2012 County Championship
113th English cricket tournament season
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The 2012 County Championship season, known as the LV= County Championship for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 113th cricket County Championship season. Warwickshire won their seventh County Championship title, clinching the trophy with a match to spare in early September following an innings victory over Worcestershire.[2]
AdministratorEngland and Wales Cricket Board
Cricket formatFirst-class cricket (4 days)
Tournament formatLeague system (Two divisions)
ChampionsWarwickshire (7th title)
| |
| Administrator | England and Wales Cricket Board |
|---|---|
| Cricket format | First-class cricket (4 days) |
| Tournament format | League system (Two divisions) |
| Champions | Warwickshire (7th title) |
| Participants | 18 |
| Matches | 144 |
The tournament was contested through two divisions of nine teams each. Each team played the others in their division both home and away, for a total of 16 matches per team. However, the season was significantly disrupted by exceptionally wet weather—notably the wettest summer in 100 years—leading to 82 drawn matches across both divisions and several total abandonments.[3][4]
Derbyshire won the Division Two title on the final day of the season.[5] They were promoted to Division One for the 2013 season along with runners-up Yorkshire. The bottom two sides from Division One, Worcestershire and the defending 2011 champions Lancashire, were relegated to the second tier.[6]
Teams
Division One
The following teams competed in Division One during the 2012 season:[7]
| Team | Home ground | Captain | Coach/Director of Cricket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | Riverside Ground |  Phil Mustard | Geoff Cook |
| Lancashire | Old Trafford | Glen Chapple | Peter Moores |
| Middlesex | Lord's | Neil Dexter | Richard Scott |
| Nottinghamshire | Trent Bridge | Chris Read | Mick Newell |
| Somerset | County Ground | Marcus Trescothick | Andy Hurry |
| Surrey | The Oval | Rory Hamilton-Brown |  Chris Adams |
| Sussex | County Ground | Michael Yardy | Mark Robinson |
| Warwickshire | Edgbaston | Jim Troughton | Ashley Giles |
| Worcestershire | New Road |  Daryl Mitchell | Steve Rhodes |
Division Two
The following teams competed in Division Two during the 2012 season:[8]
Standings
- Pld = Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, D = Draws, T = Ties, A = Abandonments, Bat = Batting points, Bowl = Bowling points, Ded = Deducted points, Pts = Points.
Teams receive 16 points for a win and 3 for a draw. Bonus points (a maximum of 5 batting points and 3 bowling points) may be scored during the first 110 overs of each team's first innings.[9]
Division One[10]
| Team | Pld | W | L | T | D | A | Bat | Bowl | Ded | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire (C) | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 43 | 45 | 0.0 | 211 |
| Somerset | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 32 | 45 | 0.0 | 187 |
| Middlesex | 16 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 38 | 0.0 | 172 |
| Sussex | 16 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 41 | 0.0 | 167 |
| Nottinghamshire | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 26 | 43 | 0.0 | 163 |
| Durham | 16 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 45 | 4.0 | 157 |
| Surrey | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 26 | 40 | 2.0 | 139 |
| Lancashire (R) | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 25 | 35 | 0.0 | 106 |
| Worcestershire (R) | 16 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 42 | 0.0 | 96 |
