The second day at Trent Bridge proved a second reminder for newly promoted Surrey that Division One represents a step up in class, as sustained pressure from Nottinghamshire’s seam attack, led by their overseas signing Jackson Bird, led to the visitors being bowled out for 225 in 67.1 overs and asked to follow on.
Reaching 14 for none when a second spell of bad light brought the close at 5.42pm, still 207 runs in arrears, Surrey openers Rory Burns and Arun Harinath will resume on day three hoping Bird has stiffened up overnight, following the Australian’s four for 56 in their overcast first innings.
“There were a couple of bad shots but generally you have to admit that we were outplayed,” said the wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who top-scored for Surrey with 38 from 66 balls. “Around 280 was a par score on there – they scored too many on day one – and we needed one guy to stand up but none of us did.”
The 23-year-old England prospect, playing his first game in the top flight, added: “The first day was an off day for us but obviously it is a step up into Division One; you don’t get many easy balls. That’s probably the best attack I have faced, you don’t get a let-up. They bowled very well.”
Bird, on debut, removed both openers caught behind in a morning spell of two for 27 from eight overs and the right-armer found himself on a hat-trick at the start of Surrey’s second innings after trapping Ravi Rampaul and Tom Curran lbw – nought and 35 respectively – in successive deliveries to end their reply to Nottinghamshire’s 446.
While the pitch seemed quicker than on the first day and the skies overcast – despite the floodlights, 22 overs were lost to the gloom – the contrast between the two bowling units still stood out.
Notts were simply more disciplined, with Jake Ball, one for 45, Harry Gurney, two for 43, and Brett Hutton, two for 51, providing little respite. And, unlike Surrey’s profligate attack, none went for more than 3.5 runs an over.
On another day, Ball or Gurney could certainly have returned more, with the former beating the bat consistently but being forced to settle for his solitary strike as Jason Roy’s return from the World Twenty20 ended on 28 from 41 balls – scored exclusively in boundaries – when a full delivery struck him in front.
The left-armer Gurney swung the ball both ways, with Steven Davies edging to slip on nine and Foakes caught behind after 17 balls stuck on 38, during which time three appeals against him were turned down and a run out chance flunked by Bird’s errant throw from cover. Hutton, meanwhile, claimed the prized scalp of Kumar Sangakkara for 32, squaring up the Sri Lankan for an edge to second slip, and bowled Sam Curran with a yorker on 20.
Samit Patel also chipped in with a key breakthrough on the stroke of tea, ending a 58-minute eighth-wicket stand of 47 between Tom Curran and the captain, Gareth Batty, the latter chipping to midwicket on 15.
