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September 22, 2008
Ramprakash faces lengthy ban
Posted on 09/22/2008 in Surrey
Mark Ramprakash faces the prospect of a lengthy ban when he appears in front of an ECB disciplinary committee at Lord..s on Tuesday.
Ramprakash is accused of repeatedly swearing at umpire John Steele during Surrey..s County Championship match against Sussex last month.
August 29, 2008
David Ward retires from Minor Counties cricket
Posted on 08/29/2008 in Surrey
David Ward, the former Surrey batsman, has hung up his boots for the final time. Ward, 47, has spent 12 years dominating Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire, in which time he amassed more than 6000 runs at 53.53.
August 19, 2008
Tudor back at The Oval
Posted on 08/19/2008 in Surrey
Alex Tudor has returned to Surrey, his former county, on loan after being released by Essex earlier this season. He has gone straight into their squad for the Championship match against Sussex at The Oval.
..Once again illness and injury have made selection a problem,. coach Alan Butcher said. ..But in securing the services of Alex Tudor on loan, we have an experienced bowler well used to conditions at The Oval..
June 17, 2008
Butcher out for a month
Posted on 06/17/2008 in Surrey
Mark Butcher, the Surrey captain, is out of action for a month after undergoing knee surgery on Monday. Mark Ramprakash will lead the side in his absence.
"After the operation today, I'll be doing everything in my power to get back as quickly as I can. But the guys will be in good hands under Ramps," Butcher told the Surrey website.
The problem flared up during the Championship match against Somerset at Whitgift school when Butcher required a runner in the second innings.
May 27, 2008
Afzaal punished for dissent
Posted on 05/27/2008 in Surrey
The ECB has confirmed that Surrey cricketer, Usman Afzaal, has received three penalty points under its discipline code following an incident during Surrey..s County Championship match against Yorkshire on May 21 to 24, 2008.
Afzaal was reported by umpires Nigel Cowley and Graham Burgess for a Level Two breach of the code (showing serious dissent at an umpire..s decision by word or action). The penalty points remain on Afzaal..s record for a period of two years. The accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension.
May 20, 2008
Famous names set for The Oval
Posted on 05/20/2008 in Surrey
A host of famous names will appear at The Oval on June 8 as the PCA Masters take on a team of Barbados greats.
The match will features former Barbados players Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Vasbert Drakes and Sherwin Campbell and will help to promote Barbados in the run up to England's tour of the West Indies early next year.
Surrey..s latest signing for their Twenty20 campaign, Chris Lewis, will be part of the PCA Masters and he will be joined by former Surrey stars Graham Thorpe and Martin Bicknell plus a array of other former internationals
May 12, 2008
Schofield out for six weeks
Posted on 05/12/2008 in Surrey
Chris Schofield faces six weeks on the sidelines after having surgery on his broken left thumb. He sustained the injury while fielding to his own bowling during Surrey's Friends Provident Trophy win over Sussex at Hove.
April 29, 2008
Journalists get on their bike
Posted on 04/29/2008 in Miscellaneous
How do you get from the Brit Oval to Lord's without crossing the Thames? Six intrepid cyclists are about to prove it can be done and all in a good cause.
They are cycling from Kennington to St John's Wood the long way round, taking in all 18 first-class county headquarters - a trip of more than 1,000 miles over 16 days.
The tour has been devised by two cricket writers who spend most of their time pedalling opinions on the game: David Lloyd of the London Evening Standard and Colin Bateman of the Daily Express.
Continue reading "Journalists get on their bike"
April 23, 2008
Walters suffers fractured cheekbone
Posted on 04/23/2008 in Surrey
Stewart Walters, the Surrey batsman, will miss five to six weeks of the season after suffering a fractured cheekbone while playing for the second team against Essex.
Walters wasn't part of the first XI in the early-season games, but was hoping to push for a spot after a promising winter playing club cricket in Australia.
March 7, 2008
Cancer Tests for England cricketers
Posted on 03/07/2008 in Miscellaneous
All first-class cricketers in England will be tested for skin cancer this season. In an initiative by the Professional Cricketers Association about 400 players will have checks for the disease.
January 15, 2008
Surrey pair on song in Perth
Posted on 01/15/2008 in Surrey
James Benning and Stewart Walters are making the most of their off-season. In fact, you could argue that it is merely a continuation of their season. Check out their exploits Down Under.
November 29, 2007
Ali Brown signs contract extension
Posted on 11/29/2007 in Surrey
Surrey have retained the services of Ali Brown with a one-year contract which will keep him at The Oval until the end of the 2008 season.
