Will Jacks: ‘Surrey determined to retain County Championship crown in 2023’

Will Jacks says Surrey are determined to retain their County Championship crown in 2023. But the 24-year-old all-rounder’s ability to influence making it back-to-back four-day titles will have to wait a few more weeks while he recovers from the hip injury he picked up in February, prior to England’s ODI series in New Zealand.

“It has definitely been the busiest winter I’ve ever had,” said Jacks, who has made his international debuts in all three formats since being named Surrey’s player of the season last September.

“I had 40 flights. I was meant to go to the IPL, so that would have been another 20 or something. I don’t think all that flying helped.

“Flying to New Zealand, I didn’t really train before the first game because my bags didn’t arrive. Then, it was just a random one-off event. You’re never really sure, but that’s obviously part of it going forward.

“I’m just going to have to be good on my recovery after flights, looking after my body a little bit better than I have done.

“Originally, it was thought it was nothing, but when the MRI scans came back, it was reasonably significant – I have been taking it week by week. But it’s getting better, and hopefully, I’ll be back soon.

“It’s a tendon in my hip flexor, so it’s quite complicated. It’s a rare cricketing injury but, apparently, common to football.

“When the scans came back, the England physios said the best case was five weeks, but, realistically, two months.

“Up until the injury, I couldn’t have asked for things to go any better.

“This time last year, I was still forcing my way into Surrey’s four-day team. It’s been a lot of hard work, and I’m really proud of what’s happened.

“I would have loved a few more games for England, but I loved every second of it. It’s made me really hungry, and I want to have a great summer.”

The injury meant Jacks also missed out on a first taste of the Indian Premier League after being recruited for £320,000 by Royal Challengers Bangalore in last December’s auction.

“It’s obviously gutting and something I would have loved to have done,” said the 24-year-old. “Seeing the crowds and the atmosphere, it’s something I would have loved being a part of, but there’s always next year.

“Now I’ve missed the IPL, I’m really hungry to get back and force my way into the England squads.”

Jacks’ case for elevation from county pro to international cricketer was strengthened when he turned his occasional off-spin into consistent performances with the ball.

But his primary suit is batting, as per his 648 runs at an average of 54 – including a top score of 150 not out – in last summer’s County Championship.

“That has been one of the things that has been slightly lost,” says Jacks. “The role that I have here [at Surrey] – batting seven or eight, I even batted nine last year. One thing I’ve been slightly frustrated at is the lack of opportunities up the order.

“I know I can bat in the top six – well, four – and I’d love to do that. Just because I’ve suddenly started bowling, it doesn’t mean I’m no longer a batter.”

Assuming Jacks’ Surrey team-mates Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope play a full part in this year’s Ashes, he might not only get the top four billing he craves but also have a big say in the South Londoners successfully defending their title.

“You don’t just want to win it the once,” says Jacks. “We won it five years ago and we had a four-year break. We want to narrow that and win it twice in a row.

“Yorkshire were the last team to win it back-to-back [in 2014 and 2015], and we want to be that team now.

“We understand each other well, we know our roles, and we communicate well. Dom Sibley is back this year, but the core of the team has stayed the same.

“We haven’t won The T20 Blast since 2003. For a team with such incredible talent, Surrey have had opportunities, but we haven’t pulled through, so that’s massive for us as well.”

HOOK SHOT

When Surrey lifted the County Championship trophy at the end of last summer, their detractors pointed to the schedule, which saw the Oval outfit only having to face Lancashire, Hampshire and Essex – who finished second, third and fourth – the once.

This year, the South Londoners come up against Hampshire and Lancashire twice, both first up. So, for Surrey to have opened their title defence with the better of a draw at Old Trafford and a statement-making victory at home to Hampshire augurs well.

But Rory Burns’ men can expect another test of their credentials at Birmingham this weekend.

Warwickshire narrowly avoided relegation at the end of last season, but don’t let that fool you.

Sam Hain is knocking on the England door with the bat and the bowling, which has been carried by Oliver Hannon-Dalby, now benefits from three canny signings in the shape of Hasan Ali, Ed Barnard and Chris Rushworth.

Also, let’s not forget that if Surrey have a vulnerability in four-day cricket, it’s their away form – just three wins on the road to show from the last 26 excursions.

In the days before county matches were covered live on the internet, the only way Surrey fans could be sure of seeing away games was to hop on a Supporters’ Club coach.

Integral to the popularity of the coaches were Ann Atkins, who sadly passed away last month, and her daughter Sarah.

Never was the start missed, due, in part, to Ann’s attention to punctuality.

“Twenty minutes” was always the cry from the front of the charabanc if there was a mid-journey stop at a motorway services.

Ann was also active with the Friends of Wimbledon Theatre, which meant an annual get-together around pantomime season was added to the Supporters’ Club’s portfolio.

One year, Sir Ian Botham was the main attraction in Cinderella. When it came to the notices, co-star Robin Askwith announced that there were 35 Surrey supporters in the audience.

Botham’s response was: “I didn’t know Surrey had that many!”

There have been few as generous and as kindly as Ann, and my thoughts go out to her family at this difficult time.

STAR MAN

Dan Moriarty – who took 7-84 in the Second XI’s draw with Kent’s seconds at Beckenham, reminding the Surrey management that his slow left-arm spin deserves further first-team exposure.

BEST MOMENT

Josh Blake (80 and 111 not out) bringing up a 99-ball hundred on the final day of the rain-affected clash with Kent’s 2nd XI, which started inauspiciously when Surrey’s seconds slipped to 30-2 at lunch, chasing a target of 332.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

27-30 April – Warwickshire v Surrey at Edgbaston (County Championship)

29 April – South East Stars v Southern Vipers at Beckenham (Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy)

WARWICKSHIRE V SURREY – PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Surrey: Burns (capt), Sibley, Pope, Patel, Foakes (wk), Smith, Steel, Clark, S. Abbott, Roach and Worrall.

Warwickshire: Yates, Davies, Rhodes (capt), Hain, Mousley, Burgess (wk), Barnard, Woakes, H.Ali, Rushworth and Hannon-Dalby.

KEY PLAYERS

Dom Sibley (Surrey) – back at Surrey after six seasons with Warwickshire, for whom he made 3,875 first-class runs at an average of 44.03, including 12 centuries.

Sam Hain (Warwickshire) – who not only came close to denting Surrey’s title charge last summer when he made 96 at the Oval but has already notched up two championship tons this term.

FORM GUIDE

Both Surrey and Warwickshire are back in action following a week off, prior to which, following draws in the opening round of matches, Warwickshire beat Kent by an innings, and Surrey overcame Hampshire by nine wickets.

STAT

Not since 2006, at Leicester, have Surrey won an away game in the County Championship starting in April.