Surrey win County Championship for third year running

Surrey have won a third straight County Championship title after Somerset lost at Lancashire.

Somerset had to win at Old Trafford to keep their hopes of a first ever county title alive heading into the last round of games, but they suffered a 168-run defeat on the final morning.

Surrey, who become champions for the 23rd time overall, beat Durham by 10 wickets on Thursday.

Lifting the trophy in 2022, 2023 and 2024 means this group of Surrey players have etched their name into County Championship immortality.

They have become the first team since Yorkshire 56 years ago to win three titles in succession.

Surrey won seven in a row from 1952 to 1958 having also won the very first three, and five of the first six, in the 1890s.

But they are still 10 short of Yorkshire, who have won 33 in total.

As you might expect from a squad packed with internationals, Surrey were without the services of numerous players at one point or another throughout the season.

They have used 23 players in this campaign, with only captain Rory Burns, fellow opener Dom Sibley and all-rounder Jordan Clark playing all 13 matches.

Burns has led the way with the bat, scoring three centuries and 1,057 runs – helped largely by his career-best 227 in a thumping win against Lancashire at The Oval in August.

Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith catapulted his way into England's Test side with some dazzling batting displays to average north of 56 in his nine matches, while Dan Lawrence has averaged just under 50 following his high-profile switch from Essex.

More than a dozen bowlers picked up wickets across the season - paceman Dan Worrall leading the way with 52 at an average of 16.15.

Clark showed why he is one of the most valuable assets in county cricket, taking 38 wickets along with scoring 467 runs down the order.

Cameron Steel set an incredible pace back in the spring, leading all bowlers in the first three rounds of the Championship with 20 wickets – though the leg-spinner has only picked up three since.

Next season will see a huge change in south London as director of cricket and Surrey legend Alec Stewart is leaving the role at the end of this campaign.

How big an effect that has on such a talented squad remains to be seen.