England’s two most successful Clubs meet at the Kia Oval this week as Surrey host Yorkshire from Wednesday
Surrey will look to build on Sunday’s draw at Essex with a victory over the white rose county.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP WITH THE GAME?
Tickets for all four days can be purchased here. Every ball will be broadcast on Surrey’s YouTube channel, with a link posted on the Kia Oval Match Centre and Surrey’s social media channels.
Regular updates and clips will be posted on social media. A written match report, highlights and the ‘Oval and Out’ podcast will be available at end of each day of play.
SURREY SQUAD
India seam bowler Auqib Nabi has joined the Three Feathers for the next three matches. Jordan Clark misses out through injury.
YORKSHIRE
Previewed by Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay
Captain: Jonny Bairstow
Head coach: Anthony McGrath
2026 position: 7th
2026 leading run-scorer: George Hill (509)
2026 leading wicket-taker: George Hill (33)
Key winter moves: Australia Test quick Jhye Richardson’s signing for April and May – potentially into June – has turned heads, while his Western Australia captain Sam Whiteman has penned a three-year all-format contract. Batter-keeper Whiteman, Doncaster-born, is local-qualified. Seam-bowling all-rounders Logan van Beek and Will Sutherland join Richardson as early-summer overseas signings. The returning Sutherland is only available for two June matches alongside his Blast commitments. Dawid Malan, Matt Milnes, Jonny Tattersall and Jordan Thompson have departed.
What we’re looking forward to seeing: Yorkshire, promoted in 2024, consolidated their Division One status last summer. After a slow start, three of their four wins came during the last seven matches, taking as many points as champions Nottinghamshire in that period. Now, it’s about pushing on to challenge the likes of Notts and Surrey over the full distance. They certainly have the firepower under captain Jonny Bairstow, with emerging talent such as George Hill, Will Luxton, Matthew Revis and James Wharton developing impressively.
Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Top-order batter James Wharton, 25, recently earned his maiden Lions call-up on the curtailed Abu Dhabi trip. He has totalled 1,533 runs in 23 Rothesay County Championship matches across the last two seasons, including 2024 scores of 188 and 275. He contributed seven Division One half-centuries last season. An improved conversion rate could do wonders for him.
Final thought: A key factor in Yorkshire’s drive for success is always England availability. If Harry Brook and/or Joe Root can parachute in and rack up the runs ahead of the international summer beginning, then that could set the county on the right track for a first four-day title since 2015. That’s certainly the aim for coach Anthony McGrath, who tasted similar success in his Essex days.
