Batty follows Stewart's lead

He notched six centuries in that period, the Surrey Supporters' Club voted him the most improved player two years straight and BBC Radio London listeners named him cricketer of the year in 2003.

Even before Stewart's retirement last September, Batty's place in the side and behind the stumps was secure. But the captaincy still came as a shock.

"A couple of weeks before I was appointed, Keith [Medlycott, then the coach] and Adam [Hollioake]

The concern was not that Batty could not do the job, more that he would struggle to combine the duties of opening batsman, wicketkeeper and skipper.

A senior player told Standard Sport last autumn: "Even Alec Stewart couldn't do all three jobs." mentioned that I was in their thoughts. I was over the moon when I was appointed."

And what of rumours of dressing-room unrest at the end of last season? Batty only half denies them.

"A lot of it was blown out of proportion," he said. "People want to attack Surrey and look for problems that aren't there. The way we lost the championship was so disappointing and a lot of the players were really tired at the end of the season.

"These boys are so hungry for success. I take it as a massive plus that they were so disappointed."

So what type of cricketer is JB, as he is known at the club? He said: "I set good examples on and off the field. I'm a pretty calming influence around the dressing room. I'm quite relaxed. I don't have mood swings."

The 29-year-old had trials at five other counties, including a summer contract at Hampshire in 1993, before making his Surrey debut in 1997. He played second fiddle to Stewart for six years before securing a first-team spot.

With Stewart, Ward and Medlycott gone, Hollioake retiring at the end of this season, a new coach in Steve Rixon to gel with and Thorpe, Butcher and possibly Rikki Clarke's availability likely to be limited, it will be an interesting season at The Oval. "The championship will always be the major goal," said Batty. "It is the purest form of the game. We want to win all the trophies but we are desperate to win the championship back."

Batty also has his eye on higher honours. "I'm striving to play for England," he said. "It's always been my ultimate goal and will be until the day I retire."

Batty doesn't believe he is too old to force his way into the reckoning. "I'd say I'm physically young for my age. I can't see any reason why I can't play for another seven or eight years. Fitness-wise, I'd say I'm the same as Alec [Stewart] was."

Batty is now determined to achieve what proved to be beyond even Stewart on a consistent basis.