Wednesday 21 May 1997
Surrey under pressure to look abroad for security
By Charles Randall
PRESSURE is mounting at the Oval for Surrey to sign an overseas
player to strengthen the side as they attempt to revive a limp
start to their championship season at Leicester today.
The possibility that both Hollioake brothers will be required
by England through the summer - joining Alec Stewart and Graham
Thorpe as county absentees - has forced Surrey to think
seriously about their status as the only county side wholly
England-qualified.
As it was, Surrey's decision not to sign a foreign player at
the start of the season amounted to a risk that would almost
certainly cost them their championship aspirations.
No side for many years has succeeded in championship cricket
without one, and major achievements by the best overseas
players have been key ingredients, certainly in four-day
cricket as shown by Desmond Haynes, Brian Lara, Allan Donald
and Phil Simmons since 1993.
Paul Sheldon, Surrey's chief executive, said yesterday: "The
chance of our requiring an overseas player has gone up since
the Hollioakes were picked. We may be forced to take action."
"Our policy has been to wait and see how things work out. A
change depends on three things - England call-ups, plus
injuries, plus the availability of the overseas players we
might want. Poor results would be only a small factor."
Surrey drew their first two games when rain interrupted
unconvincing performances, and they suffered a nine-wicket
defeat by Gloucestershire at the Oval last week. Only two
batsmen have made fifties - one of them being Martin Bicknell,
a bowler.
Sheldon added: "It is true we haven't been dominating sessions
in the championship so far. We're all under pressure to get
results because we've assembled a world-class squad and
world-class results are expected. They're not being produced
yet. It's early days."
If Surrey do decide to disappoint the anti-overseas lobby, they
would almost certainly sign a bowler, with Saqlain Mushtaq, the
Pakistan off-spinner, high on the list.
Chris Lewis takes over from Adam Hollioake as captain and an
unfancied team have travelled to Leicester, where the
champions' pennant flies. Leicestershire have found good form
recently, so it would be no surprise if Surrey, free of the
burden of expectation, were to do well.
Nottinghamshire managed their first win for almost a year last
week without an overseas player, and they will have to continue
to do without one - Mohammad Zahid, their new signing - against
Derbyshire at Trent Bridge.
The Pakistan fast bowler broke down again in training and is to
have a scan on his sore back. Their prospects have begun to
look as bad as Surrey's.
The quality of today's county programme has been a little
diluted by the loss of 15 players to England and a rash of
injuries to the overseas contingent. Wasim Akram, Mohammad
Akram and Vasbert Drakes could all miss their games.
Date-stamped : 21 May97 - 06:16