The domestic game has its detractors but, if the fascinating final weeks of the season are anything to go by, then we’re doing a lot right. A great championship race kept bubbling by the mid summer monsoons, which served to compress the table so that any one of five teams could win the LV Division One title going in to the final round of matches and provided some top quality cricket, much of which would not have looked out of place in the Test arena.

Hats off to Sussex, who prevailed again, and to Somerset, deserved winners of Division Two.

The much-maligned pro40 also put two fingers up to its critics, producing some thrilling finishes and a popular Division One-winning team in Worcestershire, whose bouncebackability has been universally admired. Durham, who won the second division, are most people’s team of the year but Worcestershire’s officials and players deserve special praise for the way they’ve dealt with some uniquely tough times.

All of which brings me on to the awards. With no further ado, these are my own personal favourites:

Player of the year: Ottis Gibson
Gibson’s broad smile, in evidence after every one of his 100+ wickets (all cricket), lit up the summer. A fantastic season with bat and ball from one of cricket’s much-loved elder statesmen.

Bowler of the year: Mushtaq Ahmed
The leading wicket-taker (90) for the fifth consecutive season started his bowling career as a strapping six-footer but has got gradually smaller with his ever-increasing workload.

Batsman of the year: Mark Ramprakash.
The improved 2007 model does the same as the last one but can dance too.

Captain of the year: Dale Benkenstein.
The quietly determined leader of Durham made runs when they mattered most and empowered his team to punch above their weight.

The Boycott-Tavare Watching Paint Dry Award: Huw Waters.
Glamorgan’s nightwatchman scored 33 off 265 balls two of which he edged for four in a five-hour vigil against Essex. Second place goes to Joe Sayers, who scored 149 not out versus Durham off 417 balls in nine hours and 21 minutes.

S&M Submissive Award: Glamorgan
Whipped by everyone again.

Most Improved team of the Year: Somerset.
Andy Hurry and Justin Langer gave some backbone and direction to a talented side inspired by Marcus Trescothick and Andy Caddick.

Oldest Swinger in Town Award: Ottis Gibson
2nd: Andy Caddick
3rd: Darren Gough

Oldest Slugger in Town Award: Graeme Hick
The Worcestershire stalwart topped the six-hitting league.

The Kingpin Award: Ottis Gibson.
Like Coronation Street at the Soap Awards he’s up again. Gibson flattened all ten Hampshire batsmen at the Riverside – the perfect strike.

Best Lake Award: New Road

Young Player of the Year Award: Adil Rashid
The Yorkshire leggie is a deserved winner, especially when considering the dearth of young spin bowling talent in the country.

Declaration of the year: Mark Butcher
The Surrey captain declared 488 ahead of Lancashire in the last game of the season leaving enough of a carrot to ensure the visiting batsmen got out playing shots, whilst ensuring the most thrilling climax to a County Championship campaign in living memory went down to the wire.

Choke of the year: Northants
Seemingly cruising a run chase against the Eagles at Wantage Road, the Steelbacks needed one run from three balls with David Sales, their captain and best player well set at the crease. Sales missed the first one, should have been given lbw off the next and chipped tamely to mid-on off the last ball to tie, which meant his side travelled to Middlesex for the play-off. They lost.

Tossing of the Caber Award: Rob Key
The Kent captain threw the willow a mighty distance upon seeing a replay of his dismissal in the Twenty20 final.

Blockbuster Video Award: Kyle Hogg
The Lancashire all-rounder was loaned out more than the Godfather trilogy.

And while we’re on the subject of rewarding some fine performances: 50m freestyle certificate goes to Steve Rhodes, who swam across New Road in an attempt to rescue his laptop.