Rixon's Surrey inheritance

By Martin Gough

Surrey won two trophies last year, but they are reckoned to be at a crossroads as Australian Steve Rixon takes over as head coach.

Rixon takes over as cricket manager in April

The men from The Oval clinched the inaugural Twenty20 Cup and the National League in 2003.

But their failure to gain a fourth County Championship in five years was seen as a failure.

Reports claimed senior players had lost faith in Keith Medlycott, who resigned in November, a month after Adam Hollioake stepped down as captain.

Limited funds for playing contracts were blamed for Alec Stewart's retirement and the loss of Ian Ward to Sussex.

One of Rixon's first jobs will be to form an alliance with Jon Batty, who will have to add the role of captain to those of wicket-keeper and opening batsman.

Batty puts last season's disappointments down to fatigue and a change in focus to one-day cricket.

Including the C&G Trophy, Surrey endured three hard one-day campaigns plus a Championship run-in that saw both Sussex and Lancashire overwhelm them as the season drew to a close.

Batty says: "A lot of games went four days and fatigue played a part, as did England call-ups, especially those we weren't expecting."

I think we've got a pretty good balance and one of the best - if not the best - squads in the country still Jonathan Batty

Surrey are used to England's demands but the surprise Test selection of veteran Martin Bicknell took a reliable seamer from an injury-hit pace corps.

Although he is yet to talk to Rixon extensively, Batty does not think targeting specific competitions is the answer.

"If you put all your eggs in one basket, say 'We've just going to try and win the Championship,' then everything else is going to suffer," he reasons.

"If you take that attitude into one form of the game - say the National League - then it will drift over into the Championship."

Stewart has rarely been available for Surrey's Championship campaign but the loss of Ward, who scored 856 first-class runs last year, will pose a challenge.

Batty sees the answer in Scott Newman, who made 83 against Leicestershire in the last match of the season, describing him as: "One of the most talented youngsters I've seen."

SURREY SQUAD 2004 Azhar Mahmood , JN Batty, JGE Benning, MP Bicknell, AD Brown, MA Butcher, R Clarke, AJ Hollioake, TJ Murtagh, Saqlain Mushtaq, SA Newman, J Ormond, MR Ramprakash, N Saker, IDK Salisbury, PJ Sampson, BJM Scott, N Shahid, GP Thorpe, AJ Tudor Internationals in bold

He is also optimistic about the credentials of young seamers Tim Murtagh, Paul Sampson and former academy player Neil Saker.

"Combine that with the wealth of experience and I think we've got a pretty good balance and one of the best - if not the best - squads in the country," he claims.

There is a positive side to Pakistan dropping Saqlain Mushtaq - the spinner will at least gain some extra rest as he looks to put two below-par county seasons behind him.

Sussex have strengthened since last year with the signing of two new pace bowlers, plus Ward and possibly star South African batsman Gary Kirsten.

Lancashire, too, could improve on last year's second placing after signing former England all-rounder Dominic Cork.

But as he prepares to welcome one of the most accomplished coaches in world cricket, Batty is resolutely upbeat.

"When we didn't win the Championship it was a huge blow but we won two trophies, which is a very successful year," he says

"And the team is desperate to get the Championship back."