Surrey have brought in Australian top-order batsman Kurtis Patterson for a three-match engagement in the County Championship. The signing aims to cover the expected absences of Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, and Gus Atkinson, who are likely to be called up for England’s Test against Zimbabwe in May.
Patterson, who has played two Test matches for Australia in 2019, enters this new chapter following an impressive Sheffield Shield season for New South Wales, where he amassed 743 runs with an average of 57.15. The left-hander will make his Surrey debut against Warwickshire next week and will also participate in home fixtures against Yorkshire and Essex.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Patterson remarked, “I’m looking forward to joining Surrey. I’ve always wanted to play county cricket, so I jumped at the chance to represent Surrey when the opportunity presented itself. I’ve heard great things about the environment at Surrey and can’t wait to play in front of the fans at the Kia Oval.”
The anticipated selection of Pope, Smith, and Atkinson for national duties will rule them out of Surrey’s fixtures in May as they gear up for the summer’s inaugural Test match against Zimbabwe, starting on 22nd May. Surrey’s high-performance advisor, Alec Stewart, commented on the move, stating, “With the non-availability of our England players, I’m pleased to add Kurtis Patterson to the squad. He’s a top-quality cricketer who will add quality and depth to our batting line-up for the next three games.”
Patterson’s brief tenure with Surrey will be closely observed, given his recent form and the challenges Surrey face with key players absent. While the County Championship will offer a different environment, the experience is likely to benefit both Patterson and Surrey as they adjust to personnel changes.
