth, only Hampshire, who took the opening game at Southampton to the final over, have come close to laying a glove on the Oval outfit, who sit top of the South Group and are one of just two teams (Warwickshire in the North being the other) yet to be beaten in this summer’s domestic T20.

While Tom Curran’s talents with bat and ball (3-32 and 37 not out) proved to be the difference against Hampshire, Surrey were propelled to victories over Glamorgan and Somerset by two inspired innings from Jamie Smith.

Smith, 23, whose stock continues to rise, followed up his 76 off 38 balls at Cardiff with 87 in 38 deliveries at the Oval to exact revenge for last summer’s semi-final defeat against Somerset. It only seems a question of time before the competition’s leading run-maker (with 193 at an average of 64.33) adds to his two international caps.

If Twenty20 is your thing, you’ll be able to gorge yourself throughout June with Vitality Blast and the Charlotte Edwards Cup running in parallel with the Men’s T20 World Cup.

The ‘broadcast’ quality of the county live streams – all of which are available free on YouTube – are as good as being there. I’ve really been impressed with the knowledgeable and engaging coverage of the South East Stars’ exploits in the Charlotte Edwards.

While the exposure of the game on terrestrial television has been all too rare for the last 17 years, the live streams are certainly breaking through the paywall barrier.

If the Surrey quartet of Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan and Reece Topley deliver for England in the T20 World Cup, I can see the defending champions go all the way in the Caribbean.

Jacks’ preparation has been studying one of the best in the business first hand, namely Virat Kohli, in the Indian Premier League.

“It was a great learning curve,” says Jacks looking back on his first experience of the IPL with Kohli’s team Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “I took a lot from it, and it’s given me some confidence going forward.”

The 25-year-old said of Kohli, who is the highest run-getter in T20 World Cup history, with 1,141 in 27 matches at an average of 81.50: “He taught me every day is a day to get better. The way he goes in the game, every ball is met with one hundred per cent intensity.

“When I batted with him in the chases, it was how he went about attacking them – not just taking things ball by ball, but looking ahead to see where he could take risks.”

Jacks believes being England’s number three provides him with the opportunity to both make amends for the loss of an early wicket or, better still, building on a decent start.

“I could find myself coming in second ball, and I would be very comfortable doing that,” said Jacks.

“You want to take risks early on to get ahead in the game, but I’ve found what’s best for me is to give myself seven or eight balls to play myself in.

“You have to be adaptable, especially at number three. I could come in at 0 for 1 or I could find myself coming in at 100 for 1.”

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, Jacks added: “I’m buzzing. It’s going to be an amazing experience and something I’ve dreamt of. I was gutted to miss out on the last two, the 50-over and the T20, so I’m really looking forward to this one.”