The 2024 cricket season slipped quietly away, the final day finishing with seven draws in seven games, as bad light, rain and ennui drew the curtain over the summer.

At New Road Joe Leach marched out to bat for one final time before hanging up his big boots. His 30 not out, a familiarly lusty affair, was part of a second‑innings Worcestershire fightback. At 78 for six, it had seemed possible that the relegated Lancashire might pull off a consolation victory, but Worcestershire were rescued by Matthew Waide, Adam Hose, Logan van Beek and Leach. As the clouds darkened and the umpires ushered the players in, Lancashire waited behind to clap the grand old boy off. He pulled away his helmet, wiped his eyes, saluted the crowd and pushed through the little white gate and into the future, 477 first-class wickets in his chest pocket.

Worcestershire, who went straight into their end-of-season party, can also raise a glass to finishing sixth, their highest position since the Championship became two divisions. For Lancashire, time to regroup. Their first-team coach, Dale Benkenstein, said: “You sometimes need to go down to find your feet.”

Surrey, deserved champions, belatedly received their silverware after the game at Chelmsford petered out, rain-affected and on a docile pitch. Sam Cook sent down some spin and Simon Harmer and Matt Critchley mixed it up with some medium pacers, Dom Sibley’s 127 saving Surrey’s blushes. The captain, Rory Burns, said: “A fractionally stale trophy lift after a pretty dead rubber last game.”

Sussex were presented with the Division Two trophy at Hove in front of more than a thousand shivering supporters. Tom Haines and James Coles both made centuries, but the crucial bonus point came with a no‑ball – nevertheless sparking huge celebrations. Middlesex used nine bowlers including Mark Stoneman, who will play elsewhere next season. Sussex finish the season unbeaten at home.

Promoted Yorkshire guzzled on runs at Headingley, their 726 for seven the second highest score in the club’s history, James Wharton’s 285 the joint-eighth highest first-class score for Yorkshire. There was just time for Matthew Fisher to take two Northamptonshire wickets for the final time in the white rose shirt before everyone shook hands.

Half-centuries from Jack Leaning, Joe Denly and Joey Evison helped relegated Kent to secure a draw at Durham; Sam Hain made a century in the Midlands derby from which both Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire emerged unscathed, and there was a hundred for the 40-year-old Wayne Madsen at Grace Road as Derbyshire drew with Leicestershire.

Thank you all for your company, wit and wisdom from the chill of April to the chill of September. With Worcester cathedral staring across the New Road grass, it’s goodnight from me. May your winter days be warm and fruitful.

I’ll leave you with this, the one, the only, Joe Leach.

1 Sussex (PROMOTED) 237

2 Yorkshire (PROMOTED) 217

3 Middlesex 196

4 Northamptonshire 161

5 Leicestershire 155

6 7 Glamorgan 146

67 Gloucestershire 142

8 Derbyshire 122

1 Surrey (CHAMPIONS) 231

2 Hampshire 214

3 Somerset 196

4 Essex 194

5 Durham 171

6 Worcestershire 162

7 Warwickshire 159

8 Nottinghamshire 155

9 Lancashire (RELEGATED) 134

10 Kent (RELEGATED) 99

TAUNTON:Hampshire 196 and 121-5 BEAT Somerset 136 and 180 by five wickets

CHESTER LE STREET: Durham 360 DRAW WITH Kent 353/8

TRENT BRIDGE: Notts 487 DRAW WITH Warwickshire 373-7

NEW ROAD Worcestershire 180 and 223-9 DRAW WITH Lancashire 177

CHELMSFORD: Surrey 267-7 DRAW WITH Essex 508-8 dec

DIVISION TWO

HEADINGLEY: Yorks 726-7 dec DRAW WITH Northants 147 & 71-2

SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan 381-4dec BEAT Gloucestershire 189 BY 192 RUNS

HOVE: Sussex 459-4 dec DRAW WITH Middlesex 271

GRACE ROAD Leics 280 DRAW WITH Derbys 252-3

Yorkshire go up to Division One with a spring in their step, after hitting the second largest innings total in their history. James Wharton’s 285 was the fifth highest first-class score at Headingley. Bairstow joined in with some hearty hitting to finish a season where he said goodbye to England.

Headingley: Yorks 726-7 dec v Northants 147 & 71-2

The Division Two Champions finish the season with a draw against nearly men Middlesex, whose promotion hopes were thwarted by the rain (and Yorkshire).

Hove: Sussex 459-4 dec v Middlesex 271

A damp draw

Grace Road: Leics 280 v Derbys 252-3

A creditable end to the season for relegated Kent, thanks to Leaning, Denly and Evison

Chester-le Street: Durham 360 DRAW with Kent 353/8

Surrey (267-7) DRAW with Essex (508-8 dec)

Dom Sibley’s third hundred of the century puts a full stop on Surrey’s magnificent season. Champagne and trophy to follow.

TRENT BRIDGE: Notts 487 DRAW WITH Warwickshire 373-7

What could have been a relegation dog fight, turned into gentle run-accumulation. Both sides survive, with a room to improve tag stuck to their heels.

NEW ROAD Worcestershire 180 and 223-9 DRAW WITH Lancashire 177

And the rain hammers down.

