Surrey’s prep work pays off in County Championship victory over Yorkshire
Everything fell into place nicely for Surrey in last week’s round of County Championship matches.
But as Jason Roy was quick to point out following the South Londoners victory over Yorkshire, it’s no coincidence given the attention to detail paid to every aspect of their performance and preparation.
“It’s an incredibly happy dressing room,” said Roy. “To come back from what we did last week, where we put in a load of effort on a flat wicket for no reward, and put in the performance we did is incredible. The boys, to a man, came together and nailed it.
“Also, we’ve got an amazing backroom staff here. With the facilities the club provides for them, there’s no stone left unturned. Between each game all the rehab and conditioning work is absolutely nailed down.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed and it’s no surprise when we’re putting in performances like this. We’ve got some confidence from this week and we’re going into the Essex game in a nice position.
“We tried to take as much from last week [against Warwickshire] as we could, but it was hard. It was a horribly flat wicket they produced for us. But we did everything we wanted to do this week. We spoke about it, and we really turned up.”
Rory Burns won the toss against Yorkshire and, in keeping with the previous 15 championship clashes at The Oval, elected to bowl first.
Other than half-centuries from Jonny Bairstow (89) and Adam Lyth (55), Surrey’s seamers made light work of the visitors, who were dismissed for 255 before the South Londoners responded with 512.
Every Surrey batter reaching double figures.
But it was Kurtis Patterson (85), making his county debut as overseas player, and Ben Foakes (86), who usurped Dom Sibley as the club’s leading run-maker this season, who stood out.
“Kurtis played absolutely beautifully,” said Roy. “He was as fluent as it comes. I said to him: ‘I don’t know how you made it look so fluent’. To go through the gears the way he did was incredible to watch. He’s obviously a class act and he set it up beautifully for the boys who came in after him.”
Yorkshire could only make 229 at the second time of asking, as Jordan Clark (4-45) and Tom Lawes (3-47) added to the three victims they bagged apiece on day one.
Once the fourth-wicket alliance between Bairstow (77) and James Wharton (67) was broken, Yorkshire lost their last seven wickets for 62.
“The boys were relentless with their skill-sets,” said Roy. “It was amazing to watch. They kept coming and did what the skipper asked them to do. But also with the bat, all the way down the order, that was relentless as well.”
Roy’s inclusion is his first taste of red-ball cricket for five years, and he is confident a big score is just around the corner.
“I’m loving being back,” said the 34-year-old, who is now seen as more of a white-ball specialist.
“The conversations I had with Batts (Surrey’s head coach, Gareth Batty) leading into this, it’s everything we spoke about.
“Getting this win, over Yorkshire, was everything we spoke about – how I would feel, why I play the game and why I still love the game. It showed in that slip catch I took yesterday – the elation, because you’re taking a catch for your mate there. He (Jordan Clark) has got a sore ankle, but he’s still charging in and making an impact.
“For me, if there’s a big one around the corner, there’s a big one, but I’m just enjoying my time here and taking it day by day.”