Brown joined Surrey in 1990 and made his first class debut in 1992. In 16 Championship seasons with Surrey, he has passed 1000 runs eight times.
Surrey..s cricket manager, Alan Butcher, said: ..Ali has been very keen to express his determination to regain his place in our middle order. This will make for stiff competition and keep all contenders on their toes..
November 1, 2007
Schofield gears up for winter
Posted on 11/01/2007 in Surrey
A fantastic summer for Chris Schofield culminated in selection for England's ICC World Twenty20 campaign and more recently a place on the ECB Academy. He told Surrey TV what he is expecting to achieve this winter.
September 19, 2007
Time for salary caps?
Posted on 09/19/2007 in
A fascinating report in The Guardian looks into how county cricket pays for itself. if it does. and whether or not salary capping is a good idea.
July 23, 2007
Some county players earn less than minimum wage
Posted on 07/23/2007 in Miscellaneous
In The Sunday Telegraph , Steve James highlights the disparity between the high earners in English cricket and those at the bottom of the food chain.
The Professional Cricketers' Association estimates that a cricketer works about 50 hours a week (including play, travel, training and time spent away from home). This means, in broad terms, that a player needs to earn more than £7,000 per season to be over the minimum wage. There are definitely players earning less than that; indeed there are players earning as little as £3,000 per season.
July 4, 2007
London Bridges walk for Ben Hollioake Fund
Posted on 07/04/2007 in Surrey
Do you want to have a nice Sunday stroll, watch the cricket and do your bit for charidee? Of course you do. So, the CHASE Ben Hollioake Fund and Surrey are holding a fundraising London Bridges Walk on August 19. The six-mile walk starts at 10am at the Tower of London and costs £8 for adults, £4 for children. It ends at the Oval, where participants can watch Surrey v Derby in the Pro40 - for free. Bargain. More details here.
May 29, 2007
Meet Mark Butcher and win Twenty20 tickets
Posted on 05/29/2007 in Surrey
If you want the chance to meet Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher, and head to Surrey's Twenty20 match at the Oval against Hampshire on Sunday, June 24, then enter our competition.
May 24, 2007
Ramps in action
Posted on 05/24/2007 in Surrey
It..s Surrey..s Mark Ramprakash in action . but not as you may think!
May 23, 2007
Adam Hollioake considers Essex return
Posted on 05/23/2007 in Essex
Former Surrey captain Adam Hollioake, 35, is expected to hold talks with Essex next week about a possible return to county cricket in this year's Twenty20 Cup
April 20, 2007
Surrey open Ben Hollioake Learning Centre
Posted on 04/20/2007 in Surrey
Adam Hollioake and his father John will officially open the Ben Hollioake Learning centre at the Brit Oval on Friday. The Learning Centre is named after Adam..s brother Ben, the prodigiously talented Surrey and England player who was killed in a road accident in 2002.
The centre, which has all the latest IT equipment to help with learning, is an integral part of the Surrey Cricket Community programme, and is the home of two major projects .. Playing for Success and the Education Project - aimed at young people from the local area.
..The Ben Hollioake Learning Centre is a great facility that obviously benefits a lot of people,. said Adam, ..and will leave a great legacy by which to remember Ben."
The Hollioakes are also running the marathon this Sunday for the CHASE Ben Hollioake Fund... in full cricket gear.
April 12, 2007
Ramprakash thinks of quick footwork
Posted on 04/12/2007 in Surrey
Mark Ramprakash enjoyed a memorable 2006, topping the run charts and then winning the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing series to propel him from mere former-England-cricket status to celebrity. Now, though, he is ready to hang up the dancing shoes (for now, at least) and pull on the batting boots as he aims for another run-filled campaign with Surrey, back in the first Division. Ahead of the new season, Christopher Martin-Jenkins caught up with him for The Times.
Ramprakash is 37 and the new contract will presumably see him through to retirement and probably to the 13 centuries he needs to become the first batsman since Graeme Hick .. and only the 25th in all .. to score a hundred first-class hundreds. His taste of television fame has done nothing to alter his focus on cricket.
April 5, 2007
Essex warm-up against Surrey
Posted on 04/05/2007 in Essex
Essex begin their domestic pre-season friendly programme when they face Surrey on Thursday and Friday (April 5 and 6) at Chelmsford. The provisional format comprises of 50-overs-per-side games on each day with play starting at 11.00am on Thursday and 10.30am on Friday (please note: format and start times are subject to change as these games are designed to provide match practice for the players ahead of the season).
