Adams sees mark of Surrey success

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Surrey achieved a significant feat by beating Sussex on their return to LV= County Championship Division One, according to director of cricket Chris Adams.

Adams views his former county as a strong side, likely to repeat last year’s mid-table finish.

Surrey’s 86-run win yesterday at the Kia Oval therefore gave last season’s Division Two runners-up confidence they can at least hold their own in the top flight.

“Sussex, we saw as a benchmark team in this competition,” Adams told ecb.co.uk.

“We think that they won’t be competing to win the championship, but neither will they be down in the relegation battle.

“They’re a mid-table team that we know will play tough cricket, give us an idea of the style of cricket that is played in Division One. And they didn’t disappoint us.

“There was several times during the game when I felt we were in a position to take a stranglehold on the game and put ourselves into an unassailable position. And they just fought their way back into it somehow, and that’s credit to them.”

Adams hailed the all-round quality of Surrey’s display, initially picking out skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown for his leadership and crucial second-innings knock of 89.

“No one person really stood out for me from the lads; the captain led well and played an outstanding innings in the context of the game,” Adams added.

“But, I think, over the three days … that was as thorough a team effort and team performance as I’ve seen.”

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