The 2016 County Championship came to a gripping conclusion over the final round to bring an end to a season of twists and turns. We asked our regular county writers to name their Championship XIs for the summer and the votes were compiled into the team below. There was a degree of flexibility allowed over batting positions, one overseas player could be selected, and a minimum of six matches was the cut-off to be considered. Most of the choices were clear from the votes with only a couple of debatable slotsKeaton Jennings (Durham) 1548 runs at 64.50 The leading run scorer in the country, Jennings made a strong claim to be included in Englands Test squad. His seven Championship centuries - including two unbeaten double-hundreds, one carrying his bat against Surrey - were a Durham record and he scored more runs in 2016 than his previous two seasons combined. Resisted the temptation to move counties and will have a huge role to play in the post-Stoneman-Borthwick era of Durhams battingHaseeb Hameed (Lancashire) 1198 runs at 49.91 A new star of English cricket after becoming the youngest Lancashire batsman to make 1000 runs in a season and the first to score two centuries in a Roses match. Born to play for England, was the assessment of many and the call came when he was included for the Bangladesh tour. Im a modern-day Boycott, Hameed has said, but even during this season his range of strokeplay has broadened out. Batting time, though, remains his strength and a skill not to be forgotten in the modern age.Nick Gubbins (Middlesex) 1409 runs at 61.26 The season began with most of the attention on his opening partner, Sam Robson, who has already had a taste of Test cricket but by September it was Gubbins closer to a call-up. A left-hander who has often drawn comparisons with Andrew Strauss, Gubbins began the season without a first-class hundred but scored four Championship tons including one in the final match of the season against Yorkshire.Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire) 1338 runs at 60.81 The most exciting uncapped batsman in English cricket. After a difficult period when Duckett struggled to adapt to the disciplines - on and off the field - needed for professional cricket, 2016 was a remarkable success story for the left hander. Churning out the runs from start to finish with breathtaking flamboyance, his returns included an unbeaten 282 against Sussex - the highest score of the season - which would surely have been a triple-century but for two days of rain. His first-class strike of 79.35 was also the fastest for the summer.Tom Westley (Essex) 1217 runs at 52.91 Westleys most prolific season against the red ball saw him pass 1000 runs for the first time and was capped with a career-best 254 against Worcestershire as Essexs promotion campaign approached fulfilment. In imperious form at No. 3, he began with a century in the opening-round victory over Gloucestershire and followed that up with scores of 86, 16, 64 and 125, his leg-side whip and cover drive in full working order as Essex took an early grip on top spot in Division Two.Ben Foakes (Surrey) 759 runs at 42.16, 43 catches and 3 stumpings Regarded by Andy Flower and Alec Stewart as the best gloveman in English cricket, Foakes started to flourish having been given the chance as Surreys first-choice wicketkeeper. Could not force his way past Jos Buttler as the reserve Test keeper - despite Buttler playing just one first-class matche in a year - but remains in the mix longer-term alongside Sam Billings.Keith Barker (Warwickshire) 608 runs at 32.00; 59 wickets at 23.13 Another impressively consistent all-round season for Barker, ending with his best Championship haul for a campaign. He only played four games of white-ball cricket in the season which meant he was able to put his efforts into the four-day game and he was ever-present in the Championship. His hundred against Nottinghamshire was his sixth in first-class cricket with all of them coming at Nos. 8 or 9. Graham Napier (Essex) 298 runs at 22.92; 63 wickets at 23.17 In his final season as a professional, Napier produced his best-ever Championship analysis before hobbling out of his last game, promotion secured. Essexs Division Two title was won by batting big and then letting their seamers get to work and while there were honourable mentions for Jamie Porter, David Masters and Ravi Bopara, Napier consistently led the way. Joe Leach edged ahead of him in the final week to top the Division Two tally, but the King of Colchester took a five-for and scored a hundred on his Castle Park farewell to boot.Jeetan Patel (Warwickshire) 69 wickets at 24.02 Remained the standout spinner in domestic cricket - it was also his most prolific season - although was pushed closer for that tag than the previous summer when a few of his home truths about English spin had hit a nerve. A better bowler now than he was during his international career, Patel has firmly said his New Zealand days are behind him even though he has been asked back.Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire) 49 wickets at 23.12 Started the season with a bang, under the gaze of the selectors, and was often remarked on as looking a Test match bowler. By the time the first England squad of the summer was announced he had 19 wickets at 21.15. He sustained his form to the end, following his Test debut against Pakistan, and took nine wickets in the match against Middlesex - including a hat-trick - but it was not enough to save Nottinghamshire from relegation.Jack Leach (Somerset) 65 wickets at 21.87 This was the tightest call in selection with Leach tying on three votes with Jack Brooks. The chairman of selectors opted for a balanced, varied attack of three seamers and two spinners, plus it was a magnificent campaign for Leach who pushed himself close to England recognition. Enjoyed the change of tactics at Taunton, with a spin-friendly surface, but it