County Championship: Surrey have hope, even though late surge is unlikely to be enough

Outside Edge: A slow start may have cost Gareth Batty's men again but there is reason to be cheerful at The Oval

The talented Sam Curran is one of several bright sparks in Surrey's side (Getty)

September may almost be upon us but the Specsavers County Championship is still only two-thirds complete, with many teams having four games yet to play. The final round of matches is not due to be concluded until September 23. And, as ever, the fragmented nature of the season appears to be working in favour of some sides and against others.

The race to be champions remains open at this stage, although Middlesex are firmly in pole position having not lost at all this season in four-day cricket. The side which seems most likely to challenge the London club is second-placed Yorkshire, fresh from thumping Notts this week. The men of the north travel to Lord’s on September 20 for what could be a thrilling title decider.

The biggest surprise of recent weeks has been Surrey’s revival, although with a classy squad combining experienced heads and youthful exuberance, winning performances ought not to feel so unexpected. With Sam and Tom Curran to the fore, they are clearly on a roll at present – but with only two matches left for Gareth Batty’s men, Championship glory is unlikely.

Early season inconsistency appears to be a regular problem for Surrey. In the last four years, they have won only once during the first four rounds of Championship matches, set against five losses and ten draws. The consequence is that they are often playing catch up by the time June and July come around, which may keep things interesting for the fans but is hardly the way to recreate the dominance of great Surrey sides of the past.

Yorkshiremen might suggest it is a product of southern softness. Whatever the cause, it is a habit that Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart, must be hoping to break in 2017. His talented squad is surely capable of winning the title: greater consistency over the course of a full season could see that ambition fulfilled.

In fact, there is an argument that next year may be Surrey’s best chance of maintaining a settled side before England call-ups begin to cause disruption. Tom and Sam Curran have both performed strongly for the Lions this summer, while Sam in particular has looked a cut above in the Championship: scoring runs at an average of just under 40, while taking 20 wickets at 27.55 too.

Mark Footitt may be thirty now but he took seven wickets against Lancashire this week and has impressed the England selectors before. Zafar Ansari has had a frustrating, injury-hit season but ought to be in the frame. And if other openers continue to fail, Jason Roy’s startling ODI performances might lead those in charge to conclude that he, rather than Alex Hales, could be England’s David Warner.

Red rose wilting at precisely the wrong time

While Surrey have been putting in a late season surge, Lancashire, their defeated opponents this week, are on the other side of the see-saw. Five matches in and the Red Rose was blooming – three victories leaving Lancashire at the top of the table. But since then no further wins have been forthcoming and the side looks somewhat rudderless.

Injuries haven’t helped but Lancashire’s batting has at times been over-reliant on a few key figures, including old-hand Alviro Peterson and newcomer Liam Livingstone, who has been a revelation. Haseeb Hameed has also been a rock at the top of the order and is another who might have an eye on an England spot.

As for the bowling, past excellence in the spin department has been missing. Simon Kerrigan has had a bad time of things, while Arron Lilley has struggled too – his five first-innings wickets against Surrey were his only Championship scalps in three matches this year. Leg-spinner Matthew Parkinson has impressed but is still only nineteen and is one for the future.

Nottinghamshire seem doomed to relegation. But if Hampshire – currently second from bottom – are able to summon up some late momentum, Lancashire could find themselves in a dogfight to stay in division one; hardly something that seemed likely at the end of May.

Difficult decisions

Confirmation from the ECB this week that England’s autumn tour to Bangladesh will go ahead is good news for the Bangladeshi sporting authorities. Security concerns are inevitable in light of recent attacks by militants in Dhaka, and Eoin Morgan indicated this week that players would have to make up their own minds about whether they wished to travel if selected in the touring party.

That may lead to difficult decisions for some players. A few might recall that Robert Croft and Andy Caddick chose to opt-out of the 2001 tour to India following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in America. Caddick went on to play a dozen or so tests after being recalled in 2002. Croft, however, was never picked again.