..Surrey were by far the best team in four-day cricket we came up against last year, although we enjoyed success against them in Twenty20 cricket, so we are looking forward to coming up against one of the best teams in the country,. said Ronnie Irani. ..It..s a bit early yet but it..s good to test ourselves against tough opposition..
Alex Tudor, who moved to Essex from Surrey, said he was looking forward to the games. ..When the fixtures came out I saw we had a couple of one-day games against Surrey and it will be good to see the guys again. We shaped up really well in Dubai (on the pre-season tour) and everyone looked pretty good. Surrey are arguably one of the strongest four-day sides in the country and it will be a good test for us to see where we are at this moment. Everything is gearing up for our first Championship game on the 18th against Derbyshire but this will give us a good pointer to see where we are at this stage..
March 28, 2007
Spiritual assistance
Posted on 03/28/2007 in Surrey
Surrey have incorporated yoga into their daily training regime on their pre-season tour of Mumbai, India. Yoga has also been used by other players, the most famous being Australia..s Matthew Hayden, who is currently prospering in the World Cup. Surrey..s assistant coach Nadeem Shahid said: ..Everyone is working very hard and I believe we as a unit are getting a lot of benefit. The yoga is an unusual addition, but the boys have taken very well to the sessions..
And it..s not just yoga. Prior to heading to India, the squad took part in a football training session with the Fulham Academy, which was run by the reserve team coach. The side headed to Motspur Park, the home of Fulham Football Club's training ground.
March 23, 2007
Hollioake pads up for charity
Posted on 03/23/2007 in Surrey
Adam Hollioake is competing in this year's London Marathon in his bid to raise as much money as possible for the CHASE Ben Hollioake Fund.
Surrey will match any money donated privately by members of staff to support Adam's endeavour on behalf of himself and the memory of his brother Ben, both former Surrey players.
The CHASE Ben Hollioake Fund raises money for life limited children and was set up by Adam in memory of Ben, who died in a car accident.
Continue reading "Hollioake pads up for charity"
November 20, 2006
Butcher extends Surrey contract
Posted on 11/20/2006 in Surrey
Mark Butcher has extended his contract with Surrey by a year meaning he will be at the club until at least the end of the 2008 season.
Butcher was a key player in Surrey's promotion back to division one of the County Championship scoring 1418 runs at 59.08 as well as impressing with his captaincy.
Alan Butcher, the Surrey cricket manager, said: "Securing Mark's services until the end of 2008 is great news for the club. Having his leadership is a huge bonus as he is very well respected by all of the squad, not to mention his invaluable contributions with the bat."
Young seamers Neil Saker and Jade Dernback have also signed new deals which will take them through to the end of the 2008 season as have Richard Clinton, the opening batsman, and allrounder Stewart Walters.
November 15, 2006
Murtagh linked with Middlesex
Posted on 11/15/2006 in Surrey
CricInfo sources have revealed that Surrey seamer Tim Murtagh is in line for a move across the capital to Middlesex. The transfer should suit both parties as Murtagh, 25, has struggled to break into the Championship side, while Middlesex have been been noticebaly short on firepower in recent seasons.
Murtagh, whose brother Chris is also on the Surrey staff, was a regular member of Surrey's one-day and Twenty20 sides last season and has one year remaining on his contract at The Oval.
In 38 first-class appearances for Surrey he has 76 wickets at 37.07, while in Twenty20 cricket he has 37 wickets at an impressive 22.91. It was in this format that he enjoyed his finest hour as a Surrey player when taking 6 for 24, a record in the competition, against Middlesex in 2005.
If the deal goes through he will join Chaminda Vaas, Murali Kartik and Richard Johnson in a new look attack at Lord's.
October 17, 2006
Whistling while they worked
Posted on 10/17/2006 in Surrey
On the last day of the one-day league even a par display against Somerset would have ensured double-promotion for Butcher and Son. It did not happen but for the first time since 2002 whinges were scarce, despite a whopping wage bill. There were too many extraordinarily pleasant surprises for that. It did not require a clairvoyant to foresee Mark Butcher staging an assertive comeback or Mark Ramprakash enjoying one of the most run-drunk postwar seasons: 2,993 runs at 74 in all formats. (And no, he was not aware that Bradman..s record average for an English first-class summer .. 115.66 .. was in reach when sitting out the final fixture.) But only an exceedingly clever soothsayer would have forecast Ian Salisbury leading the club..s first-class wicket-takers, Nayan Doshi undoing more one-day batsmen than anyone in the country or The Oval becoming the launchpad for Chris Schofield..s comeback. Adieu, sadly, to Martin Bicknell, the unluckiest English bowler of his generation, but welcome to James Benning, who deserves to be the luckiest batsman of his. He is hellish fun to watch, scored more one-day runs (including Twenty20) than anyone on the circuit and may soon allow the national selectors to make partial amends for their dereliction of the excellent Ali Brown.
