With the 2021 domestic season now behind us, we will spend the next few weeks taking a look at what our players achieved and how they will reflect on their efforts this summer.
Across all three formats, 34 men represented the Club’s first XI at least once this summer. The LV= County Championship saw us finish in fifth place in Division Two of the conference format that was adopted for the 2021 season.
Although we were eliminated at the group stage of the Vitality Blast, we did reach the semi-finals of the Royal London Cup before defeat to eventual runners-up Durham.
Progressing alphabetically, this week is the second that will go through our men’s squad before we also cover the women’s team. You can see last week’s first round-up here.
Matt Dunn
Matches: 14 (1 First-class, 10 List A, 3 T20s)
Wickets: 12
In his 12th season as part of the first team squad at Surrey, Dunn was a key part of the attack that took Surrey to the semi-finals of the Royal London Cup. He picked up 11 of his 12 wickets in that format, often bowling at either end of the innings with the pressure at its peak. The opening match of the competition was, surprisingly given his longevity at this level, his debut in the format.
His only First-class appearance came in the first Kia Oval LV= County Championship match of the season, one with few wickets throughout the week.
Laurie Evans
Matches: 14 (2 First-class, 12 T20s)
Runs: 319
A key pillar of the T20 side since his return to The Kia Oval, Evans scored 298 runs in his 12 appearances in that format this season. His standout innings was 65 as part of a century stand with Sam Curran to blitz Somerset in Taunton as part of Surrey’s electrifying start to the Vitality Blast. His two first-class matches were the early season win over Gloucestershire and September defeat to Northamptonshire.
Ben Foakes
Matches: 8 (All First-class)
Runs: 350
Performing at the consistently brilliant level that has made him one of the best wicket keepers in the world, Foakes played the first seven games of the LV= County Championship season scoring 297 runs including a brilliant 133 against Gloucestershire in the season opener.
With the Test series around the corner, a freak injury – slipping in the changing room – forced him out for much of the rest of the season. He did return for the final match, scoring 53 with the bat, and will look to fully regain match sharpness on the upcoming England Lions tour of Australia.
Ben Geddes
Matches: 11 (1 First-class, 4 List A, 6 T20s)
Runs: 147
Given that he didn’t even start the season as a professional, Geddes should be very happy with his work in 2021. Surrey through and through, the batter signed his first contract with the Club in April and made his senior debut in June.
28 in his first Vitality Blast fixture and 32 from the top of the order in the Royal London Cup quarter-final against Warwickshire are good platforms from which to build in 2022.
Will Jacks
Matches: 18 (6 First-class, 12 T20s)
Wickets: 8
Runs: 539
After winning the Vitality Blast MVP in 2020, Jacks had another strong year in T20 cricket this season including a couple of unforgettable batting displays. It began with 70 from 24 balls at Lord’s, was followed up with mauling of Tymal Mills before rain cut him off and ended with 87 from 54 balls at Kent. He’s also a very important bowler in white-ball cricket, playing a number of roles depending on the game situation.
Kyle Jamieson
Matches: 6 (1 First-class, 5 T20s)
Wickets: 1
The tall fast bowler went into the Kia Oval London Derby and his Surrey debut less than 48 hours after winning the World Test Championship with his native New Zealand. His five T20s proved challenging with the ball, with his highlight being the 31 smashed from 15 balls against Glamorgan to get Surrey within touching distance before a final ball defeat.
His maiden first-class appearance for the Club was then ended very prematurely due to an injury.
Nicholas Kimber
Matches: 3 (All List A)
Wickets: 2
After a frustrating time with injuries since joining Surrey, seamer Kimber finally made his debut for the Club in the Royal London Cup. His debut was a damp squib, rained off after 5.3 overs. His first wicket came against the in-form Steven Davies before he took his second, Kasey Aldridge, later in the innings.
Conor McKerr
Matches: 12 (10 List A, 2 T20s)
Wickets: 18
The Club’s leading wicket taker during the Royal London Cup run to the semi-finals, all 18 of McKerr’s scalps came in that competition. His best figures came at the crunch time too, taking 4/64 against Warwickshire. His victims included the likes of Gary Ballance, Haseeb Hameed & Kiran Carlson.
Daniel Moriarty
Matches: 27 (4 First-class, 13 List A, 10 T20s)
Wickets: 44
A consistent performer across all three formats, there was no difficult second season in county cricket for Moriarty. The slow left arm bowler took 18 in first-class matches, 15 in the Royal London Cup and 11 in T20 cricket as he clocked up more appearances than anyone else in the squad.
Jamie Overton
Matches: 20 (8 First-class, 12 T20s)
Wickets: 10
Runs: 288
An enforcer with the ball and powerful finisher with the bat, most people will remember Overton’s season for his excellent part in closing stages of the Kia Oval London Derby. He partnered Ollie Pope to take Surrey from almost certain defeat to the win, with 2,500 Surrey Members going wild. He also worked hard with the ball, often not getting the rewards he may have deserved.
Ryan Patel
Matches: 16 (6 First-class, 10 List A)
Runs: 636
Patel’s season took a major turn during a rain break at Guildford. With Surrey scratching away in the early stages against Nottinghamshire, the heavens opened and the players came off. When Patel came back out, he hammered the ball to all parts and ended on 131 from 70 balls. He smashed another century later in the Royal London Cup. In first-class cricket, he made 250 runs from 10 innings.
