The 1977 English cricket season was the 78th in which the County Championship had been an official competition. It was played out in the aftermath of the Kerry Packer affair. Geoffrey Boycott returned to Test cricket and managed to score his 100th career century in the Headingley Test. An Australian team that was clearly affected by Packer proved to be no match for an England side that stayed together despite the controversy. The County Championship title was shared for only the third time in history after Middlesex and Kent finished on the same points.