After 18 seasons of T20 cricket in the UK, there have been plenty of great bowlers who have worn the Three Feathers in the shortest county format for Surrey.
T20 is often described as a batsman’s game as with run rates often in excess of 10 an over and fielding restrictions in place early on, it can be a thankless task to be a bowler in this format.
However, a bowling unit with a distinct plan and a high level of skill can be the difference between an entertaining side that flatters to deceive and one that wins matches.
A mix of seam and spin alike is essential if you’re to keep the opposition batsmen on their toes throughout the full 20 overs so it’s no surpise that Surrey’s top six wicket takers in the history of the format are three seamers and three spinners.
With three of the players still a key part of Surrey’s squad and three now retired, there is room for the likes of Sam Curran, Daniel Moriarty & Reece Topley and the rest of our squad to progress up the list.
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However, for now, we take a look at Surrey’s leading wicket takers in the format.
Jade Dernbach – 114 wickets
A Surrey stalwart and a constant innovator through several different eras of T20 cricket, Jade is still going strong in the Surrey team. Equally capable of landing it on a sixpence or deceiving the batsman with his vast range of slower balls, cutters and bouncers, Dernbach was a specialist for England earlier in his career.
He has played 109 T20s for Surrey, taking 114 wickets at an economy of 8.37 despite often bowling at either end of the innings.
Gareth Batty – 106 wickets
Stand-in skipper and the glue in the middle of the innings on Surrey’s run to the Vitality Blast final last season, Batty is still going strong at 43-years-old. Now a Player/Coach at Surrey responsible for nurturing the development of young spinners like Will Jacks, Daniel Moriarty & Amar Virdi, Batty has plenty of tricks up his sleeve with white and red ball.
He has played 131 T20s for Surrey since 2010, taking 106 wickets at a phenomenal economy rate of 7.14 an over.
Azhar Mahmood – 82 wickets
Absolutely more than just a bowler, Azhar is a T20 icon in our particular corner of the world. A man you’d want in the middle in the final over of a nail biter, whether you’re batting or bowling.
He was a lynchpin of our side between 2003-2007 before returning in 2013, playing 75 matches and taking 82 wickets in addition to the 1176 runs he scored, putting him fifth on that list.
Tom Curran – 72 wickets
A death overs specialist and an expert in yorkers & slower balls, TC is crucial to Surrey, England’s white-ball sides & a number of sides around the world including Sydney Sixers and, shortly, Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
Tom has played 61 T20s, taking 72 wickets at an average of 24.80 since his Surrey debut in 2014.
Nayan Doshi & Chris Schofield – 53 wickets
Spinners Doshi & Schofield just about crossed over with Doshi’s last year in South London Schofield’s first.
Doshi’s 53 wickets came in just 34 matches at an incredible average of 14.66 while Schofield’s came at an average of 22.62 in 48 matches.
