Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the County Championship...
Fixture: Somerset v Surrey
Venue: The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Dates: Thursday, May 13, 2021 - Sunday, May 16, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Somerset have had another excellent start to this campaign, sitting in second place with a healthy 20-point lead over third-place Hampshire. As the runners-up in four of the last five County Championship seasons, they’ve given themselves the perfect platform to go that one step further this year.
Surrey have been mercurial with bat and ball so far this season. They have piled on the runs and swept teams aside on a few occasions, but have also struggled for both wickets and runs on others. They sit fourth, 36 points behind leaders Gloucestershire.
Who's in form?
Surrey have been boosted by Ollie Pope’s return to the fine form that propelled him into the England reckoning, scoring two centuries this year, one of which being a magnificent 245 against Leicestershire. Hashim Amla has also settled nicely into the new campaign.
Other centuries from Mark Stoneman, Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith prove Surrey’s batting stocks are overflowing. With the ball, Kemar Roach’s career-best figures of 8 for 40, alongside Jordan Clarke’s 6 for 21, demolished Hampshire.
As for Somerset, Craig Overton continues to knock on England's top. He is the County Championship's leading wicket-taker with 32 at 13.96 apiece and has made some consistent and healthy contributions with the bat.
Tom Abell has been leading from the front with the bat, scoring 397 runs at 49.62, but it is Somerset’s seam bowling trio of Overton, Josh Davey and Lewis Gregory that is doing the damage, with the side taking all 20 wickets in four out of their five games this season.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Somerset: WWWLW
Surrey: DWLDL
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 173
Somerset wins: 34
Surrey wins: 76
Draws: 63
Abandoned: 2
What's the team news?
Somerset: Steven Davies is unavailable due to a minor operation, though he is expected to return for Somerset's next Championship fixture against Gloucestershire. Tom Banton has been included to keep wicket and Jack Leach has also been rested, with Jack Brooks coming in to replace him.
Squad: Tom Abell (c), Tom Banton (wk), George Bartlett, Jack Brooks, Eddie Byrom, Josh Davey, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Goldsworthy, Lewis Gregory, James Hildreth, Tom Lammonby, Craig Overton and Roelof van der Merwe
Surrey: Just the one change for the away side, with Kemar Roach coming back in following a back complaint. Reece Topley drops out as the club manage his return to first-class cricket.
Squad: Rory Burns (c), Hashim Amla, Gus Atkinson, Jordan Clark, Rikki Clarke, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Daniel Moriarty, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Kemar Roach, Jamie Smith, Mark Stoneman, Amar Virdi
Latest Somerset news: Click here
Latest Surrey news: Click here
Who's said what?
Head coach Jason Kerr believes Somerset welcome Surrey off the back of their most complete performance of the season against Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.
"The guys were brilliant last week at Hampshire," he explained.
"Their effort and attitude were first class. They executed what we set out to do and got their rewards. That gives us a lot of confidence going into the game against Surrey because that was our most complete performance this year.
"Surrey are in good form at the moment and they’ve got internationals right through their side, but we’re playing really good cricket at the moment and it’s important that we focus on what we’re doing so that continues."
Despite going to his 30th senior century against Leicestershire last wee, Surrey opener Mark Stoneman is taking nothing granted ahead of the trip to Taunton.
"I’d love to consider it a period I’ve come out the back of," he told Evening Standard. "I’d love to be properly consistent with big scores. But it’s not thinking I’ve made one score so I will just go and hit everything out the middle from ball one.
"Thursday (May 13) is a fresh challenge. I feel completely re-energised, looking ahead to plenty more years in the game and scoring many more runs.
"I feel I have the balance of work and life back. If I’m at home with the family I’m all in on that, if I’m at cricket I’m all in on that. That makes me a lot happier person and cricketer."
What's the weather forecast?
It’s a dry start to the game on day one, but that may not last with rain possible for the remainder of the fixture. Temperatures will not rise above 14 degrees with a mixture of overcast and sunny spells, ideal conditions for seam bowling if the rain holds.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Taunton: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Somerset will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets: This match is to be played behind closed doors owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Travel: Not applicable owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Prediction?
Surrey have stumbled their way through their first five games, showing glimpses of class without securing consistency. Somerset have been understated, busy and consistent, turning good spells into match-winning performances. It will take a mighty effort from Surrey to keep Somerset’s bowling attack at bay. Somerset win.
OTHER ROUND SIX PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
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