The home cricket season is nearly completed – and with Surrey topped champions, the time has come to disclose who made your County Championship crew of 2023.
Greater than 25,700 groups have been chosen by customers of the BBC Sport web site and app over the previous week – and we are able to reveal which 11 gamers have been most chosen.
9 totally different counties are represented, however just one member of Surrey’s title-winning facet made the record, whereas three of the gamers have plied their commerce in Division Two.
Right here is the crew of the season, as chosen by BBC Sport customers.
- Participant statistics right as of Thursday, 28 September, earlier than the ultimate day of the season.
Alex Lees (Durham) – chosen by 87% of customers who voted
1,347 runs, common 70.89, 5 centuries
Promotion to Division One may simply imply a tad extra to the Durham opener, however Alex Lees will certainly be proud to know he was by far the most well-liked choose this 12 months.
The 30-year-old – who gained the final of his 10 England caps in September 2022 – is the main run-scorer within the nation by a ways and can also be close to the highest of the averages with a monster 70.89 – almost double his profession first-class common.
The previous Yorkshire man may additionally be happy to find he has smashed the report set by Durham team-mate David Bedingham, who was beforehand probably the most overwhelming choice – with 82% of BBC Sport customers choosing him for the 2021 facet.
Jake Libby (Worcestershire) – 31%
1,048 runs, common 52.40, three centuries
The Worcestershire vice-captain is one other who plied his commerce in Division Two this season, however shall be making the step up in 2024.
With loads of competitors to open alongside Lees in our crew of the 12 months, Libby simply edged out Keaton Jennings of Lancashire – who was within the 2022 facet.
Libby was one other to cross 1,000 runs and common north of fifty, however maybe his best feat of all was guiding the Pears again to the highest tier.
Josh Bohannon (Lancashire) – 74%
1,189 runs, common 56.61, 4 centuries
The 26-year-old has been on the scene with the Crimson Rose for 5 years now however this actually looks like a coming of age season and he is our second hottest choice.
The Bolton lad, who got here by way of the Lancashire academy and performed native league cricket, leads all Division One gamers with 1,189 runs.
The newest of his 4 centuries got here at Canterbury this week, taking his common to just about 57 and giving hope he shall be a lynchpin of the facet subsequent season.
Tom Westley (Essex) – 29%
1,130 runs, common 45.20, three centuries
Quantity 4 was most likely probably the most hotly contested slot of all with Essex skipper Tom Westley the person who got here out on high, narrowly forward of Hampshire counterpart James Vince, Joe Clarke of Nottinghamshire and Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins.
The 34-year-old may be six years faraway from his England Check profession – which lasted simply 5 matches throughout six weeks – however he has put collectively a sometimes swish catalogue of knocks this season which helped haul his facet into the title race.
His 1,130 runs have been the second most in Division One, behind Bohannon.
James Rew (Somerset) – 61%
1,086 runs, common 57.15, 5 centuries, 42 dismissals (40 catches, two stumpings)
If you happen to’d not heard of James Rew till just a few months in the past, do not feel unhealthy. He solely turned 19 in January and this has been an actual coming of age marketing campaign.
The wicketkeeper turned the primary Division One participant to achieve 1,000 runs in July, and although his stellar season has barely fizzled out with the bat, his common stays greater than 57 and his 5 centuries have been probably the most in Division One.
Most extremely {the teenager} has simply 21 first-class matches below his belt, however his common is slightly below 51.
Leus du Plooy (Derbyshire) – 42%
1,198 runs, common 79.86, 4 centuries
The South African-born left-hander will depart Derbyshire after 4 years with the membership on the finish of this marketing campaign however, whichever division they’re in, new facet Middlesex can stay up for seeing his prodigious expertise up shut.
Du Plooy’s white-ball inventory has grown enormously however he nonetheless discovered time to rattle off 1,198 red-ball runs for Derbyshire in an inglorious marketing campaign in Division Two.
His common of 79.86 eclipses even Alex Lees this season and was constructed on the again of 4 centuries, one among them an unbeaten double ton.
Liam Dawson (Hampshire) – 50%
840 runs, common 40.00, three centuries; 47 wickets, common 20.70
Properly you lot have picked your self fairly the all-rounder at quantity seven.
The 33-year-old has featured in all 14 of Hampshire’s County Championship matches this season and has discovered some well timed kind on the again finish of the marketing campaign.
His match-winning 119 took his facet to a three-wicket victory at Essex within the penultimate sport, whereas at first of September he hit a century and claimed seven wickets within the win over Somerset.
Dawson’s 47 wickets have additionally come at simply over 20 apiece.
Hampshire followers shall be happy he was solely on the cusp of extra worldwide honours this summer time.
Simon Harmer (Essex) – 62%
524 runs, common 30.82; 61 wickets, common 28.95
The Essex spinner makes the crew for the third 12 months in succession.
As soon as once more the South African leads his county’s wicket-taking charts with 61 wickets.
The 34-year-old has an opportunity to complete because the main bowler in Division One as effectively if Nottinghamshire seamer Brett Hutton takes lower than two wickets on the ultimate day in opposition to Middlesex.
Harmer went previous 900 first-class wickets in final week’s sport in opposition to Hampshire… you would not wager in opposition to him having 1,000 by this time subsequent 12 months if he winters effectively with South Africa.
Jordan Clark (Surrey) – 42%
427 runs, common 28.46, one century; 48 wickets, common 21.35
In a crew filled with stars, Jordan Clark is the one Surrey participant to make your XI.
The previous Lancashire all-rounder appears to get higher with age and has produced plenty of match-turning or match-winning spells with the ball this season.
His 48 wickets have come at a mean of simply 21.75 and he is additionally made plenty of priceless contributions with the bat decrease down the order.
Turning 33 subsequent month, it may be just a little late to begin fascinated by worldwide honours, however he is turn out to be probably the most priceless gamers on the county circuit.
Brett Hutton (Nottinghamshire) – 48%
60 wickets, common 21.61
In a squad packed filled with star pacemen, Brett Hutton has outshone all of them this summer time.
The 30-year-old may nonetheless end high of the wicket-taking charts in Division One if he picks up two on the ultimate day in opposition to Middlesex and also you would not wager in opposition to it.
Hutton has taken a powerful six five-wicket hauls this marketing campaign, together with 6-45 in opposition to Somerset in April – his greatest figures for Notts.
Jamie Porter (Essex) – 69%
57 wickets, common 19.05
The most well-liked bowling choose on this 12 months’s facet is the third Essex participant to make the lower.
Jamie Porter has been probably the most constant and prolific tempo bowlers on the county circuit for a number of seasons.
In 2023, he has been again to his greatest with 57 wickets, taking his profession tally to 505 at a mean of lower than 25.
Maybe unfortunate to not have performed worldwide cricket, Porter was a key determine when Essex gained the Championship in 2017 and 2019 and cited a brand new health regime as serving to him return to his greatest.