Matt Fisher keen to play leading role as Surrey kick off County Championship bid
01.04.26, 09:29 Updated 01.04.26, 12:11 4 Minute Read
Richard Spiller
The winter work is done but only when Warwickshire and Surrey’s players take the field at Edgbaston on Good Friday for the opening round of the Rothesay County Championship will anyone know how well it has prepared them for the campaign ahead.
It’s a fair bet that both sides will be hoping for a pitch more lively than for last year’s meeting in early May, which took place on a surface which might have lasted until September.
The hosts cruised to 665 for 5 declared and then Surrey – aided by a 10th wicket stand of 158 between Ben Foakes (174no) and Matt Fisher (40) - fell narrowly short of the follow-on at 504 all out, just before tea on the final day. The downpour which ended proceedings shortly afterwards was a welcome release to all.
Another stalemate followed at the Kia Oval in September, neither side having the wherewithal to overcome the loss of much of day three to rain. It also underlined that both teams were held back in 2025 by a lack of bowling bonus points and with it the ability to dismiss opposition line-ups quickly enough to win sufficient matches.
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