Hampshire to face a youthful Surrey in their third Bob Willis Trophy South Group match

Surrey could be fielding an even more youthful side than Hampshire at Arundel this weekend.
Jamie Smith, 20, is one of the youngsters who will be facing Hampshire at Arundel in the Bob Willis Trophy. Photo by James Chance/Getty Images.Jamie Smith, 20, is one of the youngsters who will be facing Hampshire at Arundel in the Bob Willis Trophy. Photo by James Chance/Getty Images.
Jamie Smith, 20, is one of the youngsters who will be facing Hampshire at Arundel in the Bob Willis Trophy. Photo by James Chance/Getty Images.

Injuries and unavailabilities have led to Hampshire giving Ajeet Dale, 20, a first class debut in the Bob Willis Trophy while 21-year-old pair Felix Organ and Harry Came have played both games.

They have all been handed chances due to the absence of Kolpak pair Kyle Abbott and Fidel Edwards being stranded overseas - neither will play in 2020 - while James Vince and Liam Dawson missed the opening defeat at Hove on England ODI duty.

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In addition, Aneurin Donald is still recovering from a winter knee operation.

Organ, with seven wickets, is his side’s joint leading wicket-taker so far - alongside Keith Barker - while Joe Weatherley, 23, is their highest-scoring batsman.

Surrey have so far fielded eight players aged 22 or under in their opening two Willis Trophy losses.

They have two players in the England Test team, Rory Burns and Ollie Pope, while a third (wicket-keeper Ben Foakes) is a reserve.

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Jason Roy has also been unavailable so far due to his ODI commitments, though he has only made seven Championship appearances since the start of the 2017 season.

Three ex-England Test players provide the experience - top order pair Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick along with evergreen 38-year-old all-rounder Rikki Clarke.

Ryan Patel, 22, has been opening alongside Stoneman with Will Jacks, 21, and wicket-keeper/batsman Jamie Smith, 20, also in the top five.

Of the bowlers, Angus Atkinson, 22, made his first class debut in this week’s loss against Essex, while 20-year-old pair Adam Finch and James Taylor also played.

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England Lions spinner Amar Virdi, 22, provided a slow bowling option at Chelmsford.

Surrey had gone with two spinners in their first game against Middlesex with Dan Moriarty, 19, handed his first class debut.

Surrey’s numbers are currently so low they have had to draft batsman Laurie Evans in on loan from Sussex.

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Hampshire are going to have to make changes in their bowling attack.

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Spinner Liam Dawson is out with the Achilles injury he suffered while batting against Middlesex, while seamer Ryan Stevenson could be a doubt after colliding with a marquee post.

Stevenson, after just four wickets in his first five first class games for the county, had impressed with 4-70 in Middlesex’s first innings.

As a result, Hampshire only used three seamers in the home side’s second innings - Barker and James Fuller taking the new ball with Ian Holland first change.

Organ offered the sole spin option, a chance he grabbed with both hands to take 4-42.

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Mason Crane could return to the XI if Hampshire want to field two spinners against Surrey, who struggled against the slow bowling of Essex’s Simon Harmer earlier this week.

Harmer collected 14 wickets in his team’s second Willis Trophy win of 2020.

If Stevenson is ruled out, and Hampshire require a fourth seamer, either Dale or Scott Currie, 19, could be called on.

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The hosts are waiting to see if James Vince will be available.

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While some of his fellow England ODI team-mates took part in the second round of Willis Trophy games, he was not allowed to play.

Tom Banton, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Billings, like Vince, played in all three recent ODIs against Ireland at The Ageas Bowl. But unlike those three, he didn’t appear in the Willis Trophy earlier this week.

If Vince is available, he will strengthen a top order that has yet to show much form.

Harry Came has just 37 runs from four innings, while Organ has 44 and Tom Alsop 65.

Holland also has 65 from four innings, but the fact he offers a bowling option should see him keep his place. The same applies to Organ.