County Championship 2026

[Durhamfootman]

I was a bit disappointed with Northants yesterday. For a long time it felt as though they weren't even interested in attempting to chase 191 in 30 odd overs. I'd decided that they were happy to settle for a draw and took the kids to the play park, but when I got back Northants had hit the turbo chargers and taken the win

[captaincolly]

Yes, I also thought they'd missed the opportunity. Seemed to go slow for the first 20 overs and then suddenly accelerated. Have to feel for Gloucestershire, superb fightback but not enough to prevent another defeat

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ultra-sunny day, but still a lot of wickets in CC1. Though not many in CC2..

[Durhamfootman]

no sun up here

sky is blacker than a witches hat and rain is floating about

[andy]

Crocombe of Sussex moving to Surrey at the end of the season...do they really need another seamer?!

[Durhamfootman]

you can never have too many players

Surrey will always mop up players when other counties can no longer afford them

[Durhamfootman]

Lancs picked up a 'below average' pitch rating for their game v Middlesex

This means they lose all the points they gained, but it seems there are other penalties that can be applied as they lost the game and only had 3 points to lose. They can lose up to a further 8 points.

Lancs have appealed the rating. To avoid the further deductions, they must be able to 'show that the pitch was not a substandard pitch and/or that they sought, acting reasonably, to prepare the best quality pitch that they could'

their appeal was upheld. They successfully argued that, although the pitch was substandard, they did everything in their power to prepare the best pitch they could.

They also sought a ruling that the case should never have been brought, but this was 'wholly rejected' by the tribunal

[Durhamfootman]

2 changes have been brought in for the remainder of this season's injury replacement trial

"Injury or illness replacements must now be activated, or the match referee notified that an affected player is undergoing an injury or illness assessment, before the third innings of a match."

"Approval of a replacement player will not take into account the relative quality, experience or record of the player being replaced and the replacement player. It will be based on skill set only."

concussion and significant life event replacements are unaffected