BBC SPORT | Cricket | Counties | Surrey | Hollioake praises 'special' Surrey

Captain Adam Hollioake has paid tribute to Surrey's team spirit after they secured a third County Championship in four years.

Hollioake did not even join the side until the middle of June following the death of his brother Ben.

Having great players doesn't guarantee you are going to win the Championship

Adam Hollioake

But by then the club was already well on course to the title, having dedicated their season to the all-rounder.

"What they have done for the club and for me and my family has been more than a tale of winning the Championship," Hollioake said.

"I feel honoured to know them, they are a special bunch.

"People within cricket talk about us as being a hated side but if you get to know these people you could never say that."

Hollioake was not motivated by the loss of his brother, but he believes it gave an extra incentive to the rest of the side.

Ben Hollioake memorial
Surrey dedicated thier season to Ben Hollioake
"For me personally that was never a factor, to me it doesn't bring Ben back," he added.

"The other guys would be likely to treat it more that way; they probably thought it was a way of paying their respects to him."

As in the title-winning seasons of 1999 and 2000, Surrey have overcome the loss of key players to England at crucial times, with others regularly filling the breech.

Surrey crowned champions

Hollioake singled out batsman Nadeem Shahid and Jon Batty, Alec Stewart's back-up as wicket-keeper, for special praise.

"Having great players doesn't guarantee you are going to win the Championship and this year more than any other season it's been the year of the non-stars," he said.

"The spirit Nadeem has shown is incredible; he stands at short leg, watches the ball whistle past his face all day and then scores runs when its tough.

"He got left out after scoring 150 and there wasn't the slightest hint of a moan.

"Other sides don't have players like that; guys elsewhere are not in the side and they want to go and play for another county."


	Links to more Surrey stories