was his performance at Headingley in the penultimate round which showed how rapid his rise had been. Cincinnati Bengals topped the AFC North only to be pipped in the play-offs but divisional rivals Pittsburgh Steelers. Heres our ratings for the division. Cincinnati Bengals, 12-4 Geno Atkins showed hes one of the stars of the Cincinatti Bengals side It was more of the same from the Bengals which, for the vast majority of the 2015 season, was extremely impressive. But they couldnt lift their postseason curse - they havent won a single play-off game in 25 years - and unfortunately that unwanted record will define their year.They lost to Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round to bring the curtain down on their campaign, a pill that was even harder to swallow given the Bengals had won a regular season game against the Steelers. That victory had taken them to 7-0, a franchise-best start to a season, as they romped clear at the top of the AFC North. Their appearance in the play-offs was expected and was a franchise-best fifth in a row. But they wilted in the Wild Card round against Pittsburgh, failing to make their lead count and eventually going down 18-16 after a fumble from Jeremy Hill. Highlights as the Steelers beat the Bengals in the play-offs Star player: Like the Patriots Rob Gronkowski before him, Cincys Tyler Eifert has emerged as a modern era tight end who is redefining the position and becoming a frequent touchdown threat. He scored 11 in 2015.Grade: C. It was all looking so good for the Bengals who were on course for at least a B after storming to the top of the AFC North. But thats no good if you dont do the serious work.Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6 Ben Roethlisberger reveals the severity of his MCL injury Ultimately their season was ended in the play-offs by the Denver Broncos, who went on to win Super Bowl, so theres no shame in that. Who knows if they would have gone further had star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered less through injury?Roethlisbergers frequent fitness concerns were an underlying limitation on the Steelers season - on paper, there are few better combinations than Big Ben throwing to Antonio Brown. In the end, far too much responsibility was placed on Brown. Highlights of a fully fit Ben Roethlisberger The Steelers, having sneaked into second-place in the AFC North, deserve great credit for battling through the Wild Card round with Roethlisberger and Brown both off the field due to injury. They beat the Bengals in a comeback partly attributed to two generously late foul penalties. At the next hurdle, they fell foul of the Broncos mean defence who prevented the Steelers from scoring any touchdowns.Star player: A total of 1,834 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns earmarks Antonio Brown as the Steelers top player, especially considering the emphasis that opposing defences placed on him.Grade: C+. Having gamely battled so far with a creaking Roethlisberger, the Steelers warrant a C+ but its a must do better in terms of keeping their top players fit and firing.Baltimore RRavens, 5-11 Steve Smith missed the majority of this season after an Achilles injury - watch here An immensely frustrating season has thankfully ended for Baltimore who were widely predicted last summer to challenge for a Super Bowl berth.ddddddddddddIt must be said, in their defence, that astonishing fitness issues that resulted in 22 names on their injured reserve list played a pivotal role in their underwhelming year.It was the first time in eight years under head coach Jim Harbaugh that the Ravens endured a losing season. Season-ending injuries to top players Joe Flacco and Justin Forsett were just two of the problems that affected Harbaughs side. Terrell Suggs played just a few minutes on the opening day before he was ruled out for the whole season and the Ravens duly slipped to 1-6 in seven games.Their season ended in Week 14 with defeat to Seattle when, to sum up their luck, the Ravens were forced to use third-choice quarterback Jimmy Clausen. A long offseason of rest and rehab is exactly what the doctor will have ordered. A particularly low moment for Baltimore which proved you should always play to the referees whistle Star player: This should be Flacco, Suggs or Forsett in an ideal season but at least Marshal Yanda, their offensive lineman, stayed healthy for the duration. He has been tied down to a long-term deal which reflects his importance.Grade: C-. It seems harsh but you cant give the Ravens anything above a C-. The head-scratcher is whether their medical department is doing enough for the players or whether this season should be filed as an anomaly.Cleveland Browns, 3-13 Watch this amazing finish to the game between Baltimore and Cleveland Where to begin? The personal problems around Johnny Manziel notwithstanding, 2015 was a nightmare year for the Browns which is best forgotten.Their record tied with Tennessee for the worst in the entire NFL and cost head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer their jobs in January. Having already finished bottom of the AFC North for four consecutive seasons, expectations were not high but putting in such a dire campaign was unforgivable.Manziel, who had manageable problems on the field before his personal issues began to outweigh them tenfold, did nothing to help his team but as a 23-year-old quarterback he was never expected to be the lynchpin. New coaching will be in place for next season - the Browns can hardly do any worse. Johnny Manziels first touchdown pass of the season Star player: This was a tough one to hand out but offensive lineman Joe Thomas has done nothing wrong all year, reaching a ninth consecutive Pro Bowl.Grade: F. It can only be an F, and wed be disappointed if Cleveland even queried that. Also See: AFC North: In Focus AFC South: In Focus AFC West: In Focus AFC East: In Focus ' ' '