SIMON HUGHES: It's the season of awards. Most of the winners of the traditional ones are fairly predictable, so here are a few personal alternatives...
Clockwise from top left: Pat Brown, Jos Buttler, Dane Vilas, Dom Bess and Rob Key
Buttler has had a fantastic summer of nonchalantly dismantling bowling attacks while being disarmingly self-effacing both in the manner of his destruction, his unostentatious celebrations and his post-match interviews.
Very modest and always deflecting praise onto others without seeming ungrateful for compliments. Passed 1,000 international runs in the summer during the final Test, yet never seemed to break sweat.
Also uncomplainingly passed gloves back to Bairstow after standing in for him at Ageas Bowl. Always interested in others, never puts himself first.
Bess was picked for the first two Tests and twice bailed England out of a hole - making a fifty on his Test debut and then a 49 going in as nightwatchman at Headingley - took a brilliant catch and bowled adequately.
Moeen Ali reclaimed his place for the india series, which was understandable, but Bess was then bizarrely left out by Somerset, retorted by scoring 185 in a second team game, but was then largely overlooked, playing in only two of Somerset’s last six Championship matches. How do we develop good spinners if they don’t play?
Bess was in and out of both the Somerset and England sides
Vilas played 14 Championship matches for Lancashire, all eight of their Royal London Cup games and 15 Vitality Blast matches, batting in the middle order and keeping wicket in most games.
Overall he has, according to Cricinfo, played the most professional matches in the last 12 months of any cricketer in the world, 65 in all, spanning 130 days.
The Essex No.11 was drafted into the last Championship game at the Oval. Despite only two (very short) previous first class innings this summer, he was lumbered with the task of coming into bat on Thursday to afternoon to fend off a rampaging Morne Morkel with Essex still needing eight to win.
Withstood a fearful blow in the face and a withering rap on the fingers to stand his ground and help Ryan ten Doeschate make the winning runs. Deserves a special medal.
The 20-year-old was instrumental in Worcestershire winning their first ever T20 title with two brilliant spells on Vitality Blast Finals Day.
Never have figures of 4-0-16-0 had such an influence on an outcome.
Quick arm, clever changes of pace and excellent awareness. Moeen Ali said: "From game one he has got better, I have not seen anyone in county cricket get hold of him yet. His quality is of international standard. He has the guts and character to go a long way."
Brown was impressive in white-ball cricket for Worcestershire Rapids
Like most groundsmen (should that be ‘groansmen’?) he has his grumpy side but get past that and he’s a likeable guy who prepares some of the best pitches going.
They have something in it for everyone - you can play shots, seamers get movement, spinners get turn. Makes for an excellent spectacle as the fantastic climax to the season showed with every discipline of the game challenged yet also potentially rewarded.
Key offers humour, observation and insight, sounds like he’s enjoying himself and manages to be completely ego-free which is rare in the TV world. Perhaps that is because of his golf which I’m told is rubbish.
There's not much dispute about this. Harbhajan had absolutely nothing of interest to say even on his own offspin art and even when two other Sky commentators were put on to try and drag something vaguely coherent out of him. Complete waste of money (reputedly £5,000 a day).
A view of the Kia Oval
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.