Surrey County Cricket Club has announced that 2009 will see long serving wicket keeper Jonathan Batty granted a benefit in honour of his long-standing service to the Club.

Batty has been a regular behind the stumps ever since he joined Surrey in 1997 and was handed his County Cap in 2001.

During his time at the county he captained the side in the 2004 season and equalled the world record for number of catches in an innings when he snared eight chances against Kent in May 2004 – the same game in which he scored 129 in the Surrey first innings.

The wicketkeeper batsman has also been part of a number of Surrey’s famous County Championship winning sides, lifting the trophy in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

At the start of this season Batty also added to his portfolio of work for Surrey Cricket by accepting the role of the Club’s Community Ambassador, a position he will fill until the end of 2008.

Speaking this week, Jonathan Batty said: “I would like to thank Surrey for granting me this benefit. I am hugely honoured to be recognised in such a way by the club and am very much looking forward to making it a successful year – both on and off the cricket field.”

Commenting on behalf of Surrey County Cricket Club, Chairman David Stewart said: “Jonathan Batty has been one of Surrey’s finest servants for nearly a decade and this benefit year is a richly deserved honour. I wish him all the best.”

Listen to Jonathan Batty speak of his delight about the news on Surrey TV.

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