Surrey worthy winners as Championship takes eye

Nestled within a season of Test triumphs for England, it was atop-of-the-table county clash that truly stole the show

- Andy Bull

There's a page or two left yet to turn in the cricket season, three final one-day internationals between England and Australia, and the lees of the County Championship, which ends this weekend. It's all due to finish at stumps next Sunday, eight days' autumn-side of the equinox, although whether the weather allows it is another question.

The story of the year includes three Tests against a West Indies team who were a little worse than expected, and three against a Sri Lankan side who were a little better, four thumping victories in short order, one match at Old Trafford that looked as if it might go close, and the solitary defeat by eight wickets at the Oval.

You may have missed it, but the best red-ball cricket played in England this year wasn't at Lord's, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, or any of the Test venues, but the County Ground at Taunton when Somerset beat Surrey the week before last. These days the championship is the background music of the English season, and sometimes the volume is so low people hardly even seem to notice it's on. But this match was worth catching, and Somerset's live stream drew more than 750,000 viewers over the four days, which is a bigger audience than a lot of matches carried live on subscription TV pull in.