Who are the key players? How did they do last year? Where are they strong? Where might they be weak? Key questions answered ahead of the new T20 Blast campaign
Coach: Vikram Solanki
Captain: Jade Dernbach
Last season: Runners-up
How did they do last year?
Surrey topped the South Group last year, cruising into the quarter-finals with seven victories and only a single loss to Kent, who they lost to in their final group game before defeating them comprehensively at The Kia Oval in the last eight.
On a weird and wonderful rain-affected (reserve) Finals Day, they prevailed in an 11-over shoot-out with Gloucestershire thanks to Reece Topley and Liam Plunkett sharing five wickets and headed into their first final since 2013 against Notts Outlaws.
In a game reduced to 16 overs, Surrey struggled to find the fluency that they’d shown up to that point with the bat. A below-par 127 for 7 was competitive but eventually knocked off with nearly three overs to spare as Ben Duckett put his 2019 woes behind him with an unbeaten 53.
Who are their key players?
Such is the rolling carousel at Surrey during a regular season due to England commitments, it would only be fair to focus on players who are likely to be around for the duration (before they are inevitably called into the international fold in the years to follow).
Will Jacks was last season's T20 Blast MVP after scoring 309 runs at a strike-rate of 149.27 and taking 13 wickets for the runners-up. That innings in Dubai firmly behind him, that performance won him a Big Bash League contract with Hobart Hurricanes and he returns to the fold under pressure to pick up from where he left off last term.
The emergence of left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty was one of the major pluses of last season's truncated campaign. His 17 wickets played a key role in Surrey's run to the final, picking up breakthroughs as key junctures.
Though ranked down in 410th in the T20 Player Index, it would be rude to ignore Hashim Amla, who is back for a full campaign. He was available in time for the sharp end of last season's competition, scoring three fifties in eight games - oozing clash with every stroke.
Having begun the first-class season in supreme touch, the Blast appears to be coming into view at the perfect time for the South African.
Surrey's resources are highlighted by Hashim Amla's presence at the top of the order
What are their biggest strengths?
The reality is when Surrey have their full allocation available they have the most formidable line-up of any county. The likes of Jason Roy, Reece Topley and the Curran brothers may only be around for the first half a dozen matches before returning for the knock-out stage - if they make it that far - but it might be enough.
But still being able to call upon Ollie Pope, who has so far been overlooked by his country in white-ball cricket despite appearing perfectly suited, Amla, Jamie Overton and Ben Foakes (when he returns to full fitness) highlights the depth of quality at Vikram Solanki's disposal.
Where might they have a weakness?
As proven by their Championship struggles in recent years, resources haven't always translated into results for Surrey. Complacency has been evident and their rivals tend to rouse themselves, knowing a major scalp is within their grasp.
The nature of the international schedule means the south Londoners will not have the same freedom with regards to selection as last summer with the second half of the competition clashing with the Sri Lanka and Pakistan series.
Perhaps the fast-bowling department is the only area of genuine concern. Overton only took a single wicket in 10 outings last term and went at more than 10-an-over. His average is nearly 30 across his entire 20-over career., having been unable to add control to his undoubted zip.
It may rest of the 36-year-old shoulders of Liam Plunkett to lead the pace attack in the middle overs but he only managed six T20s due to injury in 2020.
Elsewhere, it will be down to Jamie Smith to fill the void left by Foakes while injury to Sean Abbott leaves an overseas berth unfilled at the time of writing.
What are their chances of reaching Finals Day?
While there is no doubting the class running throughout, achieving last season's consistency in selection is unrealistic. Injuries have come at the wrong time and the onus will again be on the young guard, Jacks and Moriarty, to reproduce last season's dazzling displays.
The reality is other sides in an ultra-competitive South Group have recruited better and are less affected by England's demands. Don't be surprised to see Surrey missing from the quarter-finals again.
Possible XI: Jason Roy, Hashim Amla, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Laurie Evans, Ben Foakes, Jamie Overton, Tom Curran, Gareth Batty, Dan Moriarty, Sam Curran
Fixtures: Fixtures: June 10 - Middlesex, June 11 - Somerset, June 14 - Glamorgan, June 17 - Sussex Sharks, June 18 - Hampshire, June 21 - Essex Eagles, June 23 - Somerset, June 25 - Middlesex, June 27 - Sussex Sharks, June 29 - Glamorgan, June 30 - Hampshire, July 2 - Kent Spitfires, July 9 - Kent Spitfires, July 16 Gloucestershire
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