Yorkshire vs Surrey: Full preview

The Rothesay County Championship returns with Surrey heading north to face Yorkshire in Scarborough

Surrey sit top of the Division One table, just one point above Nottinghamshire.

Play gets underway at 11:00am on each day, with a Kookaburra ball being used.

HOW CAN I KEEP UP WITH PLAY?

The match will be broadcast live on Yorkshire’s Live Stream, with a link placed on the Kia Oval Match Centre and Surrey’s social media channels. Video highlights and a written match report will be available at the end of each day of play, with clips and updates available on Surrey’s social media channels.

SURREY SQUAD

Overseas signing Sai Kishore comes into the Surrey squad for the first time. The Tamil Nadu spinner and captain is available for the next two matches.

Nathan Smith is unavailable for the next two County Championship matches due to being on New Zealand duty.

Ben Foakes misses out through an injury sustained in the Vitality Blast match against Somerset.

Sam Curran is pit-stopping after a busy few months of cricket.

Tom Lawes and Ollie Sykes have been named in the PCC XI squad for the upcoming 50 over matches against Pakistan A.

LAST TIME OUT

Records tumbled as plenty of runs were scored as Surrey drew with Durham at the Kia Oval.

Surrey’s hit 820/9dec in the first innings – a Club record highest score, that surpassed the 811 all out from 1899. Dom Sibley’s 305 was the seventh highest individual score by any Surrey batter. There were also quick-fire centuries made by Sam Curran (108), Dan Lawrence (178) and Will Jacks (119).

In batter friendly conditions, and with a Kookaburra ball being used, the Surrey attack bowled exceptionally to bowl Durham out 362. Dan Worrall led the attack superbly with 4/60, with Matt Fisher also taking 3/76, as Surrey enforced the follow on. Captain Alex Lees was the pick of the Durham batters, scoring the first of two centuries in the match.

Forced to follow on, Alex Lees (100*) and Emilio Gay (156*) took the score to 262/0 before both teams shook hands on the fourth day.

YORKSHIRE

The White Rose County sit in eighth place on their Division One return.

Previewed by Graham Hardcastle – ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Captain: Jonny Bairstow

Head Coach: Anthony McGrath

2024 finish: Second (Division Two)

2025 highest run-scorer: Adam Lyth (827)

2025 highest wicket-taker: George Hill (37)

Key winter moves: Head coach Anthony McGrath has returned home following nine successful seasons as Essex’s assistant coach, head coach and director of cricket, while ex-international all-rounder Gavin Hamilton has filled the newly-created general manager of cricket post. Seamer Jack White has signed from Northamptonshire, helping replace Surrey-bound Matthew Fisher. Pakistan batter Imam Ul-Haq has joined the White Rose for the rest of the season.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Promoted Yorkshire’s star-studded batting line-up during the early stages of the season. If things work out as they hope, you could see a top order including Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Joe Root and Dawid Malan at some point during the first block of matches in April and May. That really is a mouthwatering prospect for Yorkshire’s supporters, but perhaps not so much for Division One bowlers.

Final thought: A new era at Headingley sees the county under new leadership both on and off the field. Jonny Bairstow’s appointment as their new red-ball captain indicates his availability across the entire campaign – a huge boost for a county who finished second behind Division Two champions Sussex last season courtesy of five wins in their last seven games. Yorkshire are hopeful they can follow up promotion by winning county cricket’s main prize.

LAST TIME OUT VS YORKSHIRE

Ruthless Surrey beat Yorkshire by an innings and 28 runs in front of a then record four-day crowd at the Kia Oval in May.

Tom Lawes and Jordan Clark took three wickets apiece as Yorkshire were bowled out for 255. Adam Lyth (55) and skipper Jonny Bairstow (89) offered stiff resistance as wickets fell around them.

Surrey responded with a brilliant 512, with half-centuries from Kurtis Patterson (85), Ben Foakes (86) and Jordan Clark (69). Seamer George Hill impressed for the visitors, taking 5/66.

Late wickets late on the third day set Surrey up for victory. Matt Fisher bowled James Wharton (67) with a beautiful inswinging yorker as wickets started to tumble late on the third day. Captain Bairstow once again stood firm, scoring 77 before he was bowled by Ryan Patel on the final day as Surrey romped to victory with over two sessions to spare. Jordan Clark was the pick of the Surrey bowlers – finishing with 4/45, with Tom Lawes supporting with 3/47 after he managed to make an old ball swing.