By Simon Mann Test Match Special

Surrey's fourth championship victory in five years looks a sound bet.

Their domination will come to an end one day but, if anything, they are likely to be even stronger this season.

Ian Ward has turned himself into one of the most effective batsmen in the county game

Surrey have shown their resilience in the past to withstand international call-ups and the burden might not be as great this season.

Much depends on the policy of the England selectors after the events of the winter but it is possible that Surrey will see plenty of Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Alex Tudor and even Mark Butcher.

Their biggest threats are complacency and injuries.

Surrey won 10 of their sixteen matches in 2002 and finished a massive 44.75 points clear at the top.

Lancashire, Warwickshire, Kent and just possibly a MacGill-inspired Nottinghamshire will be their main rivals, but Surrey's quality and depth of squad surpasses all of them.

Last season's success was built on devastating batting.

Ian Ward, who has turned himself into one of the most effective batsmen in the county game, scored seven hundreds and 1,708 runs.

He was unlucky to play three of his five Tests against Steve Waugh's ruthless Australians in 2001 but he has come back stronger from that experience and might be worth another look although at 30, his age counts against him.

Adam Hollioake heroically overcame the tragic death of his brother to play in a brilliant cavalier style.

SURREY 2003 Coach: Keith Medlycott Captain: Adam Hollioake Overseas players: Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood Players in: None Players out: Ed Giddins, Michael Carberry, Rupesh Amin, Jason Ratcliffe

He scored 738 runs in nine matches at the thrilling rate of 90 per hundred balls, and more of the same can be expected.

It could earn him the England one-day captaincy again.

Ali Brown and Mark Ramprakash both passed 1,000 runs and averaged over 50. Both are mature county cricketers for whom run-scoring has become a professional habit.

Rikki Clarke filled the place left by the death of Ben Hollioake and was so successful that he was voted Young Cricketer of the Year, rewarded with a five-year contract and chosen for the England Academy.

He has set high standards and that brings higher expectations but his progress will be worth monitoring.

The bowling attack has depth and options, aided by the return of Azhar Mahmood.

Martin Bicknell, Tudor and James Ormond continue to be backed up by the most effective spin combination in county cricket - Saqlain Mushtaq and Ian Salisbury.

There have been suggestions that batsmen are beginning to find out Saqlain. That did not prevent him taking 53 wickets in 10 matches in 2002.

Rapidly-improving wicket-keeper batsman Jonathan Batty completes a tough, confident, professional squad.

It will take a lot to stop them.