All bets are off as far as the destiny of this season's Championship pennant are concerned, according to Sussex skipper Chris Adams.

Surrey are nailed-on favourites to make it four titles in the last five years after extending their lead at the top to 32 points following Monday's 113-run win over Sussex at the Oval, a defeat which pushed Chris Adams' men down the table from third to fifth.

If Adams is to be believed, Adam Hollioake's men are set to stay at the summit of the domestic game for at least another couple of years.

"They are doing to counties what Australia have been doing in the Test arena for a while and unless they self-destruct I can see them having a hold on the title for the next two or possibly three years," said Adams.

"We can compete with them in terms of commitment and passion, but they have got such strength in depth throughout their team.

"They could afford to leave Ricky Clarke out and he had been named in the England one-day squad the day before. No other side in the country could think about doing that."

Games are invariably won with the ball and Surrey have no worries in that department. Even without Martin Bicknell, who suffered a calf strain after just three overs, Hollioake was able to rotate four bowlers with 85 Test caps between them as they pushed for victory on the final day.

"We won't play sides all season who were able to set the attacking fields they could on the last day," said Adams.

"My only worry would be where is the youth coming from in their side although they have the resources to go out and strengthen any area of the team if they wanted?

"They will be on top of the English game for a while yet, certainly until some of their senior players move on."

Sussex held up Hollioake's men for a lot longer than most people expected on the final day, only succumbing with 5.2 overs left when Michael Yardy was last out after resisting for over five hours for his 69.

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