What goes down must go up!

It took just three days for Surrey to demolish Derbyshire and claim their promotion to Division 1. And, to borrow a pertinent catchphrase from Mark Church, what a ‘splendid’ way to do it! Four wins in a row! But what was especially striking was the manner in which the victory was achieved. It was chiefly the wonder-bowling of Surrey late recruit Ojha that put the London team in the fabulous position they found themselves in, with 10 wickets to his credit in the game, but make no mistake this was all about team effort.

I’m not talking about just today. Everybody has contributed something this year, be it great or small, and can hold their heads up high. Linley and de Bruyn will correctly take the chief plaudits but this has been a break-through year for many and Surrey as a whole actually look like a team rather than the overpaid collection of misfits the press used to paint them as only a few years back.

I started this blog only last year, and my part as an observer is no greater than any other person who has followed the club, yet I have to say it is with considerable satisfaction that I find myself recording the day that Surrey climbed out of Division 2 and back to what, given the team’s great history, should be their natural home in Division 1.

I’m pleased because, should it please the almighty, I will get the chance to continue to blog about the club next year, both good and bad, and follow them on their continuing journey. I’m keeping my fingers well and truly crossed that Ramps plays for at least one more year, because ending his career in Division 1 is the only fitting way for a batsman of such quality to bow out. And, if I can still type whilst crossing yet more fingers, hopefully the batsman mangling Tiflex ball will remain confined to the depths of Division 2 for the immediate future. Let the batsmen have their turn next year. There seems to have been a major swing to bowler-friendly conditions in 2011. It makes for exciting cricket and of course helps to engineer results, but if you’re a sad closet statto like me then you really want to see those balls being put away!

Well done to Chris Adams, who I will admit to liking when he was a player a few years back. The grief – nay abuse – that has been flung his way has been both disquieting and unwarranted. It won’t shut up the hardliners who only want ‘Surrey’ men in the job, but damn it; if this doesn’t show that Adams wants the team to do well or that he’s got what it takes to steer the club the right way, I don’t know what will please them. If there’s anyone who is actually unhappy still at Chris Adams’ continued presence at Surrey, please go away and drink all that tea I mentioned a few posts back.

Really, it does help!

At the time of typing this Middlesex are attempting to win their game against Leicestershire. You’d think on current form that would be like Ranatunga taking on Ronnie Corbett at arm wrestling, but for a while Leicestershire flattered to impress with some doughty resistance...until James Taylor went and the usual collapse occurred thereafter. If a miracle occurs and Middlesex draw their game rather than win it, Surrey will not only be promoted but will go up as Division 2 champions! But it has to be said that the late capitulation by the Leicestershire batsmen makes it more likely that the rather disturbing and unoriginal chants of “Middle-middle-middle...” will ring out tomorrow at some point.

Brownie points to Mystic Miah, who predicted both London teams to go up? Is it seemly for a blogger to blow her own trumpet on-line? Is it physically possible???

So, as I knock back a celebratory Bacardi Breezer that appears on closer examination to be three months out of date, let’s all raise a glass (virtual or real) to everyone who has played a part in getting Surrey back to the top flight. The staff, the players, the management, and also the fans. We’ve been a curmudgeonly lot over the last five or so years. Hard to please, fickle, vociferous in expresing our disappointment and quick to criticise. I dare say you will never stop all the moaning Minnies: even if Surrey win the First Division title next year and Ramps scores 3000 runs with an arm tied behind his back whilst hopping on a pogo stick there will always be something to complain about! But today's victory is worth savouring nonetheless and I hope that people will take the time to do so, especially if the team can win their Lords final on Saturday against Somerset in the CB40 contest.

For the next six months at least, the Surrey swagger is back! And this time there is cause for it.