14 matches, 1,159 runs at 48.29, six hundreds, HS: 187

Vasconcelos finished as the leading run-scorer in Division Two as Northants finished one place outside of the promotion spots. He hit six centuries, more than anyone else in the division, and was the leading opening batter across both competitions.

Seven matches, 639 runs at 86.62, four hundreds, HS: 159*

Although he only played six matches before being called up to England, Gay still scored four centuries over the season, signing off with 141 in his first Championship appearance for Durham since May. In the early part of the summer, he scored big runs to win the race to be England's next Test opener, and helped Durham get a fast start in their bid for promotion.

13 matches, 1048 runs at 74.85, two hundreds, HS: 164*

Hain was one of three batters to cross 1,000 runs in Division One this year, and was Warwickshire's standout batter by a distance in their victorious campaign. His 88 in the penultimate round of the season against Leicestershire was crucial to keeping their heads up in a crucial game, and his unbeaten effort in the second innings saw them go into the final round in prime position. He signed off with 142 in the final match of the summer, once again coming in after a top-order collapse to stabalise the innings.

14 matches, 1,288 runs at 56.00, four hundreds, HS: 150

Clarke led the run-scoring charts almost from start to finish. He passed 80 six times in the first five matches of the season, and scored 94, 82, and 150 in the three innings he played against eventual champions Warwickshire. The dip in his returns at the end of the season reflected Nottinghamshire's reliance on him with the bat as their chances of defending their title slipped away.

10 matches, 982 runs at 65.46, six hundreds, HS: 218
10 wickets at 80.30, BBI: 3-14

Having had seemingly little scope for regaining his England Test place at the beginning of the season, Lawrence earned a recall through a combination of changing circumstance and outstanding form with the bat for Surrey. He opened his account in the first round of the Championship with 161 in the second innings at Edgbaston, with his biggest returns in a single game coming at the end of the first block of matches against Hampshire. He scored 319 runs in the game, with a double-century in the first innings and 101 in the second. After coming back from England duty, he signed off the season with 139 against Somerset.

Nine matches, 636 runs at 53.00, two hundreds, HS: 128

Foakes had a truncated season for Surrey after a suprise turn at bowling left him injured early on. Miraculous as ever behind the stumps, albeit in a season where Surrey were threatened with relegation, he played two crucial knocks with the bat. The first of those came in the opening match, where he hit 128 after Surrey slipped to 65-6. The second was a pivotal 120 against Essex, which secured a vital draw in the crunch part of the season.

13 matches, 53 wickets at 19.18, one five-for, BBI: 5-29
734 runs at 38.62, three hundreds, HS: 141

Overton was one of two standout all-rounders in the competition, hitting three centuries and taking over 50 wickets as Somerset narrowly missed their maiden Championship title. Before this season, Overton had just one first-class century to his name, and had never crossed the 50 wicket mark. He was named the PCA's County Championship player of the year and most valuable player.

14 matches, 48 wickets at 18.39, two five-fors, BBI: 5-29
748 runs at 34.00, HS: 89

Hill was Yorkshire's leading wicket-taker and leading run-scorer for the season. Some of his most impactful performances at the end of the season came with the bat, including scoring 89 after Yorkshire slipped to 54-6 against Somerset. He finished his campaign with a half-century against Nottinghamshire in the last round of the season, again boosting Yorkshire after a collapse.

14 matches, 42 wickets at 25.11, two five-fors, BBI: 6-43
474 runs at 24.94, one hundred, HS: 111*

Patterson-White was the leading wicket-taker among spinners, and contributed handily with the bat too. His efforts across the season brought some calls for an England call-up, with a Test series against Bangladesh beckoning this winter.

11 matches, 50 wickets at 19.48, five five-fors, BBI: 6-28

Having had his Championship appearances for Nottinghamshire limited previously by injury, Stone made up for lost time in style this year. He returned his best-ever figures for the county in his second appearance of the season, and consistently demolished batting lineups single handedly. He took 25 wickets in four matches after the Championship returned at the end of August, and finished with a fifth five-for of the season against Yorkshire in the final round.

14 matches, 69 wickets at 19.39, four five-fors, BBI: 6-26

Playing his second full season for Warwickshire, Bamber finished as the leading wicket-taker in the country. He finished the season with five-wicket hauls in three consecutive matches, including a career-best 6-26. He formed a lethal partnership alongside Chris Woakes, when available, that ultimately secured Warwickshire the trophy.

Honourable mentions

Some stand out performers who didn't make our side include , who cleared 1,000 runs in Division Two in a season that confirmed his England potential. McKinney's Durham teammate once again proved the star overseas batter in the competition in their promotion-winning campaign. scored a triple century in the final match of the season, finishing one run off top spot in the Division One charts, while 's 1,096 runs put him in competition for the keeping spot in this side.

shone as ever in a dismal season for Hampshire, while ' 60 wickets saw him top the charts in Division Two.

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