Cricket

THREE TO WATCH FOR 2008

23 April 2008

Usman Afzaal

DOB: 09/06/77
Role: Left Hand Bat; Left Arm Spin
Previous Counties: Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire
First Class Average: 37.65 (Bat) / 52.12 (Ball)
High Score: 168*
Best Bowling: 4/101

A fixture on the County Cricket circuit for over a decade, Afzaal arrived at Surrey in October 2007 following a stint with Northamptonshire. Has scored over 11,000 first class runs and played three times for England, the last being against Australia at The Brit Oval in 2001.

An average of 37.65 is good but many at his previous two clubs have become frustrated with Afzaal for failing to fulfil his massive potential. Having been through two clubs by the age of 30, he is probably looking at his final opportunity to re-establish himself in the game’s elite.

Chris Jordan

DOB: 04/10/88
Role: Right Hand Bat, Right Hand Fast Bowler
Previous Counties: None
First Class Average: 24.5 (Ball) / 24.25 (Bat)
High Score: 34
Best Bowling: 3/42

Last season’s revelation after making the leap from playing for Dulwich College to playing for the Surrey first team in a matter of weeks, Chris Jordan is now operating with expectations for the first time.

Mark Butcher has sought to play down the ‘Jordan Effect’ but in just five first class and seven one day games his scalps include massive names such as Shivnarine Chanderpaul and VVS Laxman.

Jordan is also no slouch with the bat – although his style sadly owes more to Geoff Boycott than Sir Vivian Richards – and is hoping to push on to his debut first class fifty.

Mark Ramprakash

DOB: 5/9/69
Role: Right Hand Bat, Off Spin Bowler, Occasional Wicket Keeper
Previous Counties: Middlesex
First Class Average: 53.13 (Bat) / 64.58 (Ball)
High Score: 301*
Best Bowling: 3/32

Having averaged over 100 in the last two seasons, Mark Ramprakash could easily have been forgiven for hanging up his boots in favour of some more comfortable dancing shoes.

Not a bit of it though – despite turning 40 next year Ramps is still fresh as a daisy and hungry to continue his remarkable achievements, recently signing a new deal that will keep him at Surrey until the end of next year.

Three more centuries this year will rack up an extraordinary 100 first class tons and the club stalwart will need to fire yet again if Surrey are to mount a genuine challenge in all four competitions.

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