Yorkshire 133 for 7 (Wharton 45*, Worrall 3-24, Fisher 2-42) vs Surrey
Surrey are used to spending September preventing for the title, however this 12 months issues are totally different. Champions for 3 seasons in a row from 2022-24, they’ve received simply as soon as within the Championship this summer time and headed into the ultimate month of the season solely three factors forward of ninth-placed Leicestershire. There is no such thing as a denying it: they’re in a relegation scrap.
Worrall was unplayable on the Kia Oval throughout Surrey’s title-winning years, taking 90 wickets at 17.12 throughout 17 house video games. He has been a peripheral determine this season as a result of calf and knee accidents, however was at his finest towards Yorkshire: he returned figures of three for twenty-four from 17 overs as Surrey’s four-man seam assault thrived after profitable an necessary toss on a murky day.
James Wharton and Matthew Revis battled exhausting so as to add 91 for the fourth wicket in 37.2 overs, spanning the tea interval, however each fell to Tom Lawes earlier than reaching 50. Revis chipped to midwicket and Wharton skewed to second slip, and Worrall had Jonny Bairstow and George Hill caught within the cordon shortly after every of Lawes’s wickets.
Surrey’s solely win within the Championship this season got here on Could 4, when it could have appeared unthinkable that they’d go on a six-match winless streak. However they discover themselves in peril after a bleak season, during which accidents, availability, lifeless house pitches and poor type have left them trying anxiously over their shoulders.
New abroad recruit Auqib Nabi’s first day as a Surrey participant ended wicketless, however he nonetheless performed a component in a formidable bowling efficiency. Fisher recognized a brief interval after tea, during which Yorkshire managed three scoring pictures in 34 balls towards Nabi and Lawes, because the day’s turning level.
“The stress simply stored ramping up,” he stated. “You would really feel it on the market: one thing was going to occur. That is what we have been talking about and we capitalised on that, staying affected person for lengthy sufficient, and we received the rewards ultimately… I feel that might be one of the best day we have put collectively as a bunch [this season].”
“I am gutted and upset. You dream of taking part in for England,” Fisher stated. “There’s just one Take a look at left now and having seven [seam] bowlers within the squad, you do not want that, so I perceive it, however I am going to simply preserve making an attempt to place within the exhausting yards for Surrey. The video games come thick and quick, so that you try to roll with that rhythm however you additionally attempt to preserve your physique in a great spot.”
Fisher stated that Marcus North, the England selector, had been clear in his communication with him, and stated that he’s working carefully with ECB pace-bowling lead Troy Cooley to turn into “one of the best swing bowler that I can”.
He added: “I’ve had setbacks earlier than and it is not likely a setback, however I’m gutted. I felt like I did alright after I performed right here [against New Zealand] at The Oval and it has been very nice to be round it once more, however you have simply received to maintain making an attempt to bowl effectively… I am actually pleased with what the blokes are doing and hopefully sooner or later, I is likely to be again in it.”
Surrey’s seamers beat the bat so typically on the opening day that Fisher agreed with a suggestion that the scoreboard didn’t fairly replicate their dominance, however might be cautious that Yorkshire’s assault might be harmful on this pitch. In addition they face the prospect of a fourth-innings run chase towards Kuldeep Yadav, although a robust first-innings effort tomorrow would put them effectively forward.
Matt Curler is a senior correspondent at Cricinfo. @mroller98