Champions-elect Surrey set to reward key men with new deals

England bow: Sam Curran made his Test debut earlier this summer after impressing for Surrey
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Will Macpherson10 September 2018

Surrey are poised to reward several key players with new contracts as they close in on their first County Championship title since 2002.

The hope is that they can secure the crown in the match at Worcestershire, which began at New Road today. They need to pick up six more points than Somerset — who they face at Taunton next week — manage against Hampshire. Failing that, they need 30 points from their final three games.

Home-grown players have been a key part of Surrey’s success this summer, with Ollie Pope, Sam Curran, Amar Virdi, Ryan Patel and Will Jacks all showing their potential. That is why the county are thought to be keen to give them new deals.

Surrey’s recruitment for next summer — they have signed Jordan Clark and Liam Plunkett — is also understood to be complete.

“The youngsters are so pleasing,” said the county’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart. “I wanted to get that Surrey feel back, bringing our own through and giving them an opportunity.

“We could have played six 20-year-olds at once.

“I want to keep these players together for a long period of time so we can handle more England call-ups and the odd injury or loss of form.”

Stewart has also been delighted with the pitches Surrey have played on, which have been markedly bouncier than in recent years, after a conversation he had with Lee Fortis, the head groundsman. He wanted to play cricket that resembled Tests on Test pitches. The result is nine wins from 11 matches, including eight on the spin.

“At the end of last year I got all the results in the Championship from the last three years from each county’s main ground,” revealed Stewart. “We were second or third bottom in terms of positive results. We had a reputation as a batting paradise. I didn’t want short-term fixes where it’s done in two days. I asked for as much pace, bounce and carry as possible.”

Jade Dernbach replaced Conor McKerr today, the only change to the side that beat Essex in their last game.

Stewart, who was part of the Surrey side that won the title 16 years ago, added: “We are just carrying on in the way we have from game one. Next game, next session, next hour, next over, next ball. That’s how we’ve been, as simple as possible, and it’s all we can do. We can’t influence anything else. Three more good games and we will be in the mix.”

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