IT WAS one of those days when the Shiraz was flowing rather more than the cricket. Old men dozed under papers, young boys played cricket round the back of the hospitality tents and everyone had an ear on the proceedings at Lord’s.

This match is meandering to a draw on a road of a pitch with a motorway of an outfield. Surrey could not manage more than three an over after Kent had been bowled out for 572, a lead of 120.

Graham Thorpe stood firm at the end, but it was hardly the stuff to set his pulse racing on the day he announced his retirement from international cricket. There were still many at the ground who believe that he should be at Lord’s. Surrey were in no hurry in a game they cannot possibly hope to win and they virtually shut up shop against Andrew Hall at one point as he took one for three in his first seven overs.

It did not help Kent’s cause that Simon Cook dropped a simple skier at mid-off from Jonathan Batty off Min Patel, when Batty was 26. Every chance must be taken in these kind of batting conditions. Batty and Richard Clinton dug in. Clinton had 45 off 120 balls before skying a pull to David Fulton at mid-on. Batty drove to Walker at point 12 overs later, having made 55 off 131 balls.

Kent may find Mark Ramprakash and Thorpe immovable today if both are in the mood for runs.

Earlier, Matthew Walker and Justin Kemp had put Kent in control, taking their overnight partnership to 233 in 53 overs before Kemp was bowled driving in the eighth over of the day. After that the tail wagged powerfully enough, although Niall O’Brien, the Kent wicket-keeper, allowed Surrey a third bowling point when he was trapped leg-before by Ian Salisbury off the second ball of the 130th over.

Walker had carried on awhile to register 173 off 243 balls, his highest score since the unbeaten 275 he hit against Somerset at Canterbury in 1996. He may not think it is his best since, but after several years where he looked as though he might disappear into the wilderness, the diminutive and pugnacious Walker has blossomed again.

On Tuesday it was made clear what a central role Walker has at the county with the announcement that he would replace David Fulton as Kent captain with immediate effect. There have been ructions in the dressing-room at Kent over the past two seasons, with Ed Smith and Alex Loudon leaving last summer after public disagreements with some of their colleagues. For the sake of their success this year, they will hope that this decision keeps all parties happy.