Shell-shocked Surrey boss Vikram Solanki on his side’s woeful form

BY MARCUS HOOK

Vikram Solanki’s post-match reaction to Surrey’s latest defeat in the Bob Willis Trophy gave little indication that the Oval outfit are set to bounce back against Kent this weekend.

The South London club have been emphatically beaten in all three of their matches in the competition.
Hampshire won by an innings and 52 runs at Arundel.

“There’s no getting away from the fact we’ve been second best in all of the games we’ve played so far,” said Surrey head coach Solanki.

Despite having the services of England’s Jason Roy to call on at Arundel, they were brushed aside for just 74 on the final day – by what, in essence, was a second-string Hampshire attack missing the likes of Kyle Abbott and Keith Barker.

Not even Amar Virdi’s six-wicket haul in Hampshire’s 298 could provide Solanki with any cheer.

“He bowled well, and there have been other bits throughout the other games, but the fact remains we’ve not been able to put a game together in three games; in all three attempts. There’s no getting away from that,” said a shellshocked-looking Solanki.

“We never got into the running as far as this match was concerned and we were well beaten.

“It was very disappointing.

“I felt we prepared as best as we can, but we’ve all got to spend some time reflecting on what’s happened, not just in this game, but over the course of the last three games. We can be better. But there’s an amount of responsibility we’ve all got to take, including myself.

“We need to consider how we’re preparing, whether we’re doing all we can to be as good as we can.

“I also need to take a good amount of responsibility for this.

“Yes, if we’re all honest with ourselves, we’ve all got to bear the burden.

“I’m certainly not in the game of making any excuses.

“We’ve certainly got to look ahead as to how we get better very quickly.”