County Championship: Surrey secure title for second successive year

Surrey have won the County Championship for a second successive season.

Having gone into this week's final round of matches leading second-placed Essex by 20 points, Surrey knew they could get the job done with five points from their game with Hampshire.

They got three bowling bonus points but no batting points after being bowled out for 207, before their 21st title triumph was secured as Essex also failed to pick up any batting points from their game with Northamptonshire.

Essex were all out for 211 at Wantage Road, Tom Taylor taking the wicket of Jamie Porter that confirmed Surrey as champions shortly before lunch on day three.

Essex then collapsed to 119 all out after being asked to follow-on, to lose by an innings and 39 runs.

As to whether Surrey can add to their eight wins this season by beating Hampshire to claim a ninth, that hangs in the balance.

On a day when 16 wickets fell at Southampton, Surrey spinners Will Jacks (5-87) and Cameron Steel (4-40) bowled out Hampshire for 172.

Both England off-spinner Jacks and leg-spinner Steel claimed personal bests in the Championship.

That set the new champions 185 to win, but wickets continued to fall regularly for the hosts, for England slow left-armer Dawson and off-spinner Tom Prest, who claimed two scalps each.

Surrey closed on 112-6, still needing a tricky 73 to claim that ninth win of the season, with first-innings half-centurion Sai Sudharsan on 31 and Jordan Clark on four.

Having lost just once in their 13 games to date, at home to Lancashire in June, Surrey become the first side to retain the county title since Yorkshire, who won back to back in 2014 and 2015.

Yorkshire remain the side with the most county titles (33) since the competition began in 1890, but Surrey's 21 titles - including the joint title victory with Lancashire in 1950 - puts them a comfortable second.

Excepting the Covid-hit seasons of 2020 and 2021, it is also effectively Surrey's third Championship title win out of the last four, having also won it in 2018.

And, having also won it back in both 2000 and 2002, it gives them their fifth title triumph since two-division cricket began 23 years ago, taking them further clear of Sussex, Yorkshire and Durham - who have three each.

Mark Church, BBC Radio London's Surrey commentator

So Surrey retain their title and they are worthy champions.

A second successive triumph that has been built around a solid squad, a pace attack of bowlers who complement each other and can take 20 wickets, and a batting line-up that goes all the way to number 11.

They have played some fantastic cricket this season.

Seven of their eight victories have come when they have had to bat last and chase down a total.

Three Championship titles since 2018 is a fine achievement and back-to-back wins is special.

They thoroughly deserve the Championship this season and should be extremely proud of their efforts.

And especially head coach Gareth Batty too. A year ago, when they won it, his title was still actually 'acting interim coach' and it was said at the time that winning the title in 2022 must have been the best 'job interview' ever.

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart:

"We showed in 2018, when we won it, that come 2019 we didn't go about defending it as well as we could or should have done. And, back in March I used the term, 'we want to attack this year not defend it'.

"My dad [Surrey great Mickey Stewart] still goes on about being part of the team that won it seven times on the trot. We have now won it back-to-back. And adding Dan Lawrence for next year gives us another top-class-player and gives us more appetite to win it again.

"We still haven't won the T20, so there are still plenty of challenges ahead. It isn't a case of having two trophies in the bank and that's it. If we do that then we'll be in big trouble.

"Rory Burns is outstanding. Tactically he is very good. He is a good leader. He is a man of few words. In the dressing room when he speaks you listen. He leads by example."

Surrey captain Rory Burns:

"It feels pretty special. We set out to go back-to-back and the way we have done that is very pleasing. But Essex have pushed us all the way.

"We learned a few lessons from 2018. The way we have played our cricket this year has been really positive. How we have taken games on and seized the initiative in big moments. We didn't want to defend it his season, we wanted to attack it.

"All three titles were pretty good. You set out to win it and you win it. Not many teams go back-to-back so that is a feather in our cap and a really pleasing element."

Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks:

"When I heard those cheers, I didn't know what to do. I looked around at everyone. Ben Foakes was clapping but everyone was still in the same spot - I didn't know if we would come together and have a high-five and huddle. I just did a little clap and looked around and got on with it.

"I bowled a pie and the next few overs were terrible. I didn't know what to do. We had a little celebration with everyone when we came off for bad light and then refocused and the day's gone okay since.

"I haven't bowled a lot of overs, maybe the least out of the team. We play on fast green wickets so it is what it is. But it is a pitch which spun and I've had an opportunity to have a long spell."

Surrey assistant coach Jade Dernbach told BBC Radio 5 Live:

"It's a surreal feeling in terms of how it's all come about. We've played well all year but the boys are really concerned with finishing the season with a win. That is their steely mentality.

"We were trying very hard not to look. We thought it was important that the guys stayed focused on the game we're in. But it was very difficult to stay away from as there were a lot of travelling fans here and they were letting us know what was going on at every opportunity. And we certainly knew when that final Essex wicket went down.

"With any Surrey team there is always an amount of responsibility and pressure that comes with being at the biggest county in the country. We knew that, having won the title last year, there would be teams hot on our heels trying to chase us. It wasn't a case of just defending the title, it was a case of retaining it - and we always had that positive mindset."

Hampshire all-rounder Tom Prest:

"We did pretty well to take six wickets in the end. Hopefully we can get it done in the morning.

"Hopefully my off-spin can have more of an impact. And Daws has been outstanding again this week. He does it really well. He gets wickets or runs every game.

"The ball to get Rory Burns was one of the better ones I'll bowl. It was nice to get that and get Ben Foakes as well soon after.

"Bowling is something I'm trying to get better at. If I can really improve my bowling it is another opportunity to stay in the team."