T20 Blast Essentials: Middlesex v Surrey

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 Vitality T20 Blast match

Fixture: Middlesex v Surrey

Venue: Lord's, London

Dates: Thursday, June 10, 2021

Start time: 7pm

What's the lowdown?

Surrey and Middlesex have bounced up and down continuously in the T20 group stage. One year they will cruise into the knockouts, the next they will be languishing at the foot of the table. Last year it was Surrey's turn to succeed as they topped the South Group comfortably. Middlesex in comparison came fourth, five points adrift of automatic qualification.

Surrey's charge to the final was dominant as they breezed past Kent and Gloucestershire, but they stumbled against Notts Outlaws and finished runners-up.

Neither team has won the Blast since 2008, and Surrey are still waiting to repeat their victory in 2003's inaugural edition, almost 20 years ago. This London derby will be a strong test for both sides looking to get off the mark with a victory.

Who's in form?

When at full strength, Surrey’s team is certainly the most formidable in England. Jason Roy, Ollie Pope, Jordan Clark, Laurie Evans, Sam and Tom Curran, Hashim Amla, Reece Topley and Liam Plunkett to name just a few players.

Last year's star performers were Evans, who scored 363 runs and Dan Moriarty, who came second in the wicket standing with a haul of 17. Their strength in depth is ludicrous, with Will Jacks also providing excellent options with bat and ball, scoring 309 runs and claiming 13 wickets.

Middlesex have the second highest run-scorer from 2020's tournament in Stephen Eskinazi, although his 413 runs were not enough to help the North London club qualify. However, with the addition of overseas players Chris Green and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and the return of England white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan, this year should prove more fruitful for the struggling side.

Steven Finn and Tom Helm took 14 and 12 wickets, respectively, and will continue to lead the line. But they will need the overseas spinners to make telling contributions to help their side progress.

Last five T20 matches (most recent first)

Middlesex: LLWLW

Surrey: LWWWW

Head-to-head T20 record

Total matches: 34

Middlesex wins: 12

Surrey wins: 22

Tied: 0

No result: 0

Abandoned: 2

What's the team news?

Middlesex: Tom Helm has tested positive for Covid and is isolating with mild symptoms. James Harris (side-strain), Toby Roland-Jones (knee), Tim Murtagh, (elbow), and Max Harris (ankle) also miss out.

Middlesex squad: Eoin Morgan, Ethan Bamber, Joe Cracknell, Blake Cullen, Stephen Eskinazi, Steven Finn, Chris Green, Nick Gubbins, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, John Simpson, Nathan Sowter, Paul Stirling

Surrey: Rory Burns and Ollie Pope are unavailable as they are on England duty. Ben Foakes continues his recovery from a torn hamstring.

Jade Dernbach and Liam Plunkett are still not match fit, while Reece Topley is out for up to six weeks with a side strain.

Surrey squad: Gareth Batty, Hashim Amla, Jordan Clark, Rikki Clarke, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Matt Dunn, Laurie Evans, Ben Geddes, Will Jacks, Daniel Moriarty, Jamie Overton, Ryan Patel, Jason Roy, Jamie Smith

Latest Middlesex news: Click here

Latest Surrey news: Click here

What's the weather forecast?

It’s overcast for most of Thursday but temperatures will still be up at 25 degrees Celsius, meaning it will be a hot and humid.

Keep up to date with the MetOffice's rolling forecast for Lord's: Click here

How do I follow the match?

TV/stream: Sky Sports will broadcast this match live from 7pm onwards on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.

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 Vitality T20 Blast 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

Middlesex's opening fixture will be played in front of a reduced crowd in line with the government's most recent Covid-19 guidelines.

Click here to visit the Middlesex box office.

Travel

Address: St John's Wood Road, London, NW8 8QN

On the tube: The following stations are within walking distance of the ground.

St. John’s Wood – Jubilee line (5 mins)

Baker Street – Bakerloo, Circle, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City lines (15 mins)

Warwick Avenue – Bakerloo line (15 mins)

Marylebone – Bakerloo line (15 mins)

Edgware Road – Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines (15 mins)

Paddington - Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines (20 mins)

By bus: The 13 and 113 routes run adjacent to Lord's on Wellington Road and are closest to the North and East gates. The Grace Gate is within comfortable walking distance.

The 139 and 189 routes run adjacent to Lord's on Grove End Road and stop closest to the Grace Gate.

By train: The nearest main line railway station is Marylebone, served by Chiltern Railways, which is approximately ten minutes’ walk from the Ground. Marylebone Station is on the Chiltern line.

Paddington Station is approximately twenty minutes’ walk from the Ground, for services to West and South-West England and South Wales.

Euston, King’s Cross and St Pancras International stations are only a short journey away.

By road: If choosing to go by road, the ground is 6 miles from the M1 and 1.5 miles from Marble Arch. It is also close to the M40 and M4.

M40 – from the end of the M40 take the A40 (Westway). Turn left into Lisson Grove. at the end of Lisson Grove, turn right into St. John’s Wood road. Lord’s is on the left.

M1 – from the end of the M1 take the Hendon Way, past Brent Cross Shopping Centre and over the north Circular Road (A406). Turn right on to Finchley Road (A41) and continue to Wellington Road. Pass St. John’s Wood underground station on the left and the Wellington Hospital on the right. Lord’s is on the right.

There are parking restrictions affecting non-residents on the streets surrounding Lord’s and on St John’s Wood High Street on all major match days, so please ensure you do not park in bays which are for residents’ use only. Click here for local car park information.

By bike: A number of bike racks are available outside the Ground for cyclists to lock their bikes to.

There are several Cycle Hire docking stations within five minutes’ walk of the Ground, on Abbey Road, St John’s Wood Road, Wellington Road, Lodge Road, Lisson Grove and Prince Albert Road.

Prediction?

Surrey's team is simply too strong for us to predict anything other than an away victory. Middlesex will be eager to overturn their London rivals and inject some impetus into their season. However, this Surrey team will not roll over lightly. Surrey Win.

OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES

North Group

Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes

Yorkshire Vikings v Birmingham Bears

South Group

Glamorgan v Gloucestershire