Surrey will have to deep dig into their resources as they bid for their first Specsavers County Championship title since 2002.

They have already lost one of their key batsmen, Ollie Pope, to England’s series against India and now face seeing skipper Rory Burns called up – not before time, many will argue – for next week’s fourth Test at the Ageas Bowl.

Burns hit 70 in the second innings of this week’s Division One clash with Lancashire, which Surrey won by six runs in a thrilling finish.

That sent him to 951 runs at 67 so far this season and put him in prime position should England drop opener Keaton Jennings or need to replace one of Alastair Cook – who may be missing because his wife is due to give birth – and Jonny Bairstow, who suffered a broken finger at Trent Bridge.

While Surrey would be delighted to see Burns recognised at last, given his consistency at the top of the order, it would also leave a huge gap. They are already without the services of Scott Borthwick after he broke his right wrist while batting in the nets last week, ending his summer.

A freak injury to Jason Roy, suffered when he threw his bat in the dressing room – after being dismissed first ball in last week’s T20 clash with Hampshire – and it rebounded into his face, cost them an obvious replacement for Pope.

The return of South African international Dean Elgar in time for Wednesday’s visit of Nottinghamshire, plus the four matches after it, will be particularly welcome.

Surrey suffered another blow in the Lancashire match when seamer Jade Dernbach pulled up with a groin strain while bowling in the first innings. Sam Curran’s exclusion from the England side to make room for Ben Stokes at least boosted his county and his powerful 40 helped them to 211 all out after choosing to bat first.

Surrey’s determination to win the Championship was increased by their failure to reach the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast.

That was despite winning the final two games of their 14-match campaign in the South Group, falling two points short of the top four.

Aaron Finch’s return from Australia had helped them past Hampshire at the Oval. He hit 67 not out in 57 balls and added 92 with countryman Nick Maddinson (41) as the lacklustre visitors’ 136-3 was overtaken with 15 balls to spare.

That sent Surrey to Cardiff on Friday night with both Surrey and Glamorgan knowing victory might be enough to grab the final spot – but only if Sussex slipped up against basement side Middlesex.

The Welsh side amassed 183-8, but Finch then blitzed 44 in 16 balls and, with Burns, took Surrey to 60-0 from five overs when rain arrived, ensuring they were comfortably ahead of the required rate. But it was not enough. Sussex won at Hove to go through.

Finch’s 589 runs made him the leading T20 runscorer in the country, despite playing just nine games, and earned him his county cap from Surrey this week. But their failure to win any of the five matches he missed ultimately cost them qualification.