Ollie Pope and Amar Virdi evidence of Alec Stewart's plan for a home-grown Surrey
[ad_1] Old Trafford on a diluvial Friday afternoon. The first day of the game between Lancashire and Surrey has just been abandoned. The normally well-attended Primary Schools' Open Day has been limited to a Mascots' Race and even that became a straight five furlongs on the outfield rather than the Chorlton Gold Cup. But if Manchester is conforming to its glum stereotype, the same cannot really be said of Surrey cricket these days. Officials at The Oval have striven mightily to demolish their reputation as metropolitan flash-Harrys who think they can build a team with a flourish of their cheque-book. Seven of the side which defeated Hampshire last Monday had come through the county's Academy system, albeit the greying Rikki Clarke is more an Emeritus Fellow than an ambitious PhD. student. What is more, two of that heptad, Ollie Pope and Amar Virdi , played leading roles in what was a notable victory. In other words things are unfolding rather as Alec Stewart, Surrey's ...