The next chapter of 314 years of history starts this Thursday as the oldest fixture in English cricket takes place at The Kia Oval from Thursday
HOW CAN I KEEP UP WITH THE GAME
Every ball from the oldest game in county cricket will be broadcast on YouTube with commentators such Adam Collins, Dan Norcross and Phil Walker.
Surrey’s social media will post regular updates from The Kia Oval, with highlights and a report being published at the end of each day at kiaoval.com.
Tickets for all four days can be purchased online here.
SURREY SQUAD
Surrey have named a 14-player squad for the visit of Kent.
LAST TIME OUT
Surrey beat Middlesex by nine wickets in the first men’s London Derby of the 2023 season last weekend.
Batting first, Middlesex fell from 166/1 to 209 all out as Dan Worrall took 5 wickets for 7 runs from his last six overs. Gus Atkinson impressed once again, taking 3/18.
Rory Burns led from the front with an aggressive 88 as Surrey amassed three batting points to score 380. Jamie Smith continued his fine form with a patient 97. Sean Abbott chipped in with 48 before some late Dan Worrall fireworks took Surrey to their third batting point and a first innings lead of 171.
Surrey continually chipped away at Middlesex as the visitors were bowled out for 240. Sean Abbott bowled 15.4 overs, taking three wickets, and conceding just 1.98 runs per over. He was well supported by Jordan Clark’s 4/25.
Dom Sibley (21 not out) and Ryan Patel (37 not out) took Surrey to their target of 70 within 17 overs as Surrey won by nine wickets.
KENT
Kent sit second bottom of Division One, having only won their opening game against Northamptonshire. Our oldest rivals have drawn at home against Essex and Hampshire, whilst they have lost away from home at Warwickshire and Middlesex.
Kent boasts a strong batting lineup that includes the likes of Ben Compton, England opener Zak Crawley, Sam Billings and Jordan Cox.
Compton has continued his imperious form of last season, scoring 431 at an average of 53.87.
LAST TIME OUT VS KENT
Sam Curran scored his maiden first-class century as Surrey drew with Kent at The Kia Oval last June. Batting first, Surrey scored 673 as Hashim Amla and Ben Geddes scored 124 each. The pair put on 213 runs for the third wicket as Geddes scored his maiden County Championship century.
Curran went to three figures in extraordinary fashion with a six into The Micky Stewart Members’ Pavilion to send those in The Kia Oval into a jubilant celebration. Will Jacks was the fourth Surrey centurion before Rory Burns called Surrey in.
Championship-debutant Tom Lawes took 4/51 as Surrey bowled Kent out for 331 while Daniel Bell-Drummond scored the first of his two centuries in the match. Kent got to 361 in the second innings as Bell-Drummond scored 107 not out before both teams shook hands at the end of the fourth day.
