Wednesday 17 April 2002 telegraph.co.uk SURREY: Upbeat despite the grief By Simon Briggs (Filed: 16/04/2002)(posted 8039 days ago)DURING the early weeks of this season, the tragic loss of Ben Hollioake will cast as long a shadow across the Oval as the famous Kennington gasholders. In such a stable and close-knit squad, no-one could fail to be touched by the death of this hugely talented yet unaffected young man.
Surrey's players have no alternative but to play through their grief, just as they did five years ago, when wicketkeeper Graham Kersey was involved in another fatal car accident in Western Australia. That summer, the team pulled together on the field, and club captain Adam Hollioake dedicated their victory in the Benson & Hedges Final to Kersey's memory.
"People will grieve in different ways and at different times," said Surrey coach Keith Medlycott last week. "But what I do know is that as professional sportsmen, these guys will be ready."
Surrey will begin the season without Ben's brother Adam, who remains at his family home in Perth. But in a side featuring three men - Alec Stewart, Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe - who have led England at some stage, there is no shortage of captaincy alternatives. Butcher will take the reins in the opening County Championship match against Sussex on Friday.
"Adam will come back when he's ready," said Medlycott, "he's got to look after much more important things than 23 cricketers."
Adam will soon be looking after a new baby, too. He and his wife plan to name their daughter Bennaya in honour of Ben and his girlfriend, Janaya Scholten, who is recovering in hospital from the crash. His return is likely to be delayed into late May or even June, now that Surrey have found on-field cover in the form of Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.
"We've just signed Azhar for about a four-week period for the Benson & Hedges Cup," said Medlycott. "Without Ben, and with Adam mourning in Australia, we're missing a lot of the dynamism of our side. Saqlain Mushtaq will be away too, playing against New Zealand, and he doesn't come back until mid-May."
While the retention of the B & H Cup would be a significant bonus, Surrey's season will be judged on their ability to displace Yorkshire from the top of the County Championship.
James Ormond has arrived to bolster fast-bowling stocks, but their tribute to their departed team-mate could easily come in the form of a third Championship title in four years.
The supporting seamers were Surrey's main problem in a rocky 2001 season, when they remained in theoretical danger of relegation until the final match. Despite the admirable efforts of Martin Bicknell, who was named all-rounder of the season for his 72 wickets and 748 runs, Alex Tudor proved too fragile and the newly recruited Ed Giddins too feckless.
While attending the National Academy in Adelaide, Tudor was diagnosed with a pelvic condition which causes two bones to grate together in the groin. Under the guidance of Academy director Rod Marsh, he took up the same exercise technique that has cured Andrew Flintoff's back trouble and bowled without pain in last week's practice match at Hove.
Alec Stewart is also restored to full fitness after twin operations on his elbows before Christmas. He notched an unbeaten century in that same match against Sussex, and the continuing advancement of James Foster within the England camp suggests Stewart may be available for a full season of county cricket for the first time since 1989.
Surrey details
Surrey staff: *A J Hollioake, R M Amin, J N Batty, M P Bicknell, A D Brown, M A Butcher, M A Carberry, R Clarke, E S H Giddins, Azhar Mahmood, T J Murtagh, Saqlain Mushtaq, S A Newman, J Ormond, M R Ramprakash, J D Ratcliffe, I D K Salisbury, P J Sampson, B J M Scott, N Shahid, A J Stewart, G P Thorpe, A J Tudor, I J Ward.
New Players: R Clarke, Azhar Mahmood (until Saqlain returns from international duty), S A Newman, J Ormond (Leics).
Released: G J Batty (Worcs), I E Bishop, G P Butcher, C G Greenidge (Northants), J J Porter.
Beneficiary: A D Brown.
2001 record: County Championship: 4th, Div 1 (P15 W3 L1 D12). National League: 8th, Div 1 (P16 W6 L10). B & H Cup: Winners. C & G Trophy: 4th rd.
Championship fixtures 2002
April 19: Sussex, Oval (CC1). 24: Yorkshire, Headingley (CC1).
May 8: Lancs, Oval. 24: Somerset, Oval. 31: Lancs, Old Trafford.
June 12: Kent, Oval.
July 3: Somerset, Taunton. 10: Warwicks, Oval. 19: Kent, Canterbury. 24: Yorkshire, Guildford.
Aug 8: Sussex, Hove. 14: Leics, Grace Road. 22: Hants, Oval. 27: Warwicks, Edgbaston.
Sept 11: Hants, The Rose Bowl. 18: Leics, Oval. © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.