Spin back at core of Surrey campaign

By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

The personnel is beginning to change, and they are not quite the force they were, but Surrey should not be underestimated.

SURREY PLAYERS Overseas players: Azhar Mahmood (Pkn), Harbhajan Singh (Ind; pictured) Ins: Mohammad Akram (Sussex), H Singh, J Dernbach Outs: A Tudor (Essex), N Shahid, A Hollioake

Any team that finishes above them in the Championship is likely to be a serious title contender.

The signing of Harbhajan Singh is their main reason for optimism.

Spin has been a key ingredient in Surrey's success in the four-day game in recent years.

And in Harbhajan they have one of the best available to replace Saqlain Mushtaq.

Alex Tudor has been released and former captain Adam Hollioake has retired.

The arrival of Mohammed Akram from Sussex gives new captain Mark Butcher a valuable extra pace-bowling option.

Butcher, despite possible England commitments, was the obvious candidate to take over the captaincy once coach Steve Rixon had decided Jonathan Batty was not right for the job.

Batty had been the choice of the Keith Meddlycott / Hollioake regime but it was expecting a lot for him to captain, keep wicket and be a major run-scorer.

The main uncertainty surrounds Butcher's fitness and availability

The most underrated of a large brigade of talented English wicket-keeper/batsmen, Batty can return to opening, a job he did with distinction before being made captain.

With the promising Scott Newman at the other end, Surrey have a strong base from which to build.

The batting line-up still looks strong, provided Mark Ramprakash, Ali Brown and Graham Thorpe, when available, can sustain their appetite for heavy-scoring.

In the bowling department, James Ormond and 36-year-old Martin Bicknell will welcome the back-up provided by Akram who was Sussex's second highest wicket-taker last year.

Azhar Mahmood returns for another season and along with Rikki Clarke and Tim Murtagh, there are enough options especially with Harbhajan in the side.

If the Oval pitches turn, the pace-bowlers' job might be just to take the shine off.

SURREY LAST YEAR Championship: 3rd in D1 National League: 9th in D1, relegated C&G Trophy: R2 Twenty20: finalists

The downside of Harbhajan's arrival is that Nayan Doshi, who took 33 wickets at 26.51 in his first season, could find himself on the sidelines.

The veteran Ian Salisbury has had a successful winter playing grade cricket in Australia and is still very much part of Rixon's plans.

The main uncertainty surrounds Butcher's fitness and availability.

He will miss the start of the season following the wrist operation that shortened his tour of South Africa.

But he should be back in time to press for a place in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Thereafter, it is anyone's guess how much he will play for his county. Ramprakash will deputise when Butcher is out of the team.

Rixon has been seeking to improve the squad's fitness during the winter.

The team underachieved last season, especially in the one-day day game where they were relegated from Division One of the Totesport League and beaten by Ireland in the C&G Trophy.

In the Championship, four victories in their last five games turned a relegation battle into a third-place finish.

Expect them to be more resilient and consistent this time round.

FAN'S VIEW: RYAN DIXON

Surrey will have a mixed season, I feel. Being in Division Two of the National League shouldn¿t last long but there's no Adam Hollioake this season.

Rikki Clarke and Azhar Mahmood have a big role to play. But Twenty20 Cup finalists or winners? Not without Adam.

Surrey should be a strong force in the Championship again with lots of strong players, and could take the title.

The arrival of Harbhajan will provide some interesting battles. Finally, a decent replacement spinner for Saqlain!