England hopefuls aplenty as Surrey and Somerset trade blows

SAM DALLING: Sam Curran finished the day unbeaten on 44 in his first competitive innings since September

The Oval: Somerset 337, Surrey 204-5 - Surrey trail by 133 runs with five wickets remaining in their first innings

Scorecard

Team Burns versus Team Abell. Close your eyes, add a few degrees (plus a few more), and it could be a pre-tour bubble match, so many England hopefuls vying for places were there.

For Surrey; Ben Foakes, Ollie Pope, Rory Burns, Reece Topley and Sam Curran all harbour realistic ambitions of a Test summer (albeit of varying degrees of sureness).

Among Somerset's side, Jack Leach and Craig Overton are incumbents, while Tom Abell's name is pushed by plenty. There are others (e.g. Will Jacks, Tom Lammonby, Tom Banton) whose days may come.

But this LV= Insurance County Championship clash is set up nicely. Surrey trail Somerset by 133; 337 all-out plays 204 for 5. "We're seeing red" proclaimed the flag draped over the back of the Galadari Stand's lower tier. In all likelihood, they will for another two days.

First then to Foakes, the day's leading scorer. Thousands of miles away both physically and metaphorically, England's wicketkeeping options did what they do. And they do it superbly. Not so much compare and contrast though; more a double helping of the latter.

Jos Buttler is unique. Over in Mumbai, a third IPL hundred in quick succession – all at the speed of sound – is excellence and then some. But the reality is his England red-ball place does not hinge on such performances. There is a captaincy vacancy, and Buttler is a realistic candidate. Joe Root's record was far better with him than without him.

Okay, now actually to Foakes. By the time he nicked Peter Siddle to Matt Renshaw he'd made 63. Almost half (29) came off Jack Brooks, more than that came in his 'V' between square-leg and midwicket.

Brooks, Josh Davey and Jack Leach all strayed onto his legs and were punished. Brooks overcompensated and was short outside off. Up came Foakes' 50. The same delivery, later in the same over, got the same treatment.

^{Craig Overton had Ollie Pope brilliantly caught by Tom Banton at deep square-leg (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

As well as Foakes batted – and there was the easiness on the eye we've come it expect – it should be tempered. He was dropped on just two. Josh Davey's second ball of the season was a juicy leg-stump half-volley, which Foakes whipped at Tom Banton.

Down it went, and the slips covered their faces. That would have been 60 for 4. Potentially game-changing. There was also a risky, and wholly unnecessary, scrambled single on 15 that, had Lammonby hit, would have seen Foakes short of his ground.

None of Foakes' 11 Tests have come on home soil. For the reasons listed above, he is far from certain to start against New Zealand in June, though.

For Pope, the Oval brings home comfort. After 114 against Hampshire last week, when three of his first five balls crossed the ropes, few would have bet against him retaining his triple-figure average here.

Merrily he went about his work, a particular shine taken to Brooks. Only Siddle was able to contain him. But then came the day's excitement. An Overton bumper pulled, Banton scrambled across at deep-square leg, dove and somehow held on one-handed. A whoop from the crowd, as Overton zipped towards him. Redemption. Sort of.

That broke an 80-run partnership, Surrey having slipped to 48 for 3. Ryan Patel fell first, slashing Siddle hard to point. The height was awkward and Leach did well to gather after a juggle.

Siddle was the standout Somerset bowler, finishing with 2 for 23 off 17. Not a bad start to this his 200th first-class appearance. Cricket Australia will doubtless fly the flag: their County Championship interest is more than passing.

Burns, who is stylistically to textbook aficionados what flashing lights are to an epileptic, played a lovely backfoot punch off Overton but on a dozen edged behind. Steve Davies caught his former skipper low and left.

^{Ben Foakes top-scored for Surrey on the second day at the Oval (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

Hashim Amla clipped Overton twice off his legs, and then survived a huge lbw shout. He takes a leg-stump guard, shuffling towards off just before the point of release. It was tight. Six runs on, Amla's attempt to shoulder arms was a tad out-of-sync and he guided it to Overton at second. Brooks wheeled away in delight; scarcely can he have moved as sharply in the last decade.

Earlier, resuming on 121, Abell needed 15 for a career-high. That came well within the hour, a flick off his legs from Topley. The same over brought a classical off-drive.

Abell's next milestone was reached by yet another tuck off James Taylor. For the first time since May 2018, the Somerset social media team scrambled for a 150 graphic (James Hildreth 184 at Hampshire, as you asked).

Reward then for the hours he spent in the nets at his local club, Taunton, on the afternoon of his side's one-wicket defeat to Essex. He was on the slinger that day, having been asked for a few tips by one of the juniors. Good things, good people etc.

There were to be no more runs, Abell left partner-less eventually. Davey had shaped up nicely, before nicking off to Jordan Clark. Jacks snaffled. Leach – who later bowled seven wicketless overs – got a leading edge off Taylor to Burns, Siddle took on Curran's arm and lost (never two to the short side), before Topley finished the innings with 3 for 62. Average speed a shade under 80mph but he looked to be bowling well within himself.

An outside England bet? Fitness allowing, worth a look. Curran, four summers back, is the last left-arm seamer to earn a Test cap. Before him? Ryan Sidebottom in 2001. A point of difference, Topley would be.

No further exertions – run-out aside – for Curran on the second morning. With bat though he was breezy, punishing anything short. He too had a life on 30, Abell parrying at cover off Siddle. He made an exceptionally positive unbeaten 44, including a pair of lovely checked on-drives.

A good day all round. On to the next one.