Division Two
| Team | Pld | W | L | T | D | A | Bat | Bowl | Ded | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire (C, P) | 16 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 31 | 43 | 0.0 | 194 |
| Yorkshire (P) | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 41 | 40 | 0.0 | 194 |
| Kent | 16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 39 | 40 | 0.0 | 170 |
| Hampshire | 16 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 40 | 0.0 | 153 |
| Essex | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 27 | 40 | 0.0 | 145 |
| Glamorgan | 16 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 28 | 35 | 1.0 | 131 |
| Leicestershire | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 33 | 5.0 | 130 |
| Northamptonshire | 16 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 37 | 34 | 0.0 | 130 |
| Gloucestershire | 16 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 35 | 0.0 | 126 |
Results summary
The fixtures for 2012 were announced in November 2011.[13]
Division One
 |
Durham | Lancashire | Middlesex | Nottinghamshire | Somerset | Surrey | Sussex | Warwickshire | Worcestershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | 30 May - 2 Jun Lancashire 2 wickets | 27-30 Jul Durham 15 runs | 12-15 Apr Nottinghamshire 114 runs | 9–12 May Match drawn | 7-10 Aug Durham inns & 38 runs | 11-14 Sep Durham 5 wickets | 5-8 Jun Match drawn | 21-24 Aug Durham 6 wickets | |
| Lancashire | 28-31 Aug Match drawn | 23–26 May Match drawn | 2–5 May Nottinghamshire 185 runs | 1-4 Aug Match drawn | 11-14 Sep Match drawn | 12-15 Apr Sussex 10 wickets | 19-22 Apr Warwickshire 5 wickets | 18-21 Jul Worcestershire 205 runs | |
| Middlesex | 19-22 Apr Match drawn | 4-7 Sep Middlesex 109 runs | 11-14 Jul Match drawn | 5-8 Jun Match drawn | 12-15 Apr Middlesex 3 runs | 30 May - 2 Jun Middlesex 10 wickets | 1-4 Aug Match drawn | 3–6 May Middlesex 132 runs | |
| Nottinghamshire | 15-18 Aug Durham 16 runs | 6-9 Jun Match drawn | 9–12 May Match drawn | 19-22 Apr Match drawn | 18-21 Jul Match drawn | 27-30 Jul Match drawn | 11-14 Sep Match drawn | 5-8 Apr Nottinghamshire 92 runs | |
| Somerset | 22–25 May Somerset 5 wickets | 11-14 Jul Somerset 9 wickets | 21-24 Aug Match drawn | 4-7 Sep Match drawn | 30 May - 2 Jun Match drawn | 11-14 Sep Match drawn | 12-15 Apr Match drawn | 7-10 Aug Somerset 9 wickets | |
| Surrey | 19-22 Apr Durham 8 wickets | 9–12 May Match drawn | 28-31 Aug Match drawn | 23–26 May Surrey 10 wickets | 12-15 Sep Match drawn | 6-9 Jun Sussex 7 wickets | 11-14 Jul Match drawn | 4-7 Sep Surrey inns & 3 runs | |
| Sussex | 3–6 May Match drawn | 7-10 Aug Match drawn | 15-18 Aug Sussex inns & 18 runs | 23–26 May Nottinghamshire 6 wickets | 2–5 May Somerset 7 wickets | 19-22 Jul Sussex inns & 109 runs | 28-31 Aug Warwickshire inns & 24 runs | 5-8 Jun Sussex inns & 157 runs | |
| Warwickshire | 18-21 Jul Match drawn | 15-18 Aug Warwickshire inns & 103 runs | 9–12 May Middlesex 7 wickets | 30 May - 2 Jun Warwickshire 10 wickets | 27-30 Jul Match drawn | 3–6 May Warwickshire 45 runs | 4-7 Sep Match drawn | 12-15 Sep Warwickshire inns & 202 runs | |
| Worcestershire | 2–5 May Durham 8 wickets | 27-30 Jul Match drawn | 11-14 Sep Match drawn | 22–25 May Match drawn | 19-22 Apr Match drawn | 15-18 Aug Match drawn | 11-14 Jul Sussex inns & 100 runs | 7-10 Aug Warwickshire 10 wickets |
Division Two
|
Derbyshire | Essex | Glamorgan | Gloucestershire | Hampshire | Kent | Leicestershire | Northamptonshire | Yorkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 11–14 Jul Match drawn | 22–25 May Derbyshire 9 wickets | 11–14 Sep Match drawn | 15–18 Aug Derbyshire inns & 5 runs | 19–22 Apr Match drawn | 30 May – 2 Jun Derbyshire 4 wickets | 28–31 Aug Match drawn | 5–8 Apr Match drawn | |
