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 LV= Insurance County Championship...
Fixture: Surrey v Gloucestershire
Venue: The Kia Oval, Kennington
Dates: Thursday, May 27, 2021 - Sunday, May 30, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Surrey have only won once but have lost just twice so far this season, struggling to convert four draws into wins. Gloucestershire, on the other hand, are clear at the top of Group Two with a game in hand on the chasing pack.
But for the rain, both sides might well have lost last time out - Surrey against Middlesex and Gloucestershire against Somerset. As it is, though, Ian Harvey's men arrive at the Kia Oval still unbeaten but without England-bound James Bracey; Surrey are similarly disrupted, with captain Rory Burns and batsman Ollie Pope also on international duty.
Who's in form?
Both counties have shown signs, though Gloucestershire have been more consistent; Ryan Higgins is consistently one of the country's best cricketers, while Ian Cockbain has returned to the red-ball scene in fine fettle. David Payne claimed career-best figures at Lord's a fortnight ago. For Surrey, never write off Hashim Amla when batting in Kennington - he looks in far better order now than he did early in the season, when his best years looked a long way in the distant past.
There will be pressure on Sean Abbott to replicate the feats of Kemar Roach, who was a hugely popular overseas player but has now returned home to the Caribbean to prepare for West Indies duty.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Surrey: DDDWL
Gloucestershire: DWWDW
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 218
Surrey wins: 94
Gloucestershire wins: 55
Draws: 69
Abandoned: 2
What's the team news?
Hashim Amla will captain Surrey in the absence of regular skipper Rory Burns who, along with Ollie Pope, has joined up with England’s Test squad ahead of the upcoming series with New Zealand. Ben Foakes will miss that series after tearing his left hamstring.
Australia international Sean Abbott replaces Kemar Roach as Surrey’s second overseas player and could make his debut, while Jordan Clark has a tight hamstring and misses out as a precaution. Reece Topley is rested as his return to first-class cricket is managed.
Those absentees mean that Laurie Evans, Ben Geddes and Ryan Patel have been named in a squad for the first time this season, with Geddes waiting for first-class debut. Matt Dunn has also been recalled following a fine second team display.
ECB contracted players Sam Curran, Tom Curran and Jason Roy will now return to training ahead of the T20 Blast and England’s white-ball summer.
Surrey squad: Hashim Amla (c), Sean Abbott, Rikki Clarke, Matt Dunn, Laurie Evans, Ben Geddes, Will Jacks, Daniel Moriarty, Jamie Overton, Ryan Patel, Jamie Smith, Mark Stoneman, Amar Virdi
Gloucestershire will be without James Bracey for their clash with Surrey due to his call-up to the England Test squad for their series against New Zealand. Ian Harvey’s side will, however, have loan signing Jonny Tattersall available from Yorkshire to fill in behind the stumps.
Gloucestershire squad: Chris Dent (c), Kraigg Brathwaite, Miles Hammond, Tom Lace, Ryan Higgins, Ian Cockbain, Jonny Tattersall, Tom Smith, David Payne, Matt Taylor, Dan Worrall, George Scott, Dom Goodman, Josh Shaw, Graeme van Buuren
Latest Surrey news: Click here
Latest Gloucestershire news: Click here
Who's said what?
Ian Harvey, Gloucestershire’s interim head coach, is well aware of the challenges facing his side over the coming weeks, with the Bristol county still one point clear at the top of their County Championship group – with a game in hand to come against Leicstershire.
“We’ve got some big games coming up against some big teams and Surrey is no exception,” he said.
“They are one of the best in the country. We played a very good game against them earlier in the season so we know what to expect but we know it will be tough and the boys will have to be ready for that.”
What's the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for The Oval: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Surrey will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All LV= 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 LV= 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
Tickets are available for this fixture. Adults £15, under-16s £1.
Click here to access Surrey's box office.
Travel
Address: Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SS
By car: No match-day parking is available at, or in the vicinity of the ground, and we advise all customers to use public transport. We only offer parking to Blue Badge holders on a first come first serve basis.
The ground is situated on the A202, near the junction with the A3 and A24, just south of Vauxhall Bridge and 10-minutes from Victoria and Waterloo.
By train: Use South Western Railway trains into Vauxhall station, which is a 10-minute walk from the ground. The station is well served by trains throughout Surrey and Hampshire as well as from the Greater London area.
By underground: The Kia Oval is just a one-minute walk away from Oval underground station, which is situated in South London on the Northern line. It is on your left as you leave the main entrance of the station. The ground is also a 10-minute walk from Vauxhall which is situated on the Victoria line.
By bus: Route numbers 36, 185 and 436 stop outside the ground and other local services stop around the corner. The following buses pass within a 5-minute walk of the ground: 3, 59, 109, 133, 159, 333.
Prediction?
Coming soon.
OTHER ROUND 8 MATCH PREVIEWS
Group 1
Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire
Group 2
Group 3
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.