Surrey County Cricket Club’s wicket keeper/batsman Jonathan Batty has gained recognition from Cricket Manager Alan Butcher for his excellent start to 2007 by being awarded the Brit Insurance Player of the Month for April.

As title sponsors of Surrey County Cricket Club, Brit Insurance offer a Player of the Month Award for an outstanding performance by a Surrey player, which is chosen by the Club’s Cricket Manager Butcher, for every month of cricket throughout the summer.

Batty has been rewarded for a strong start to the season in both forms of the game. The Surrey man has done his chances of an England call-up no harm by showing his all round capabilities with both the gloves and bat, whether it be at the top or in the middle of the order. He has supported his nine catches and one stumping with the gloves with a magnificent 121 against Hampshire in the LV County Championship whilst averaging 81 in the Friends Provident Trophy. It was in the One Day arena that Batty showed a particularly cool head as he guided Surrey to victory against Kent at the Brit Oval with 52 not out from only 47 deliveries.

Commenting on Batty’s performance throughout April, Surrey’s Cricket Manager Butcher said:

“This award reflects the contribution JB has made in the early part of the season. His defiant hundred against Hampshire laid the platform for an opportunity to chase 500, whilst his performance in the opening Friends Provident Trophy game against Kent, won us the match. This combined with his all round performance with the gloves makes him a worthy recipient.”

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