Batty handed Surrey benefit

Jon Batty celebrated the news that he is to be awarded a benefit year in 2009 with an unbeaten 96 in the LV County Championship match against Sussex.

The wicketkeeper joined Surrey in 1997, when he was understudy to Alec Stewart, and received his county cap in 2001.

Jon Batty admitted he was "hugely honoured" to be awarded a benefit in 2009

He equalled the record for the number of catches in an innings when he captured eight against Kent in May 2004 - a match in which he also scored 129 in Surrey’s first innings. He was also Surrey captain that year.

He was ever-present behind the stumps when Surrey won the championship title in 1999, 2000 and 2002, and is one of the most consistently reliable members of the Surrey squad, with both bat and gloves.

Batty said: “I would like to thank Surrey for granting me this benefit. I am hugely honoured to be recognised in such a way by the club and am very much looking forward to making it a successful year – both on and off the cricket field.”

The 34-year-old is also the club’s community ambassador for 2008 and works hard behind the scenes to develop young cricketers with a variety of coaching sessions.

Surrey chairman David Stewart said: “Jonathan Batty has been one of Surrey’s finest servants for nearly a decade and this benefit year is a richly deserved honour. I wish him all the best.”