| Essex | 2–5 May Derbyshire 5 wickets | 4–7 Sep Match drawn | 15–18 Aug Essex inns & 11 runs | 30 May – 2 Jun Hampshire 6 wickets | 11–14 Sep Essex 9 wickets | 22–25 May Match drawn | 12–15 Apr Match drawn | 27–30 Jul Match drawn | |
| Glamorgan | 7–10 Aug Derbyshire 143 runs | 19–22 Jul Match drawn | 12–15 Apr Glamorgan 43 runs | 2–5 May Hampshire inns & 3 runs | 15–18 Aug Match drawn | 11–14 Jul Match drawn | 30 May – 2 Jun Match drawn | 12–15 Sep Match drawn | |
| Gloucestershire | 12–15 Apr Derbyshire 62 runs | 6–9 Jun Match drawn | 31 Aug – 3 Sep Gloucestershire 8 wickets | 11–14 Jul Match drawn | 3–6 May Gloucestershire 7 wickets | 7–10 Aug Leicestershire inns & 52 runs | 23–26 May Match drawn | 18–21 Jul Yorkshire 40 runs | |
| Hampshire | 4–7 Sep Match drawn | 19–22 Apr Hampshire 10 wickets | 28–31 Aug Hampshire 139 runs | 22–25 May Gloucestershire 8 wickets | 6–9 Jun Match drawn | 12–15 Apr Match drawn | 18–21 Jul Match drawn | 9–12 May Match drawn | |
| Kent | 27–30 Jul Kent 9 wickets | 9–12 May Essex 5 wickets | 30 May – 2 Jun Kent inns & 94 runs | 18–21 Jul Match drawn | 4–7 Sep Kent inns & 24 runs | 2–5 May Match drawn | 7–10 Aug Kent 8 wickets | 22–25 May Match drawn | |
| Leicestershire | 19–22 Jul Match drawn | 28–31 Aug Match drawn | 19–22 Apr Leicestershire 10 wickets | 9–12 May Match drawn | 12–15 Sep Leicestershire inns & 2 runs | 27–30 Jul Match drawn | 6–9 Jun Match drawn | 30 May – 2 Jun Match drawn | |
| Northamptonshire | 6–9 Jun Derbyshire 4 wickets | 7–10 Aug Essex inns & 47 runs | 11–14 Sep Northamptonshire 6 wickets | 19–22 Jul Northamptonshire inns & 100 runs | 3–6 May Hampshire 8 wickets | 22–25 May Kent 9 wickets | 11–14 Jul Match drawn | 4–7 Sep Match drawn | |
| Yorkshire | 28–31 Aug Match drawn | 11–14 Jul Yorkshire 6 wickets | 15–18 Aug Yorkshire 8 wickets | 7–10 Aug Match drawn | 11–14 Sep Match drawn | 12–15 Apr Match drawn | 3–6 May Yorkshire 10 wickets | 19–22 Apr Yorkshire inns & 110 runs |
Results in full
Complete match reports and scorecards for all fixtures in both divisions are available via the official ECB and ESPNcricinfo archives.[14][15]
Division One
| Click [show] to view all Division One match results
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | Result |
| 5–8 April | The Oval, London | Surrey (264 & 273) beat Sussex (196 & 255) by 86 runs.[16] |
| 5–8 April | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | Nottinghamshire (118 & 403) beat Worcestershire (130 & 299) by 92 runs. |
| 12–15 April | Lord's, London | Middlesex (256 & 106) beat Surrey (222 & 137) by 3 runs. |
| 12–15 April | Edgbaston, Birmingham | Warwickshire (243 & 262/8) beat Somerset (147 & 354) by 2 wickets. |
| 12–15 April | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | Nottinghamshire (161 & 335) beat Durham (129 & 253) by 114 runs. |
| 12–15 April | Aigburth, Liverpool | Sussex (300 & 4/0) beat Lancashire (124 & 176) by 10 wickets. |
| 2–5 May | Old Trafford, Manchester | Nottinghamshire (385 & 143/3d) beat Lancashire (190 & 153) by 185 runs. |
| 23–26 May | The Oval, London | Surrey (457) beat Nottinghamshire (164 & 246) by an innings and 47 runs. |
| 15–18 August | Edgbaston, Birmingham | Warwickshire (471/8d) beat Lancashire (179 & 189) by an innings and 103 runs. |
| 11–14 September | Edgbaston, Birmingham | Warwickshire (420) beat Worcestershire (134 & 84) by an innings and 202 runs to clinch the title.[17] |
Division Two
