Biff loses his first toss

Rival skipper Marcus Trescothick of Somerset, the former England opener, instead won the toss at The Oval and opted for his side to take first strike in the four-day County Championship contest.

The visitors were 27 for one after 10 overs, with Smith’s Test opening partner Alviro Petersen on eight not out, having gone in at the fall of the first wicket.

Other SA-linked players in the contest are veteran former Proteas all-rounder Zander de Bruyn and Johannesburg-born England paceman Jade Dernbach (Surrey) and, for the men from Taunton, Alfonso Thomas and another SA-raised England player, the wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter.

The much-publicised teaming-up of Smith and old adversary Kevin Pietersen, who is also on Surrey’s books, has been delayed because the latter is sidelined by a knee injury for the next few weeks and will miss England’s early-summer home Test series against New Zealand.

Smith has joined the London-based county on a three-year deal, though he can still represent South Africa when required. 

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