County Championship 2014: Picking the Team of the Season
After an engrossing season that has been going on since April, the English County Championship has come to an end for another year.
For Yorkshire, there is cause for celebration as they won Division One, while Hampshire and Worcestershire join them next season after being promoted from Division Two.
However, some teams did not enjoy good campaigns, with Northamptonshire and Lancashire now facing the prospect of life in the second tier after relegation from Division One.
Amidst the wins and losses for the teams involved, some individual players shone too, whether with bat or ball or even both.
With that in mind, read on for a team made up of the best players from this season in the County Championship.
Honorable Mentions
Chris Rogers: The evergreen Australian has led Middlesex well this season, having scored 1,333 runs, including a brilliant 241 not out.
Alex Gidman: The right-hander looked in brilliant form in what is his last season for Gloucestershire, tallying 1,278 runs in his farewell year for the team.
Chris Rushworth: It was something of an inconsistent year for Durham, but seamer Chris Rushworth looked in form as he picked up 65 wickets at an average of 24.78.
1. Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)
17 matches
1,619 runs; 70.39 batting average; 251 highest score
One batsman who has entered his name into the conversation for England recognition is Yorkshire opener Adam Lyth.
Still relatively young at 27 years old, Lyth led the country in runs this year to become a crucial part of the Division One champions’ team.
With England’s second opening spot still in a state of flux, he may well harbour hopes of an international bow at some point in the near future.
2. James Vince (Hampshire)
16 matches
1,525 runs; 61.00 batting average; 240 highest score
The top run scorer across both divisions, Hampshire opener James Vince has surely also forced himself into the reckoning for England honours.
Vince feasted upon Division Two bowling attacks, while also carrying his superb form into the limited-overs competitions.
Still just 23, Hampshire would appear to have unearthed a real gem for the top of their order.
3. Ed Joyce (Sussex)
15 matches
1,501 runs; 68.22 batting average; 164* highest score
In at No. 3 for our team of the season is Ed Joyce of Sussex, having looked in very good form at the top of the order for his county.
He led all batsmen with eight centuries, while an average of 68.22 speaks of a batsman who may well be at the top of his game right now.
Without his runs, it is virtually certain that Sussex would not have finished third in Division One, a mere 28 points off second place.
4. Daryl Mitchell (Worcestershire)
16 matches
1,334 runs; 58.00 batting average; 172* highest score
Another batsman to impress in Division Two was Daryl Mitchell of Worcestershire, who he helped lead to promotion for next season.
A tally of 1,334 runs at an average of 58 exactly speaks of a batsman who was incredibly consistent and who quite probably helped by the superb batting pitches at New Road.
However, that should not take away from what is a very good achievement from the 30-year-old.
5. Ashwell Prince (Lancashire)
16 matches
1,160 runs; 42.96 batting average; 257* highest score
Coming in at No. 5 is Ashwell Prince, who was once again a rock in the middle order for a Lancashire team that has unfortunately been relegated to Division Two.
In a difficult season, the former South African international helped keep his team afloat many times with his steady batting.
Even at 37 years of age, he was a gritty and vital batsman, and he will be greatly missed as he enters retirement.
6. Riki Wessels (Nottinghamshire, Wicket-Keeper)
16 matches
1,197 runs; 47.88 batting average; 158 highest score
Keeping wicket and batting at No. 6 in our team of the season is Riki Wessels, who helped take Nottinghamshire into the upper reaches of Division One.
Stepping in for Chris Read with the gloves on a few occasions, Wessels also managed to produce a tremendous amount of runs in his side’s middle order.
Having shown such ability with the bat and having combined that with some tidy glovework, he is the ideal man to be our wicketkeeper.
7. Jim Allenby (Glamorgan)
16 matches
923 runs; 34.18 batting average; 100 highest score
52 wickets; 21.28 bowling average; 6-54 BBI
Having previously been something of a Twenty20 specialist, Jim Allenby has become a crucial part of Glamorgan’s lineup in the County Championship.
His aggressive batting has translated well to the lower order, while his canny medium-pace bowling picks up wickets on a regular basis.
He has balanced both roles very well this year and deserves to take his place at No. 7 as our team of the year’s all-rounder.
8. Mark Footitt (Derbyshire)
16 matches
82 wickets; 19.12 bowling average; 6-48 BBI
Leading the way for Division Two bowlers was Mark Footitt of Derbyshire, who took 82 scalps with his left-arm seam bowling.
It was not quite enough to lift his side back into the top tier, but Footitt took advantage of helpful conditions for seam bowling in his home county and across the rest of the country.
He was also incredibly consistent and economical, as shown by his very low bowling average in spite of playing every game for his team this year.
9. Steve Magoffin (Sussex)
15 matches
72 wickets; 19.51 bowling average; 6-60 BBI
Australian Steve Magoffin has had another brilliant year in the County Championship, one that culminated in a final haul of 72 wickets.
The right-arm seamer still has an incredible knack of picking up crucial wickets at vital times, and a bowling average below 20 shows how economical he has been.
He sets an incredibly high standard for Sussex, and at 34 he still has plenty of years left in him at this level.
10. Jack Brooks (Yorkshire)
17 matches
71 wickets; 27.33 bowling average; 5-36 BBI
A key part of the Division One champions’ success was seamer Jack Brooks, who has really come of age this year.
With 71 wickets, he has outshone more illustrious colleagues with international experience and could well be in contention for selection of his own.
His mastery of the new ball has been brilliant to watch, and he will surely be crucial for any further success that Yorkshire may have.
11. Saeed Ajmal (Worcestershire)
9 matches
63 wickets; 16.47 bowling average; 7-19 BBI
He may have only played nine games for Worcestershire in the County Championship, but Saeed Ajmal had quite an impact at New Road.
With 63 wickets, he was one of the top bowlers in Division Two, even though he missed seven games due to international commitments.
His achievements have also been overshadowed somewhat by the allegations of him having an illegal bowling action, but at Worcestershire he performed brilliantly.
All stats courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.