2026 County Championship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dates3 April – 27 September 2026
AdministratorEngland and Wales Cricket Board
Cricket formatFirst-class cricket (4 days)
Tournament formatLeague system
| Dates | 3 April – 27 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Administrator | England and Wales Cricket Board |
| Cricket format | First-class cricket (4 days) |
| Tournament format | League system |
| Participants | 18 |
| Matches | 126 |
The 2026 County Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Rothesay County Championship 2026,[1] is the 126th cricket County Championship season in England and Wales.[2][3] As in 2025, Division One had ten teams and Division Two had eight teams.[4] The season began on 3 April and ended on 27 September 2026.[5] Nottinghamshire are the defending champions.[6][7]
Division One teams
The teams were split based on the finishing positions in the 2025 season. The following teams will take part in the County Championship.[8]
Team promoted from Division Two in 2025
Division Two teams
Team relegated from Division One in 2025
Standings
Division One
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | D | A | Bat | Bowl | Ded | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warwickshire | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 55 |
| 2 | Somerset | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 54 |
| 3 | Nottinghamshire | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 44 |
| 4 | Sussex | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 42 |
| 5 | Essex | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 40 |
| 6 | Surrey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 37 |
| 7 | Leicestershire | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 32 |
| 8 | Glamorgan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| 9 | Yorkshire | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 26 |
| 10 | Hampshire | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 25 |
Updated to match(es) played on 24–27 April 2026. Source: ESPNcricinfoBBC Sport
- Sussex were deducted 12 points after agreeing to a financial support package from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).[9]
Division Two
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | D | A | Bat | Bowl | Ded | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancashire | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 60 |
| 2 | Durham | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 57 |
| 3 | Worcestershire | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 51 |
| 4 | Northamptonshire | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 43 |
| 5 | Middlesex | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 38 |
| 6 | Derbyshire | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 25 |
| 7 | Gloucestershire | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 24 |
| 8 | Kent | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 |
Updated to match(es) played on 23–27 April 2026. Source: ESPNcricinfoBBC Sport
Division One fixtures
April
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Warwickshire (H) | |
- Warwickshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Warwickshire 16, Surrey 11
3–5 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Hampshire (H) | |
- Hampshire won the toss and elected field.
- Ben Mayes (Hampshire) made his first-class debut.
- Noah Thain replaced Tom Westley as an injury substitute for Essex.[10]
- Points: Essex 22, Hampshire 2
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
Glamorgan (H) |
v |
|
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible before lunch and only 36 overs of play was possible on day 1 due to rain and wet outfield.
- Will Luxton replaced Jonny Bairstow as an injury substitute for Yorkshire.[11]
- Points: Glamorgan 12, Yorkshire 10
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Leicestershire (H) | |
- Leicestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Ian Holland (Leicestershire) took his 150th wicket in first-class cricket.
- Points: Sussex 22, Leicestershire 3
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
Somerset (H) |
v |
|
- Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Somerset 13, Nottinghamshire 13
10–12 April 2026 Scorecard |
Essex (H) |
v |
|
49/0 (5.4 overs) Archie Vaughan 41* (25) |
- Somerset won the toss and elected to field.
- Will Smeed replaced Tom Kohler-Cadmore as an injury substitute for Somerset.[12]
- Will Smeed (Somerset) made his first-class debut.
- Points: Somerset 21, Essex 3
10–13 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Sussex (H) | |
- Warwickshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Sussex 19, Warwickshire 4
10–13 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Yorkshire (H) | |
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Benjamin Cliff replaced Jack White and Logan van Beek replaced Jhye Richardson as an injury substitute for Yorkshire.
- Points: Hampshire 20, Yorkshire 3
10–13 April 2026 Scorecard |
Surrey (H) |
v |
|
- Leicestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Leicestershire 15, Surrey 14.
10–13 April 2026 Scorecard |
Nottinghamshire (H) |
v |
|
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to field.
