By Simon Mann Test Match Special

Surrey's prospects are normally easy to assess - this time it is not so straightforward.

Jon Batty will be kept busy as skipper, keeper and opening bat

They have won a trophy in each of the last eight seasons, apart from 1998, and usually start as favourites for every competition.

But Ian Ward and Keith Medlycott have left, it is Adam Hollioake's final season and Alec Stewart has retired.

Their chief destroyer in previous seasons, Saqlain Mushtaq, was neutralised in 2003 while their most successful pace-bowler, Martin Bicknell, is 35.

Are they approaching the end of an era or will they be as strong as ever?

Last year they won two trophies but that was not considered sufficient.

Recriminations followed their failure to win the Championship for a fourth time in five years and there was criticism of the coach by some of the players, resulting in Medlycott being forced out.

There was more disquiet when Jon Batty was named as captain.

Some considered Batty's role as wicket-keeper and opening batsman to be onerous enough, without the added burden of replacing the impressive Hollioake as captain.

SURREY'S 2003 RECORD County Championship: 3rd, Division One National League: Champions, Division One C&G Trophy: Quarter-finalists Twenty20 Cup: Winners

It is against this background that Surrey will try to regain the title - and continue their superb one-day form.

Batty is often miscast as a promising young player. He is, in fact, 30 and made his debut back in 1997. He is talented enough player but no one would find his task easy.

Even so, there are sufficient reasons for optimism.

The playing squad is still formidable but as so often in the past, a lot will depend on international call ups.

Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe and possibly Rikki Clarke will be required by England but Surrey have coped before.

Australian Steve Rixon has been appointed as Medlycott's successor. He is a former coach of the New Zealand national side and of New South Wales where he enjoyed considerable success.

He appears to be the right man to deal with an opinionated and talented dressing room.

Ward's departure opens the way for Scott Newman to establish himself.

Pace bowler Alex Tudor is hoping for an injury-free summer

Newman has scored prolifically and attractively in the second XI and despite playing only one Championship match last season was selected for the England Academy side.

Alex Tudor has been working with new bowling coach Geoff Arnold and the indications are that he is ready to return after last season was ruined by injury.

If all stay fit, then Tudor, Bicknell, Azhar Mahmood and James Ormond will continue to provide a test for opposition batsmen.

The success or otherwise of Saqlain is likely to hold the key. Mushtaq Ahmed's performance at Sussex demonstrated how important a high-class spinner is to a side's championship chances.

Saqlain took 41 championship wickets at 33 each last time, a mediocre return by his standards and his worst return since joining.

The word is that batsmen have worked him out. Surrey could fall short again if he has another average summer.