It’s the start of a new season in the AJ Sports Surrey Championship on Saturday. Richard Spiller takes a look at the runners and riders in the Premier Division.
Bats, pads and boots have been in danger of being replaced as the most important equipment by waders and wellies in the early weeks of the club cricket season.
Many teams aim to play two or three friendlies before the league programme gets underway but on Saturday some will take the field with either a cursory trip to the middle or none at all behind them, following the wettest spring for many years.
Champions Wimbledon, who took the title for the first time since 2013 last September, admit their Church Road ground can take little more rain – with the forecast less than glowing – as they launch their defence against promoted Guildford.
Winning 12 games out of 18 made them worthy champions, doing the double by claiming the Edwards Cup, the league’s T20 competition. Skipper Jon Webb expects to lead out a similar side to last season, which saw Leicestershire-contracted opener Nick Welch and Kiwi Jack Boyle heading the batting, which also featured Surrey youngster Tim Lloyd.
Guildford hope they can do better than their last visit to the Premier Division, which lasted just one season in 2019. Having inched up behind Cranleigh, one point ahead of Spencer, they have former Hampshire opener Oli Soames back as director of cricket and will be scanning the skies for Australian all-rounder Jono Merle’s plane.
The pick of the opening week’s matches sees East Molesey – who fought valiantly to complete a hat-trick of titles before settling for third – head to Reigate Priory, who finished runners-up after run of four straight victories.
Priory, who have not won the title since 2014 yet despite several valiant attempts, can take encouragement from hammering Sussex Premier champions Roffey by 91 runs last Sunday in a friendly. Australian import Alex Ross, having impressed last year, signalled his return by hitting 86 with 65 from Andy Delmont out of 263-9 in 50 overs, Michael Munday and Harry McInley taking three wickets each in the reply.
The Moles have Tasmanian Mac Wright back on board and should be strengthened by the arrivals of all-rounders Oliver Haley and Michael Shean. With the bulk of such a successful unit still in place, captain Nick Stevens has every reason to be optimistic.
Cranleigh could scarcely have made a more impressive riposte to relegation in 2021 than to bounce straight back as champions and start by hosting Ashtead. They were seventh last year and were knocked out of the ECB National Club Championship by Kent side Hayes on Sunday, losing by six wickets.
An upsurge in fortunes would be most welcome to Sunbury, who finished one place above the relegation zone, as they seek to revive memories of back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. Just as it would to the team who succeeded them, Normandy, their visitors on Saturday.
Ambitions of top spot are unmistakeable in the remaining match, Weybridge making the short trip to Esher, the home side proving the sole team promoted in recent seasons who have proved capable of establishing themselves at Premier level, finishing fourth last year.
Weybridge faded badly into fifth last year but new captain Nathan Tilley aims to put that right with the aid of Will Pucovski. The Australian Test opener might have been heading over for the Ashes but for cruel luck with a series of concussions which have constantly interrupted his career. When he arrives later in the month, he hopes to take out his frustrations on English bowlers.
Division One sees Sutton and Malden Wanderers aiming to emulate Cranleigh by bouncing straight back from relegation, Spencer again the biggest threat.
The new chair of the Surrey Championship, Helen Ross – who has succeeded the long-serving Peter Murphy – described the competition as being in “rude health” in an upbeat message to launch the campaign. All it needs now is a bit of sunshine.
It’s 50 overs per side for the first four and last five weeks, time matches taking up the nine in between.
Last year’s ups and downs
Premier Division
Champions: Wimbledon
Relegated: Malden Wdrs & Sutton
Division 1
Promoted: Cranleigh & Guildford
Relegated: Stoke d’Abernon & Beddington
Division 2
Promoted: Camberley & Walton
Relegated: Leatherhead & Epsom
Division 3
Promoted: Cheam & Worcester Pk
Relegated: Kingstonian & Woking and Horsell
Division 4
Promoted: Horsley and Send & Addiscombe
Relegated: Haslemere & Churt and Hindhead
Division 5
Promoted: SinjunGrammarians & London Gymkhana
Relegated: Battersea Ironsides & Long Ditton (replaced by Effingham & Horley from Surrey County League).
