We’ve put our heads together at Badger HQ and this is our best XI from County Championship Division One - now we’ve recovered (just) from that thrilling finale. Do you agree?

1. Keaton Jennings (Durham) 1548 runs at 64.50
Jennings can be considered unfortunate not to have made the plane for England’s winter tour after being the leading run-scorer in either division. He hit seven Championship tons and went to a double century twice, carrying his bat against Surrey. The promising 24-year-old’s best season so far.

2. Marcus Trescothick (Somerset) 1198 runs at 49.91
(Main photo) What can we say about the evergreen Tresco. One of the most popular men on the county circuit, who would have begrudged him a Championship winners medal, but that wasn’t to be. He just keeps on loving the game, scoring the runs and it won’t only be Somerset supporters that were pleased to hear he’s signed on for 2017.

3. Nick Gubbins (Middlesex) 1409 runs at 61.26
Gubbins was edged out of England’s winter Test squad by Lancashire’s Haseeb Hameed. It’s no slight on Hameed, who himself made 1198 runs at 49.91, but Gubbins was crucial to Middlesex’s successful Championship crown and he takes the spot in our XI. He scored four Championship hundreds, including a vital knock in the showdown with Yorkshire at the end of the season. He may not have made this England squad, but his time will come. A graduate of the impressive Leeds Bradford MCCU setup, many there have been touting him for big things for some time.

4. Dawid Malan (Middlesex) 951 runs at 43.22
Malan’s selection was a close call, but his century in the final match of the season and consistent scoring throughout a successful summer for his county earned him our nod. He came into the summer known mainly for his one-day exploits. He ends the season with a Championship winners medal and his reputation hugely enhanced.

5. Ben Foakes (Surrey) 759 runs at 42.16, 43 catches and 3 stumpings
Being thought of as the best wicket-keeper in the country doesn’t always earn you international recognition - ask Chris Read. But Andy Flower and Alec Stewart have publicly voiced their approval and his batting is improving quickly and he’s certainly one to watch over the next few seasons. At 23-years-old he has time on his side.

6. Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire) 722 runs at 47.71 and 31 wickets at 30.12
Brezzy had a huge season for Yorkshire and in the final match at Lord’s almost won the title on his own. It was one of the cruel aspects of sport that his superb first innings century and a fifty in the chase saw him on the losing side. But in 2016 he has been a true all-rounder and England’s loss has certainly been the White Rose County’s gain.

7. Keith Barker (Warwickshire) 608 runs at 32.00; 59 wickets at 23.13
We’ve never understood why Barker’s international credentials have not been examined further. His consistency with the bat solidifies the Bears lower order and with the ball he is a formidable adversary.

8. Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex) 54 wickets at 24.22 and 319 runs at 29.00
TRJ made an England squad, but not the final XI, but over than that disappointment, his season has been spectacular. A hard hitting lower order batsman, it’s with the ball he is a star. His 10-for and hat-trick that sealed Middlesex’s Championship crown will forever be one of the iconic moments of English domestic cricket. It’s testament to England’s current crop of seamers that he hasn’t yet made his international breakthrough.

9. Jack Brooks (Yorkshire) 49 wickets at 23.12 and 250 runs at 27.77
The best England bowler not to have played international cricket? We thing so. He’s benefited hugely from working under the guidance of Jason Gillespie at Yorkshire and his wholehearted approach has made him a cult figure. But there’s more to Brooks than that. He is descriptively skilled and sharper than his approach suggests. His batting has improved a lot in 2016 too.

10. Jack Leach (Somerset) 65 wickets at 21.87
Leach is another man on the edges of England’s radar. He enjoyed the Taunton turners, but you still need to bowl with skill and Leach’s wickets were no happy accident. Perhaps he needs to back up this summer with more wickets in 2017 before the selectors come calling. He’s very capable of doing that.

11. Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire) 69 wickets at 24.02 and 298 runs at 18.62
If we were picking only one spinner it would be Jeetan. There’s no wonder New Zealand have asked him to reconsider his international retirement. In four-day and one-day cricket he’s a huge asset to Warwickshire.

Do you agree?

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