Chris Adams Q+A: Answers from Grizz

20 October 2009

For the last two weeks, Surrey fans have been taking their opportunity to put their questions to Professional Cricket Manager Chris Adams.

The Club would like to thank to all Members and fans that have taken the time to send their questions in. All were read and every topic that was asked about has been covered. We hope you appreciate that whilst Chris has answered these questions candidly and honestly, there are some topics that – for reasons of legality and confidentially – cannot be addressed publicly at this time.

Due to the success of this exercise, we will conducting more Q+A sessions with both Chris and other members of the Surrey coaching staff in the near future, so keep coming back to the official Surrey website to take your chance to get involved again and make your voice heard.

Read on to find the answers Chris has written…

1. In the 2010 season will your top priority be promotion, or a one day trophy (which can be lucrative these days)?

My top priority in 2010 is to ensure we improve in all forms of the game. It is very difficult to predict success season on season – that said we are working towards taking Surrey back to the top of English cricket within three-five years. Five years is a more realistic target but equally I have been greatly encouraged by the new culture and ethic adopted by the squad. If the players are prepared to put the right amount of hours in during the winter months, working at improving all aspects of their cricket (Technical, Tactical, Mental, Physical) then I am confident we will be much more consistent and competitive in 2010 in all forms of the game.

2. Who is to be our wicket-keeper for 2010? Is Jonathan Batty our first team wicket-keeper or is it Steve Davies? If the latter what is to happen to Jonathan Batty? Are we still keeping the Irish wicket-keeper, Wilson?

Steven Davies has joined us on a three year contract. At 23 years old and currently recognised as England’s Test and ODI number two to Matt Prior and it will be no surprise that we to recognise him as the future of Surrey Cricket and our first choice. Jonathan has had an excellent season with the bat in four day cricket and is currently assessing the situation and considering his options. Gary has been offered a new two year contract. We are very privileged to have currently three wicket-keepers of the class of Davies, Batty and Wilson as well as emerging talent in Rory Burns, who performed brilliantly on occasions for the 2nd XI last season.

3. The Oval is a hard place to win the Championship from. The Surrey Championship winning squads (1890s, 1950s, 1971 and 1999-2002) have shared several characteristics, deep batting with both gritty and stroke-playing batsmen, all three classic bowling type (fast, medium/quick medium and a pair of top flight spinners) and a core of Test standard players. Given this, what are you doing to build a fourth championship winning squad, how long a task do you envisage it being and can managers, coaches and players at CAG, District and Focus Club level do anything to help?

Well you have just described the perfect team make up, particularly for playing competitive cricket at the Brit Oval. We are working very hard to develop a squad such as you suggest. Gareth Batty has been brought in to provide good all round one day talent but also identified as a great number two spinner in four day cricket. It is hoped very much to target an overseas spinner to partner him and adopt a three seamer two spinner strategy, particularly at the Oval. Steve Davies comes in not only as a first rate keeper but as a fabulous all round batsman, middle order in four day cricket but a powerful striker at the top in One Day cricket. With Ramps, Afzaal and Brown we have great skill and experience and in Walters, Harinath and Spriegel, youth that has already shown promise. Meaker, Dernbach and Jordan provide young exciting seam bowling talent, whilst we would definitely like to add more experience in that department to assist Andre Nel. One massive area for recruitment moving forward will be in all round talent, players that can perform all three disciplines to a high standard. Sadly these type of players do not grow on trees, we have to be patient. I would ask that all coaches and managers at club level continue to enthuse, encourage, challenge and excite players to not only aspire to represent the county but go all the way to the top and represent England. The equation is a simple one – Hard Work + Talent = Success. Good luck!

4. Do you think that the pitches at the Oval are a hindrance to improving the Surrey team? The pitches are too good for the bowlers we are trying to develop, conceding over 500 every innings cannot be doing us any good. Surely pitches more akin to Whitgift would be more beneficial?

The Oval is a very difficult place to win in four days but equally I believe it is a pitch that will always reward patience and discipline both with bat and ball. We are working very closely with Clive Stephens, Operations Director, and Bill Gordon, Head Groundsman, on identifying how we can make the wickets more conducive to exciting cricket. Pace and bounce is high on the agenda and allied with a higher quality of bowling, results will once again return to the Oval. I was hugely impressed by Whitgift and Guildford this season and look forward to returning there in 2010.

5. After Gus Mackay's statement that Surrey are in the market now for their overseas player, who he hopes will be in 'for the duration', from looking at the Future Tours Program 2010, the best options are an Australian who have few matches, or better still a Pakistani, who have no matches scheduled for next summer. What chance Mitchell Johnson, Shahid Afridi or Danish Kaneria coming out for Surrey next season?!

Due to the exhausted international calendar and introduction of the IPL, good quality overseas players who are available over extended periods of the season are very difficult to come by. This means we must be diligent in our research and make sure we are ready to sign players when they become available at the earliest stage. It is our intention to sign a spinner and one who we hope will be capable of taking in excess of 100 wickets for us in all competitions. Apologies, but we are not in a position at the time of writing to reveal candidates we are considering.

6. How many of the 2009 Surrey squad do you think have the quality (not merely the promise) to merit selection for a Surrey XI capable of winning promotion in 2010 and challenging for the County Championship in 2011/2012?

It takes time to develop young players. That said, some players adapt and develop much quicker than others. Look at Alistair Cook and Stuart Broad barely into their twenties and already established in International cricket. The ability, talent and temperament of the player is what dictates the time equation but it is anticipated that many of our young players, some of whom were given precious first class opportunities last season, will develop much quicker now we have established a good working environment with quality coaches for the players to work with. I see no reason why Dernbach, Meaker and Jordan can’t fully establish themselves next season with the ball and Harinath and Spriegel will have the best chance based on this season’s evidence. Again it will be down to the young stars of the Second XI in Evans, King, Jewell, Edwards, Wilson etc… to work as hard as they can this year so that they can force their way through at the earliest opportunity.

7. Why do we have to become the Manchester City of the cricket world? I would rather spend five years in Division Two blooding a team of local youngsters rather than buy our way out of our current crisis in a short sighted way.

I would hope that we are following a model much more akin to Manchester United. Aggressive development of our own talent which will come through in a three to five year period whilst being capable of identifying key players to be recruited for key positions. Like most things in life it is about getting the right balance, which is my aim.

8. In the past two days I see that Yorkshire have signed Ryan Harris for next season who was our overseas player this year and made a good start until he was injured. I see that [Tom] Smith who was on loan to Surrey from Sussex has signed for Middlesex and he also made a good start for Surrey in the last game of the season. Was any offer of a contract made to these two players who both seemed to have some potential? Has any approach been made to Matt Hoggard to entice him to the Oval?

Ryan Harris is indeed a good prospect and it was a real shame when he picked up the injury only two games into his stint with us. As I have stated earlier it is our intention to bring in a spinner for next year as an overseas player. I’m a big fan of Tom Smith who had a terrific time with us in September. He has had four long years working hard at his game and now looks ready to blossom. With this in mind we did sit down with him to discuss whether Surrey was an option for him but with an offer already on the table from Middlesex he felt that represented the best option for him. With Udal into his 40's and Khartik off to Somerset there should be great opportunity at Middlesex for him and we wish him well. At the time of writing we have had no contact with Matthew Hoggard.