Rob Steen The Wisden Cricketer
October 10, 2006
Salisbury extends his Surrey contract
Posted on 10/10/2006 in Surrey
Ian Salisbury, Surrey..s leading wicket-taker in the Championship this year, has committed to another year with the club.
Salisbury, who had been dogged by injury in 2004 and 2005, was back to his best this year and in 15 Championship matches, he managed 59 wickets at the excellent average of 28.16, helping Surrey bounce straight back into the first division of next year..s County Championship.
Salisbury has been with the Club since 1997 when he joined from Sussex and since then he has been an invaluable member of the senior team. He was a key member of the Surrey side that won three County Championships from 1999 to 2002 and it was no great surprise when the club granted him a benefit year for the 2007 season.
Surrey..s cricket manager, Alan Butcher, said: ..Ian has been an excellent servant to the club since he joined us in 1997. His form this year has been exceptional and due reward for his hard work throughout last winter. I look forward to him playing an equally important role for us next year in attempting to win the Championship..
October 4, 2006
Surrey trio agree new deals
Posted on 10/04/2006 in Surrey
Three Surrey squad members have all recently signed new deals with the club which will secure their services until the end of next season.
Young batsman, James Benning, has committed to a three-year deal, while Nayan Doshi and Ali Brown have signed contracts for a further two years and one year respectively.
All three men have played a vital role in Surrey..s success this year and their presence in the Surrey line up for 2007 will be crucial.
The Surrey cricket manager Alan Butcher said: ..I am delighted to secure all three players for next season. Ali Brown has been a great servant of the club over the years and continues to be a destructive player, whilst James and Nayan have both had great seasons and represent the club..s future..
September 29, 2006
Surrey target Nicholson
Posted on 09/29/2006 in Surrey
Surrey are targeting Matthew Nicholson, who played for Northamptonshire during the 2006 season, to lead their attack in the first division of the County Championship next season.
The club have yet to confirm that Nicholson is on board but Roger Harman, Surrey's chairman of cricket, told the Surrey Advertiser: ..We are after a quick bowler as our second overseas player alongside Azhar Mahmood as we feel the squad needs extra strength in that department..
Elsewhere within the Surrey team, Tim Murtagh has been given permission to speak to other counties even though he has a year left on his contract, while Jimmy Ormond has been offered a new deal despite playing just 12 matches in the last two seasons.
Alan Butcher, the Surrey manager, said: ..Jimmy is training every day and we have offered him a new contract, so it..s up to him now. A couple of other counties have expressed an interest..
Young offspinner Simon King has been offered a contract for next summer while batsmen Arun Harinath, Matt Spriegel and Laurie Evans have gained apprenticeships.
September 6, 2006
Surrey crowned Division Two champions
Posted on 09/06/2006 in Surrey
Against Gloucestershire at Bristol, Surrey achieved the necessary two points required to ensure their position at the top of Division Two in the Championship.
"I have been extremely pleased with our form in all brands of cricket this year," Alan Butcher, the Surrey cricket manager, said. "To gain promotion in both the four-day and one-day version of the game would be a great result for us and that would have to be the focus now. Whatever happens though, it has already been a tremendous effort by the guys and I couldn't have asked for anything more."
Click here to read today's match report
August 23, 2006
Lucky Jim
Posted on 08/23/2006 in Surrey
Brian Scovell, author of 19-90 Jim Laker, recently drew a revealing memory from long-time Grace Road guv..nor Mike Turner. ..I invited Jim to speak at my benefit dinner when I retired as chief executive from Leicestershire and he was held up by a pile-up on the M1. He and his wife Lilly arrived in time for pudding and Jim insisted on going ahead and making his speech. I asked him about some expenses and he said he wouldn..t dream of it. When Jim arrived home he found his house was ransacked by burglars, who took most of his memorabilia, and one of Lilly..s parents had died that same night. He was a good friend and a great guy..
Less flattering to Jim..s memory was the theft last year of his photograph from The Oval pavilion. The thieves have not been traced; worse, the photo has not been replaced.
The Wisden Cricketer, Rob Steen
August 4, 2006
Schofield still looking for a way back
Posted on 08/04/2006 in Surrey
Chris Schofield, the former England and Lancashire legspinner, is playing for Surrey in their 2nd XI match against Durham at Guildford. He was released by Lancashire at the end of 2004 and since then has been playing for Suffolk in the Minor Counties Championship, as well as turning out for Durham and Surrey second teams.
