Surrey Men v Essex Men
Rothesay County Championship
The Oval, London
Friday 23 – Monday 26 May | 11am start
Squad
Chris Silverwood has named a 13-player squad for our final match before the Vitality Blast begins next Friday
Paul Walter returns after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained down in Taunton during the clash against Somerset.
The Inside Line: Chris Silverwood
The Opposition
The arrival from Yorkshire of Matt Fisher is expected to strengthen still further Surrey’s all-powerful fast-bowling stocks. Fisher, at 27, sees the move as a chance to push on an already promising career and reach new levels in both county and international cricket. From the start of May, too, the champions’ enviable pace battery will be boosted by Nathan Smith, who joins as Surrey’s latest overseas signing and who is available, outside any New Zealand commitments, for the rest of the summer.
Although many eyes will be on Fisher, who won his only England Test cap of an injury-studded career to date in March 2022, expect exciting 22-year-old Tom Lawes to kick on this season. Lawes, who can also bat in the lower middle order, already has 74 first-class wickets at 24.36 but – swinging the ball both ways at sharp pace – he can get much better yet.
Last Time We Met
Surrey began their 2025 County Championship campaign and search for a fourth consecutive league title with a trip to Chelmsford at the beginning of April.
On the opening day Jordan Cox made sure his name remained on the England selectors’ radar with the ninth first-class century of his career, and fifth inside a year since joining Essex, smashing 117 from just 148 balls
Jordan Cox raises his bat after reaching his century during Essex CCC vs Surrey CCC, Rothesay County Championship Division 1 Cricket at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground on 4th April 2025
Rory Burns and Ollie Pope dug in for Surrey as they entered survival mode following a chastening day.
Facing an imposing first-innings total of 582-6 declared, Surrey were left with an initial target of 433 just to make Essex bat again. By stumps, they were still 473 runs behind but had steadied the ship at 109-1 from 42 overs, but Ben Foakes defied his former county with a resilient four-hour, 41-minute innings, but he could not prevent Essex from enforcing the follow-on. Simon Harmer led Essex’s charge with a marathon spell, returning 4-83 from 47 overs — 34 of them bowled in the day.
On the final day, opening batter Dom Sibley batted through 77 overs to anchor Surrey’s determined fightback and secure a draw in the opening match of the 2025 season.
Division One Table
How To Watch
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, through the YouTube livestream.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Club’s various social platforms and channels.
Tickets
Members of both counties are free to sit in any available and vacant seat, though the Doug Insole Pavilion benches and blocks 1-14 and 27-31 are reserved specifically for member’s use only.
Should you want have access to Member’s areas during a matchday, we have the ‘Adult Member Area Upgrade’ available at an extra cost to general admission.
Meanwhile, advanced general admission tickets are priced at £16.00 for adults (£22.00 on the day), while young adults aged between 18 and 25 can purchase for £12.00 (£16.00 on the day) and under-18 tickets for £6.00.
Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling 01245 254010.
