Adding to his previous county experience Surrey has recently announced that Shakib Al Hasan shall be joining him for the County Championship match against Somerset. During an interview after signing Shakib for one match deal Surrey’s director of cricket Alec Stewart referred to the decision as easy considering the team’s position. Surrey are looking to defend their Champion title for the third time, however the problem of players’ availability due to the call up to England team emerged.
Shakib’s Arrival: A Strategic Decision
And currently Surrey is 24 point ahead of Somerset but what is interesting the week’s ahead can prove to be a very critical for the team. Eight players including Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence are out of form due to the ongoing matches of England. Shakib who has good skills in bowling will then take up the place left vacant by Sai Sudharsan who has gone back to India. The latter informed that they have been expecting this scarcity of players for weeks now.
Alec Stewart’s Confidence in Shakib
Stewart was very precise on the fact that getting Shakib was not in any way negotiable. ‘’When the option existed to sign such a player as Shakib, the choice was not difficult at all” said Stewart. Surrey management trusts Shakib as a much experienced and a versatile player specially for this sort of match.
Shakib’s Impact on the Somerset Fixture
Having Shakib Al Hasan also teach at Surrey offers the school what they can draw from him in his ability to bring the best of both worlds. Having played international cricket and being a all rounder a player of such calibre is a great addition for the club. For Shakib this is also a perfect chance to warm up for Bangladesh Test series match against India.
Shakib’s Enthusiasm for the Opportunity
The move was well received by Shakib who said he looking forward to the new development. “Surrey is one of the most prestigious clubs in the world and that was our aim to become one of the best club sides in world cricket,” – Shakib. His goal should be to produce positive outcomes which could help the team to encourage for another championship. With one-match contract the player has an opportunity to gain competitive match experience before Bangladesh series in India.
Surrey’s Player Shortage
Surrey is set to be tested particularly with eight of its players called upon to be part of England team. The team is still missing some of its key players such as Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Ollie pope, Gus Atkinson and more. Still, Surrey has selected a squad with seven players with international experience. This crisis is very important for Stewart as they try to defend their title, which makes their abilities to cope with the problem even more important.
Tom Curran’s Return
Apart from Shakib, Surrey is also able to lure Tom Curran back to the first-class cricket after not playing for two years. Curran quit red-ball cricket in 2023 due to mental and physical health issue. He brings more experience in the team especially at this time encounter as Surrey works towards getting a win at this fixture.
Somerset’s Squad and Strategy
Brett Randell, New Zealand seamer and Somerset’s player signed on a short-term contract will be available for Somerset. Again the inclusion of Randell strengthens their bowling arsenal, something they are going to require against a Surrey side which, although they may be down on strength, is not to be underrated. At the time of writing, Somerset is 24 points behind Surrey on the table meaning it needs to capitalize on the weakened opposition.
Somerset’s Motivation to Close the Gap
But the very fact that there are only three games left in the season gives Somerset a hope of a least a slight closing of the gap. Their side, of course, does not lack for problems, but is more than capable of capitalising on Surrey’s temporary weakness. Somerset will approach this match with the aim of getting as many points as possible after the much needed break.
Lancashire’s Moves and the Wider Picture
In the other County Championship, Lancashire has also been busy with its activities and recently snapped up Trinidadian seamer Anderson Phillip. This move will help Lancashire to climb up the table and remain in the central league instead of reeling off to the National League. Prior to that they had set their sites on Pakistani seamer Mohammad Ali but the contract never materialized.
The Impact of Other Transfers
The transfer of players such as Anderson Phillip makes clubs to engage in last minute transfers in a bid to cover vacancies. There are few regular players available for County sides due to international commitment and hence, short term loan deals are exclusively sought.
Conclusion
Surrey decision to include Shakib Al Hasan in the team was the right one as country ahead of the game against Somerset. Despite Shakib’s unavailability in the series against the West Indies, Alec Stewart believes in the all-rounder’s power to help the club to strive for the third County Championship title consecutively. Other promising players which include Tom Curran have also been up to the task for Surrey and will be keen to overcome the hurdle of losing their England counterparts. The next game will be an intense one since Somerset will be trying to catch up with Surrey while the latter will be seeking to establish an even bigger lead.
FAQs
- Why did Surrey sign Shakib Al Hasan?
Surrey developed Shakib’s contract due to lack of players caused by international call up. - How many Surrey players are on England duty?
Unfortuanately, Surrey is short eight players as a result of England games. - Is this Shakib Al Hasan’s first stint with Surrey?
Indeed, Shakib is playing for Surrey on one-match deal for the first time. - Why is Tom Curran returning to red-ball cricket?
Tom Curran is back on Surrey duty during the player drought. - What is Somerset’s strategy for this match?
For Somerset to have a shot at the defending champions, Surrey they will have to pull up players like Brett Randell.
