Surrey’s 21st Championship title came at 25 past midday when, at a sparsely attended Northampton, Jamie Porter was bowled for a duck. Essex had fallen 189 runs short of the 400 they needed to keep the race alive. It took a few seconds for the news to land here at the Ageas Bowl, where Surrey were in the field.
As it did, and the travelling supporters broke into applause, Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins and James Vince sportingly joined in and Will Jacks broke off middelivery stride. Ten minutes later, the players were off for bad light.
For all the bathos of the moment, Surrey’s second win in succession, and their third in six years, is a huge achievement, orchestrated by their director of cricket, Alec Stewart, captain Rory Burns and, for the past two years, coach Gareth Batty.
They become the first county to win back-to-back titles since Yorkshire in 2014 and 2015, and the third side to achieve it in the two division era.
It is tricky for even the most one-eyed supporter of other clubs to begrudge Surrey their prize. Inan era of superstars, and player power, theirs is a squad triumph and one largely homegrown, with the addition of classy overseas players.
Denne historien er fra September 29, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra September 29, 2023-utgaven av The Guardian.
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