Benning returns for Surrey

James Benning © Getty Images

James Benning has been brought in to replace Rikki Clarke, who is struggling with illness, as Surrey seek the maximum-point win would see them leapfrog opponents Kent in the LV County Championship Division One table.

Mark Butcher’s men are currently 14 points behind Kent but could move out of relegation danger with victory at Canterbury.

Surrey have named a 13-man squad for the relegation battle with Ali Brown getting his place back ahead of Richard Clinton.

On the bowling front, James Ormond and Mohammad Akram return from injury with Neil Saker missing out.

Highly-rated Chris Jordan, who made his debut in the NatWest Pro40 game against Middlesex on Sunday, has also been included alongside Australian Matt Nicholson.

Spinners Chris Schofield and Harbhajan Singh complete the attack, with both having been named in the ICC World Twenty20 squads for their respective countries.

After their Twenty20 Cup victory on Saturday, Kent’s attentions will now be drawn towards avoiding relegation.

The match against fellow strugglers Surrey is vital to their hopes of staying up and captain Robert Key will not be letting the Twenty20 triumph take anything away from the job in hand.

Ryan McLaren will be hoping to take his Twenty20 wicket-taking form into the championship as he prepares to decide where his future lies at the end of this season.