By Thrasy Petropoulos BBC Sport Online

Those fortunate enough to have been at Hove on 17 may have questioned why Adam Hollioake did not shown more emotion on reaching a 52-ball hundred for Surrey.

In its own way, however, the simple gesture of a raised bat towards two specific people in the crowd said more than the extraordinary innings that had preceded it.

In singling out his parents, Hollioake was acknowledging their role in his decision to resume his career, having contemplated retirement after the death of his brother, Ben, earlier in the year.

His father had been unhesitating in the advice that his only surviving son should return to England and "do Ben proud" by captaining Surrey.

Hollioake's parents talked him out of retirement

And by doing so, Adam has now completed a roller-coaster of emotion that will leave him feeling considerably older than his 31 years of age.

In March his only brother was killed in a car crash in Australia.

In May his wife, Sherryn, gave birth to their first child, daughter Bennaya, a hybrid of the names of his brother and brother's girlfriend, Janaya Scholten, who was seriously injured in the accident.

In July he returned to England, having been talked out of retirement by his father.

And in September he led Surrey to a third county championship title in four years.

Inspired form

Although Adam has said that "chasing a little red ball around a field" is of no relevance compared to issues of life and death, his achievements for Surrey have revealed a remarkable depth of character.

That innings against Sussex was one of a series of blistering assaults on county bowlers.

After marking his return to competitive cricket with eight wickets in two one-day games, Hollioake hit 42 not out from 34 balls - again off Sussex's bowlers - with four fours and two sixes.

Retirement can wait

That was nothing, though, compared to the havoc wreaked over the next four games - three in the championship and that one in the quarter-finals of the C&G Trophy - where he hit no fewer than 22 sixes.

The highlight was the 117 not out from 59 balls against Sussex, but five days later he smashed seven sixes in one innings of the championship game against Kent.

Having arrived with his county 59 for five - soon to become 77 for six - he clobbered 122 of the next 166 runs as Surrey, who went on to win by two wickets, reached 225.

Positive approach

Having always been an honest and open about his personal form, it is unsurprising that Hollioake has spoken so candidly about the impact on him of his brother's death and his subsequent thoughts of retirement.

In a recent interview, he said: "If I had given up the game, it wouldn't have been because I was running away. It would have been because I had more important things to do, like looking after my family.

Surrey have grown used to success

"'I spoke to all my family and they wanted me to come back and start playing again. My dad said, 'Go back and do Ben proud.' And I said, 'Yes, that's what I'll do.'

"If I get picked for an international tomorrow, I'll come out and play in the same way I have here. If someone bowls me a ball and I think it's got to go for six, I'm going to hit it for six."

"I've just tried to play in a way that would make him proud."

Surrey remained unbeaten throughout the 1999 season, but in 2000 they were pushed harder by other counties and had to dig deeper to remain on top.

It seems inevitable, however, that Hollioake will probably come to regard the 2002 championship-winning season as the most memorable, if not satisfying, of the lot.