| Click [show] to view all Division Two match results
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | Result |
| 5–8 April | Derby | Derbyshire (244 & 123/2) drew with Yorkshire (228). |
| 12–15 April | Grace Road, Leicester | Leicestershire (295 & 232/6d) drew with Hampshire (202 & 23/1). |
| 19–22 April | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire (403/9d) beat Northamptonshire (115 & 178) by an innings and 110 runs. |
| 2–5 May | SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff | Hampshire (400) beat Glamorgan (148 & 249) by an innings and 3 runs. |
| 30 May – 2 June | St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | Kent (489) beat Glamorgan (207 & 188) by an innings and 94 runs. |
| 11–14 September | Derby | Derbyshire (275 & 197/4) beat Hampshire (272 & 198) by 6 wickets to clinch the Division Two title.[18] |
| 11–14 September | Chelmsford | Essex (437/9d) beat Kent (226 & 202) by 9 wickets. |
Statistics
Division One
Individual performances in Division One were led by Somerset's Nick Compton and Durham's Graham Onions.[19]
Most runs[19]
| Player | Team | Mat | Inns | Runs | Ave | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Compton | Somerset | 11 | 18 | 1,191 | 99.25 | 5 | 2 |
| Varun Chopra | Warwickshire | 15 | 23 | 1,012 | 53.26 | 3 | 3 |
| James Taylor | Nottinghamshire | 13 | 22 | 915 | 50.83 | 2 | 4 |
| Phil Hughes | Worcestershire | 9 | 17 | 902 | 60.13 | 3 | 3 |
| Chris Read | Nottinghamshire | 15 | 21 | 891 | 49.50 | 3 | 3 |
Most wickets[19]
| Player | Team | Mat | Wkts | Ave | BBI | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Onions | Durham | 11 | 64 | 14.98 | 9/67 | 6 |
| Chris Wright | Warwickshire | 15 | 62 | 24.32 | 5/52 | 3 |
| Keith Barker | Warwickshire | 14 | 56 | 20.91 | 5/45 | 2 |
| Steve Magoffin | Sussex | 11 | 51 | 18.52 | 8/20 | 3 |
| Toby Roland-Jones | Middlesex | 11 | 48 | 21.08 | 5/44 | 4 |
Division Two
Statistics for Division Two highlight the leading performances from the second tier, including David Balcombe's 64 wickets.[20]
Most runs[20]
| Player | Team | Mat | Inns | Runs | Ave | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Adams | Hampshire | 15 | 24 | 987 | 47.00 | 2 | 5 |
| Joe Root | Yorkshire | 15 | 22 | 937 | 46.85 | 1 | 6 |
| Wayne Madsen | Derbyshire | 16 | 24 | 905 | 43.09 | 1 | 5 |
| James Foster | Essex | 15 | 20 | 885 | 59.00 | 2 | 4 |
| Brendan Nash | Kent | 10 | 16 | 872 | 72.66 | 3 | 4 |
Most wickets [20]
| Player | Team | Mat | Wkts | Ave | BBI | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Balcombe | Hampshire | 13 | 64 | 20.31 | 8/71 | 4 |
 Chaminda Vaas | Northamptonshire | 15 | 52 | 20.94 | 5/41 | 2 |
| Matt Coles | Kent | 14 | 52 | 23.36 | 6/44 | 2 |
| Mark Footitt | Derbyshire | 11 | 46 | 19.34 | 6/56 | 2 |
| Charlie Shreck | Kent | 16 | 46 | 29.58 | 4/44 | 0 |
Awards
The following individual awards were presented at the conclusion of the 2012 season, recognizing the leading performers in the County Championship and domestic cricket.[21]
| Award | Winner | Team | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCA Player of the Year[22] | Nick Compton | Somerset | Scored 1,191 runs at an average of 99.25 in Division One. |
| PCA Young Player of the Year[22] | Joe Root | Yorkshire | Scored 937 runs in Division Two and helped secure promotion. |
| Cricket Writers' Club County Championship Player of the Year[23] | Nick Compton | Somerset | Voted the best player specifically within the four-day format. |
| Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year[24] | Joe Root | Yorkshire | Recognized as the most promising young talent in English domestic cricket. |