We’ve reached the Top 10 to start the Christmas week off with a bang. Some cricketing legends come to the fore in Episode 4 of our look into the Greatest Surrey Men’s Cricketer of the 21st century
10 Gareth Batty
When Gareth Batty returned to Surrey in 2010 after eight years at Worcestershire, his guile and experience were much needed. The off-spinner spent the next decade helping the club return to the peak of English cricket, his bowling key in reaching five white ball finals while as captain he led them back to Championship Division One. Since then his coaching skills have reaped even greater reward.
9 Ian Ward
The nuggety left-hander was a vital ingredient in Surrey’s treble winning Championship side at the turn of the century. Ward often set the tone for those below, the leading scorer in his county’s glory run while his unbeaten 168 against Kent at Canterbury in 2002 led a marathon run chase for victory.
8 Adam Hollioake
The buccaneering skipper of Surrey’s turn of the century team had little time for personal records, regarding them as a byproduct to the main aim of winning a match. Playing any number of vital innings, bowling craftily at the death and fielding close to the bat, there was never much doubt who was in charge while Hollioake was on the field and Surrey filled their trophy cabinet full during his reign from 1997-2003.
7 Alistair Brown
It’s no secret that Alistair Brown was feared by opposition bowling attacks. Whether scoring speedy runs at vital moments in the chase for County Championship titles or leading the line-up in the search for limited overs trophies – his 268 against Glamorgan in 2002 was a record at the time – it could be a nightmare bowling to Brown, who seemed impossible to contain. Of his 14,957 first-class runs, all but 93 came for Surrey, another 10,538 in List A games evidence of his massive contribution.
6 Kumar Sangakarra
Three seasons at the end of his glorious career – 134 Tests and 397 ODIs for Sri Lanka – were a treat for Surrey followers. And the great left-hander departed from the first-class game in a blaze of glory in 2017, his eight centuries in 10 matches burning a trail around the country as he said farewell to the game. His professionalism and knowledge were a great example for a developing Surrey team as they returned to the peak of English cricket.
