Hollioake can't hide his Championship disappointment

Adam Hollioake, Surrey's captain, has admitted that winning the National League and the Twenty20 Cup hasn't softened the blow of letting the Championship slip away from them.

Talking to the BBC Sport website, Hollioake said: "If you measured success by the standard of cricket in all competitions it has been a success. But if you asked the players if they were happy they would say no. The disappointment of losing the Championship is immense because that's the one we were really after."

He continued: "Logically we've played the best cricket we've ever played. In three forms of the game: 20-over cricket, 45-over cricket and Championship cricket we've played well in all, but I can't help but feel disappointed not to win the Championship."

While Surrey are used to not having Alec Stewart around for much of the season due to international commitments, they will now have to get used to life without Ian Ward as well. Hollioake described the decisions not to renew their contracts as devastating. "They have been fantastic players over the years and will be impossible to replace," he said. "We've got to find a way to replace them as best we can, but it's not going to be easy."

Hollioake then emphasised the importance of team-work, and pointed out the emergence of younger players at the club, like Rikki Clarke and Tim Murtagh. "Throughout the year we've had good contributions from different players and that is what you need if you're going to win a competition," he said. "Rikki and Tim are two inexperienced players who are fast becoming experienced and they have a big future at the club."