"It's a bit of a reality check and frustrating because I've played at a very high level but I'm just relieved that counties are still giving me the opportunity to get a contract," Schofield, who is now 27, told the BBC. "The last two years I've been bowling a hell of a lot of overs, 30 to 40 a week - the last two years at Lancashire I bowled 50 to 100 overs a season.
"The first step at the moment is to try to get a county contract, bowl the way I have been doing the last couple of months and take it from there."
July 30, 2006
Players thrive on steep earning curve
Posted on 07/30/2006 in Derbyshire
Steve James, the former Glamorgan and England opener, has revealed that the average salary for a county player is around £40,000. Surrey top the pay league, with their players earning an average salary of £60,000, and that excludes the bumper earnings of their overseas recruits. Yorkshire are at the bottom of the pay league, with an average salary of £30,000.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, James's article has gone a long way to dispelling the belief that county cricketers are sports paupers. While they still might to be able to hold a candle to any footballers in the Premier League, their pay is not as bad as it once was.
Click here for the full story.
July 6, 2006
Twenty20 sell out at The Oval
Posted on 07/06/2006 in Surrey
Surrey have announced that this Friday's Twenty20 Cup match between Surrey and Middlesex has sold out.
A crowd of over 20,000 is expected at The Oval for Surrey's last home group game which will be a must win match if their quarter-final chances are to remain alive.
The sold out match is a major boost not just to Surrey but also for Twenty20 cricket in general, with the football World Cup predicted to drive crowds away from all forms of cricket for the duration of the tournament.
July 1, 2006
Tickets still available for Surrey v Essex
Posted on 07/01/2006 in Surrey
Tickets are still available for Surrey..s match with Essex at The Oval today, the only Twenty20 match on Saturday. The game starts at 12.30pm, with an expected finish time of no later than 3.15pm. Tickets cost £15.
Surrey are once more fielding the same eleven who have played the first three matches of the campaign.
Surrey James Benning, Ali Brown, Mark Ramprakash, Azhar Mahmood, Rikki Clarke (capt), Jonathan Batty (wkt), Stewart Walters, Tim Murtagh, Ian Salisbury, Jade Dernbach, Nayan Doshi.
June 20, 2006
Spin triplets?
Posted on 06/20/2006 in Surrey
Wince as Mark Butcher did as Worcestershire..s Phil Jaques and Stephen Moore kick-started a Twenty20-type charge to 287 at nine an over, the Surrey captain expressed pride in the early form of his oft-maligned attack, notably Ian Salisbury and Nayan Doshi.
..Until mid-May it was very dry and we played both spinners. The way things are going, even when Anil Kumble gets here, maybe we..ll play three. Sals has been magnificent. He worked hard on some technical difficulties during the winter and now he..s bowling as well as I..ve ever seen him..
After he missed swaths of 2005 recovering from the broken hand that cost him his Test spot, Butcher..s return saw juices and runs flow freely. ..I feel like I..ve finally started being captain and it..s gone really well. The toughest bit was starting with 11 days.. cricket in 12; I haven..t done that for years. But I feel right in the groove.. Does the calendar entry for November 23 read ..Brisbane.? ..What with all the injuries, nothing..s set in stone. Australia is still on my mind..
Rob Steen, The Wisden Cricketer
May 6, 2006
The oldest man in Britain visits the Oval
Posted on 05/06/2006 in Surrey
Some may have thought there were three centurions at The Oval for Surrey..s rout of Gloucestershire. There were actually four. Alongside Phil Weston, Mark Ramprakash and James Benning was Henry Allingham who, at 109 years of age, is the oldest man in Britain. And, fittingly, it is exactly 100 years since Mr Allingham last visited the ground .. and watched WG Grace play for the Gentlemen against the Players.
April 12, 2006
Sussex cruise past Surrey
Posted on 04/12/2006 in Sussex
Surrey were beaten by eight wickets in a pre-season friendly against Sussex.
Surrey's 211 for 9 in 50 overs always looked below par, all the more so when Richard Montgomerie (98) and Carl Hopkinson (89) added 185 for Sussex's first wicket. They crusied home with more than an over to spare.
Surrey announce healthy profit
Posted on 04/12/2006 in Surrey
Surrey have declared a pre-tax profit of £482,000 following the busiest year in the club's history. The county invested £25 million in the redevelopment of the Vauxhall End, increased turnover from £12 million to £18 million and continued its substantial investment in cricket.
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