Championship Essentials: Surrey v Hampshire

Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the County Championship...

Fixture: Surrey v Hampshire

Venue: The Kia Oval

Dates: Thursday, April 29, 2021 - Sunday, May 2, 2021

Start time: 11am 

What's the lowdown?

There have been contrasting fortunes for these two heavyweights in the Championship's first three rounds. 

Make no bones about it, Surrey will be disappointed with their start, registering two losses and a draw from their first three games against sides they would have fancied beating.

A county that boasts a batting line-up studded with stars like Ollie Pope, Hashim Amla, Ben Foakes and Rory Burns and a bowling arsenal of pace from Kemar Roach and swing from Reece Topley should have had too much for at least one of Leicestershire, Gloucestershire or Middlesex. 

Things are not about to get any easier, with Hampshire flying, winning their first two games and dominating Gloucestershire for four days in their third only to be denied victory by a 106-ball last-wicket partnership. 

Who's in form?

For Hampshire, just about everyone... Five of the top six have hit hundreds this season, with opener Ian Holland and number three Tom Alsop registering two each. Mohammad Abbas has been the pick of the bowlers with 16 wickets at 11.18 (including a hat-trick against Middlesex) whilst going at less than two-an-over.

The Pakistani has been ably supported by the fearsome Kyle Abbot, seamer Brad Wheal and leg-spinner Mason Crane, who have all notched up 10 or more wickets each this term already.

In amongst Surrey's travails, there have been a number of notable individual performances, including a mammoth 245 from Pope against Leicestershire at The Oval, and centuries for Foakes and Jamie Smith, the 20-year-old's his first in Championship cricket.

With the ball, Topley has been the standout for Rory Burns' side with ten wickets at 18.70 and has found prodigious swing with the new ball. 

Last five first-class matches (most recent first)

Surrey: LDLWL

Hampshire: DWWLD

Head-to-head first-class record

Total matches: 177

Surrey wins: 81

Hampshire wins: 27

Draws: 69

Abandoned: 3

What's the team news?

Surrey: Vikram Solanki's side have made a single change to the squad that collapsed to defeat against Middlesex, with Reece Topley rested and replaced by Jamie Overton, who was himself rested last week.

Surrey squad: Rory Burns (c), Hashim Amla, Gus Atkinson, Jordan Clark, Rikki Clarke, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Dan Moriarty, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Kemar Roach, Jamie Smith, Mark Stoneman, Amar Virdi

Hampshire: Scott Currie is the 12th name in Hampshire's squad for their upcoming clash with Surrey, alongside the eleven players involved in last week's draw with Gloucestershire.

Hampshire squad: James Vince (c), Mohammad Abbas, Kyle Abbott, Tom Alsop, Mason Crane, Scott Currie, Liam Dawson, Ian Holland, Lewis McManus, Sam Northeast, Joe Weatherley, Brad Wheal

Latest Surrey news: Click here

Latest Hampshire news: Click here

What's the weather forecast?

The capital is likely to miss most of the rain due to interrupt the other fixtures around the country, though there are some showers scheduled overnight on days two and three. Overcast and with temperatures not rising above 13 degrees it will be a murky few days in south London.

Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for the Kia Oval: Click here

How do I follow the match?

TV/stream: Surrey will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here

All County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here

The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.

Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game. 

Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more. 

Going to the game?

Tickets: This match is to be played behind closed doors owing to Covid-19 restrictions. 

Travel: Not applicable owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

Prediction?

On paper, it's an even contest between two sides studded with international stars; in reality, one is miles off the pace whilst the other has dominated all who have come their way. After a shellacking at Lord's, you feel that a date with the group leaders couldn't have come at a worse time for Surrey and it will take a serious upturn in form for them to turn over Hampshire. A flat Oval pitch will be the home side's saving grace. A draw. 

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