Renewed ambition
Rob Steen provides a preview of Surrey for the 2006 season
Rob Steen
12-Apr-2006
| ||||||||||||
Revolving door
Alan Butcher in for Steve Rixon as first-team coach; Mark Butcher for his first season as captain after last term's false start; and Anil Kumble for eight Championship fixtures. Graham Thorpe retired.
Winter wonderland
Young batsman Stewart Walters marries in Perth, then delights his bride by returning to Kennington three days later. The Brit Oval has been shortlisted (alongside Roman Abramovich FC) for the Sports Brand of the Year award.
Young batsman Stewart Walters marries in Perth, then delights his bride by returning to Kennington three days later. The Brit Oval has been shortlisted (alongside Roman Abramovich FC) for the Sports Brand of the Year award.
Strengths
Wisdom and promise, plus, for the first time in a decade and a half, no England call-up on the horizon.
Wisdom and promise, plus, for the first time in a decade and a half, no England call-up on the horizon.
Weaknesses
Unfulfilled promise; unproven team spirit; unfamiliarity with lower tiers.
Unfulfilled promise; unproven team spirit; unfamiliarity with lower tiers.
Best-case scenario
Trophies galore as Martin Bicknell has one last hurrah before taking up a coaching job at Charterhouse School; Tim Murtagh grows into those outsize boots; Ally Brown makes a late World Cup bid; Mark Butcher, Rikki Clarke and Scott Newman give the England selectors another pleasant headache or two; and Mark Ramprakash stays hungry.
Trophies galore as Martin Bicknell has one last hurrah before taking up a coaching job at Charterhouse School; Tim Murtagh grows into those outsize boots; Ally Brown makes a late World Cup bid; Mark Butcher, Rikki Clarke and Scott Newman give the England selectors another pleasant headache or two; and Mark Ramprakash stays hungry.
Worst-case scenario
Appointed as vice-captain "to
build a bridge between the
generations", as Butcher Sr puts
it, Clarke has to deputise for a
`resting' Flintoff and the wounds
of 2005 reopen. Although the team
agreed to pay a collective fine,
the culprit in the ball-tampering
episode that ensured relegation
remains stubbornly elusive.
 |
|
Young one to watch
Rory Hamilton-Brown - virtually the lone English success at the Under-19 World Cup and a great all-round talent: aggressive bat, penetrative offie, under-16 rugby international. "He could be anything," enthuses Butcher Sr.
Rory Hamilton-Brown - virtually the lone English success at the Under-19 World Cup and a great all-round talent: aggressive bat, penetrative offie, under-16 rugby international. "He could be anything," enthuses Butcher Sr.
Key man
Rikki Clarke.
Rikki Clarke.
What they say
"For varying reasons you might equate last summer to someone suffering from depression," says Butcher Sr. "I've been majoring on team spirit and the motivational aspects. We have the ability to win everything we want provided everyone wants to play for each other. That review of Ramps's diary in your magazine could have been damaging but the guys said, `Hang on, there's nothing there that didn't happen or wasn't true.' It worked the other way. We've talked about it openly." And what of the other `Butch'? "Mark got the all-clear in January and he's had no discomfort from the hand in the nets. He's definitely got the Ashes in mind."
"For varying reasons you might equate last summer to someone suffering from depression," says Butcher Sr. "I've been majoring on team spirit and the motivational aspects. We have the ability to win everything we want provided everyone wants to play for each other. That review of Ramps's diary in your magazine could have been damaging but the guys said, `Hang on, there's nothing there that didn't happen or wasn't true.' It worked the other way. We've talked about it openly." And what of the other `Butch'? "Mark got the all-clear in January and he's had no discomfort from the hand in the nets. He's definitely got the Ashes in mind."
Mark Wagh
Moving on from the magical leadership of Adam Hollioake was never going to be easy but a hugely talented, if injuryprone, squad should be coming through the transition phase and ready to put some results together. Difficult to write off but sometimes just difficult.
Moving on from the magical leadership of Adam Hollioake was never going to be easy but a hugely talented, if injuryprone, squad should be coming through the transition phase and ready to put some results together. Difficult to write off but sometimes just difficult.
Predictions County Championship 2nd (D2) Pro40 4th (D2)
Odds 7/4. Click here for full odds and to place your bet.
Odds 7/4. Click here for full odds and to place your bet.