Surrey crowned County Championship winners for second year running after holding off Essex in tense title battle

Surrey have won cricket’s County Championship for the second year running, despite there still being a day to go in their season-ending clash with Hampshire.

England all-rounder Will Jacks, drafted into the match following the conclusion of the One Day International series against Ireland, was midway through his bowling action when the PA announcer at The Ageas Bowl revealed that Essex had been bowled all out for 211 against Northamptonshire.

That meant the Eagles had not picked up enough batting bonus points to keep their slim hopes of lifting the crown alive, handing the title to the Brown Caps for a 21st time.

It comes as no surprise that the Oval based county have come top of the pile yet again, given no fewer than nine of their red-ball squad have been capped by England – many of whom have missed large chunks of the season to represent their country, including Sam Curran, who is in India for the 50 over World Cup.

That makes the success even sweeter for captain Rory Burns, who himself has not played for England since their chastening Ashes series in Australia in 2021/22.

The opening batsman has seen his side defeated just once in first class cricket in 2023, matching their achievements of 2022, when – like this year – Lancashire were the only team to beat them in a four-day game.

Since that reversal in June, Surrey have won three and drawn two of their completed fixtures, moving clear of Essex at the top of the table.

Head coach Gareth Batty described victory as “a very nice feeling” after “months of work.”

He continued: “It’s the thing that everybody wants. It’s a lovely feeling.”

Surrey went into the final round of fixtures knowing a draw would be enough to secure the title, but even that depended on the Eagles beating Northamptonshire and picking up a full complement of bonus points.

With Surrey having secured three bowling bonus points, they knew Essex needed to reach 450 to keep the title race alive going into the final day of the campaign, but Tom Westley’s side, champions in 2017 and 2019, fell well short of their target.

However, Westley’s side, who last won the title in 2019, collapsed to 211 all out on day three of their match at the County Ground, a long way short of the 450 required to keep their title dream alive.