A Summer Worth Celebrating
There is something deeply satisfying about sitting down at the end of a County Championship season and trying to distil months of hard-fought cricket into a single eleven. It is an exercise that forces you to make uncomfortable decisions, leave out players who have genuinely impressed, and defend choices you know will divide opinion. With the final round of the 2026 season almost upon us, I have done exactly that — here is my team of the summer, position by position, and why I have made the calls I have.
For those who like a flutter, it is worth noting that the title race remains tight enough that picking form players from contending counties feels particularly relevant right now. A few of these selections have directly influenced outright title odds over recent weeks.
The Top Order: Setting the Foundation
Selecting two openers is always the most straightforward part of this exercise — you want someone who can blunt the new ball and someone who can take it on. Ricardo Vasconcelos has been exceptional this summer, combining solid technique with a willingness to play his shots at the right moments. He is the kind of opener who sets the tone for an innings, and his numbers across the campaign justify his place at the top of any team-of-the-season conversation.
My three middle-order batters have all contributed match-winning performances at crucial stages of the season. Joe Clarke deserves particular mention here. When county cricket is good, it produces players of Clarke's quality — technically accomplished, mentally tough, and capable of changing a game on his own. His performances have been a reminder of just how high the standard in the Championship genuinely is.
The Engine Room: All-Rounders and Keeper
Two all-rounders and a wicketkeeper form the spine of any well-balanced side, and this has been a rich season for players who contribute meaningfully in both disciplines. Getting the balance right between batting depth and bowling options is something county coaches wrestle with throughout a campaign, and my selections reflect players who have genuinely delivered in both departments rather than excelling in one while being merely adequate in the other.
Behind the stumps, keeping wicket in the Championship demands consistency over a long, demanding schedule. My chosen keeper has done exactly that — clean, unobtrusive, and valuable with the bat in the lower middle order.
The Attack: Pace and Spin
Two pace bowlers and a spinner round out the XI, and this is where the season has genuinely thrown up some compelling stories. Matthew Potts has been among the standout seamers of the summer, building on the promise he has shown at international level and translating it consistently into Championship cricket. Craig Overton, meanwhile, brings the kind of experienced nous that younger seamers simply cannot replicate — knowing when to attack, when to hold an end, and how to build pressure across a session.
The spinner's role in county cricket is often underappreciated, but a quality finger spinner or wrist spinner can be the difference between winning and drawing in the Championship's longer format.
Final Thoughts
Building a team of the season is ultimately a subjective exercise, and I expect plenty of disagreement with my selections — that is entirely the point. The 2026 County Championship has produced a genuinely competitive summer with several strong candidates at every position. Who would you pick? The beauty of county cricket is that there is rarely one right answer.
