in 1890, the county championship was officially constituted for the first time after years of unofficial "champion" counties (surrey had been acknowledged as the champion county since 1887). lohmann continued to carry all before him in 1890, taking a career-best 220 wickets and being the leading wicket-taker outside of touring teams for the sixth successive year (a feat bettered only by tich freeman between 1928 and 1935). for surrey in county cricket he totalled 113 wickets, and he again helped england to victory over australia in the only tests where cricket took place. in 1891, lohmann was the leading english wicket-taker for the seventh successive year with 177 wickets as surrey carried all before them in a wet summer, and on the following year's australian tour, he again bowled wonderfully well, taking eight for 58 on a dry wicket in sydney.