County Championship: Title-chasing Surrey held to draw by lowly Notts

Nottinghamshire spinner Liam Patterson-White told BBC Radio Nottingham:

“It was a pleasing performance across the whole game. We knew what we were up against – champions two years in a row, top of the league again and a very strong side again – so to go toe-to-toe with them over the four days bodes well.

“After the defeat by Durham, there have been a lot of chats either with the coaching staff or among the players. Really honest and harsh chats at times but very open and I feel that has reaped its rewards this week.

“To draw was so important considering the situation in the table. We wanted to put ourselves in a position where we were able to not lose – and we did that.

“From my own point of view, I was pleased with my own performance. It is nice to get back in the team and perform. There is a lot of competition for places and I feel like I’ve worked hard for the opportunity, so I wanted to grab it with both hands.”

Surrey head coach Gareth Batty told BBC Radio London:

“There were moments that could have made a difference to the outcome. This morning, if we had been able to put together a longer, deeper partnership we might have been able to force the pace a bit earlier.

“From a bowling point of view, we possibly were a bit impatient. But we were happy with declaring when we did. We felt that if we were going to bowl them out it would have been within around 50 overs but we had to bowl well.

“The surface and the Kookaburra ball dictated the pace of the game and unfortunately that pace meant it petered out as a draw. It was a good pitch, a bit on the slow side, and the spinners came into the game, but the speed of the Kookaburra ball reacting made it hard to force dismissals but also to force runs.

“I have no problem with what the use of the Kookaburra is trying to achieve but I just don’t like the integrity of the league over 14 games with different balls. It is very strange, like playing a round of Premier League games with no offside rule.”