And off they go, bad light we think, Joe Leach pulling off his helmet and leading the players off, Lancashire waiting behind to clap the grand old boy off. He wipes his eyes, salutes the crowd with his bat a final time and pushes through the little white gate and into the future.

41 overs remain, but I think that’s that.

TAUNTON:Hampshire 196 and 121-5 BEAT Somerset 136 and 180 by five wickets

CHESTER LE STREET: Durham 360 v Kent 310-7

TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire 487 v Warwickshire 361-7

NEW ROAD Worcestershire 180 and 221-9 v Lancashire 177

CHELMSFORD: Essex 508-8dec v Surrey 233-7

DIVISION TWO

HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire 726-7 v Northamptonshire147

SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan 381-4dec BEAT Glloucestershire 189 BY 192 RUNS

HOVE Sussex 385-4 v Middlesex 271

GRACE ROAD Leicestershire 280 v Derbyshire 193-3

A second hundred for Hain on the last afternoon of the season, a bit of grotty one for Warwickshire. And the rumours are that Mark Robinson won’t survive the year.

and now have their second highest innings total, and the highest score ever against Northampton. Hill 52 out, Thompson a six laden 54 not out.

Here at New Road, Worcestershire are nine down, with the lead 214. Leach a crash bang 21 not out.

I’ve totted up the numbers and, after a bit of blindfolded pencil prodding for the ties, our XI is:

Burns

Elgar

Ingram

Bedingham

Banton

Simpson

Dawson

Carson

TRJ

Porter

Worrall

A tiny piece of perfection as Joe Leach walks out to bat at New Road for the final time serenaded by the mighty Dolly’s Jolene.

Worcestershire 178-8, Hose lbw for a cracking 41.

With a no ball! Well done fresh faced youths, enjoy Division One. Elsewhere, Yorkshire pass 600 (getting greedy now).

Goes to Derbyshire for the 16th time. With just one win and 19 batting points (above only Kent and Lancs), the only way is up.

TAUNTON:Hampshire 196 and 121-5 BEAT Somerset 136 and 180 by five wickets

CHESTER LE STREET: Durham 360 v Kent 96-3

TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire 487 v Warwickshire 284-4

NEW ROAD Worcestershire180 and 78-6 v Lancashire 177

CHELMSFORD: Essex 508-8dec v Surrey 138-4

DIVISION TWO

HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire 559-3 v Northamptonshire147

SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan 381-4dec BEAT Glloucestershire 189 BY 192 RUNS

HOVE Sussex 239-4 v Middlesex 271

GRACE ROAD Leicestershire 280 v Derbyshire 79-1

What a way to finish the season! YJB has 45. Condolences to those – Jake Libby, Greens Alex and Ben, Rob Yates, Baz de Leede and Dan Mousely, whose final innings of the year have been rather more elliptical.

In fading light at New Road, Lancashire slid into Division Two for next season. The end came just before five o’clock, when Anderson Phillip drove to cover and Lancashire were all out for 177. It was three short of Worcestershire’s first innings and 73 short of the magic 250 which would have theoretically kept them in the race until the final day of this season.

This is Lancashire’s fourth relegation since their team of underdogs won the Championship in 2011. This year’s team join the roll-call that also reads 2012, 2014 and 2018. Each time they’ve jumped back up right away, but it could be more difficult in 2025 with a team of talented but raw young players. Only Kent, who are also heading down, collected fewer batting points in Division One.

Their opponents Worcestershire, promoted in 2023, were almost universal favourites to drop back down again this season but, despite the tragic death of Josh Baker and the repeated flooding of New Road, they have stayed up – and with the affection of almost everyone. With a chief executive in Ashley Giles who reintroduced puddings once a week for the players, and a possible fly-on-the-wall documentary on the cards in spring, they go into Sunday looking at their highest finish since the introduction of two-tier county cricket.

Joe Leach, playing his final match before retirement, was given a standing ovation when he came out to bat, making two in Worcestershire’s tails-wagging innings, and then receiving a guard of honour from his teammates as they walked out to bowl. That familiar burly figure motored in from the Diglis end one last time and finished with two wickets, Lancashire’s innings flailing to a familiar tune. There was a first Championship wicket for Jack Home, watched by his parents and his black Labrador, OJ.

There was joy the other side of the Pennines, as Yorkshire secured promotion in the gloom at Headingley. Adam Lyth and James Wharton both laid into Northants, Lyth making 147 and Wharton still unbeaten on 162. They return to Division One cricket for the first time since since being relegated by one point two years ago.

TAUNTON:Hampshire 196 and 121-5 BEAT Somerset 136 and 180 by five wickets

CHESTER LE STREET: Durham 360 v Kent 96-3

TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire 487 v Warwickshire 143-4

NEW ROAD Worcestershire180 And 0-0 v Lancashire 177

CHELMSFORD: Essex 508-8dec v Surrey 30-1

DIVISION TWO

HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire 371-2 v Northamptonshire147

SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan 381-4dec BEAT Glloucestershire 189 BY 192 RUNS

HOVE Sussex 112-2 v Middlesex 271

GRACE ROAD Leicestershire264-8 v Derbyshire

Good morning one last time! The bells of Worcester cathedral are intertwined with the thwack of bat on ball – what a perfect way to end the season.