Jamie Smith produced the perfect dress-rehearsal for his England debut on day one of their top of the table clash with Essex at The Oval.
Named this morning as the only wicketkeeper in England’s 14 for the first Test against the West Indies a week on Wednesday, Smith struck his second century of the season, making exactly 100 with two sixes and 14 fours, as the hosts reached 248-8 on a rain-shortened day in south London.
Smith’s heroics apart, Surrey’s batters struggled against some probing bowling, South African quick Eathan Bosch returning 3-52 in only his second appearance for the county.