- Sean Dickson replaced Ben Kellaway and Lyndon James replaced Fergus O'Neill as an injury substitute for Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire respectively.
- Points: Nottinghamshire 20, Glamorgan 3.
17–20 April 2026 Scorecard |
Hampshire (H) |
v |
|
- Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Somerset 20, Hampshire 3.
17–20 April 2026 Scorecard |
Warwickshire (H) |
v |
|
- Essex won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 35.4 overs of play were possible on day 1 due to rain and a wet outfield.
- Points: Warwickshire 19, Essex 3.
24–27 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Nottinghamshire (H) | |
- Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Warwickshire 16, Nottinghamshire 11.
24–27 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Yorkshire (H) | |
- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Sussex 13, Yorkshire 13.
24–27 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Surrey (H) | |
- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Surrey 12, Essex 12.
24–27 April 2026 Scorecard |
Glamorgan (H) |
v |
|
- Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Leicestershire 14, Glamorgan 12.
May
1–4 May 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Surrey (H) | |
19/0 (10 overs) Dom Sibley 13* (28) | ||
- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- Adam Thomas (Surrey) made his first-class debut.
8–11 May 2026 Scorecard |
Warwickshire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 May 2026 Scorecard |
Nottinghamshire (H) |
v |
|
15–18 May 2026 Scorecard |
Warwickshire (H) |
v |
|
June
12–15 June 2026 Scorecard |
Leicestershire (H) |
v |
|
12–15 June 2026 Scorecard |
Nottinghamshire (H) |
v |
|
19–22 June 2026 Scorecard |
Leicestershire (H) |
v |
|
August
20–23 August 2026 Scorecard |
Warwickshire (H) |
v |
|
20–23 August 2026 Scorecard |
Leicestershire (H) |
v |
|
27–30 August 2026 Scorecard |
Warwickshire (H) |
v |
|
September
2–5 September 2026 Scorecard |
Nottinghamshire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 September 2026 Scorecard |
Nottinghamshire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 September 2026 Scorecard |
Leicestershire (H) |
v |
|
15–18 September 2026 Scorecard |
Leicestershire (H) |
v |
|
24–27 September 2026 Scorecard |
Warwickshire (H) |
v |
|
24–27 September 2026 Scorecard |
Nottinghamshire (H) |
v |
|
Division Two fixtures
April
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
Derbyshire (H) |
v |
|
- Worcestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Luis Reece (Derbyshire) scored his 7,000th run in first-class cricket.
- Martin Andersson (Derbyshire) scored his maiden double hundred in first-class cricket.[13]
- Points: Derbyshire 16, Worcestershire 11
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
Middlesex (H) |
v |
|
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Middlesex 22, Gloucestershire -1.[a]
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Northamptonshire (H) | |
- Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Lancashire 14, Northamptonshire 12
3–6 April 2026 Scorecard |
Durham (H) |
v |
|
- Kent won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 3 due to rain and wet outfield in the aftermath of Storm Dave.[15]
- Points: Durham 13, Kent 11
10–12 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Middlesex (H) | |
- Middlesex won the toss and elected to field.
- Matthew Waite (Worcestershire), Max Holden and Sam Robson (Middlesex) all scored their 2,000th, 5,000th and 14,000th run respectively in first-class cricket.
- Ben Gibbon replaced Adam Finch as an injury substitute for Worcestershire.
- Points: Worcestershire 17, Middlesex 3.[b]
10–12 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Gloucestershire (H) | |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Ben McKinney (Durham) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.[16][17]
- Oliver Price (Gloucestershire) scored his 3,000th run in first-class cricket.
- Points: Durham 24, Gloucestershire 1
10–13 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Kent (H) | |
- Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Luke Procter (Northamptonshire) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.[18]
- Points: Northamptonshire 16, Kent 8.
10–13 April 2026 Scorecard |
Lancashire (H) |
v |
|
- Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Lancashire 21, Derbyshire 6.
17–20 April 2026 Scorecard |
Middlesex (H) |
v |
Northamptonshire (H) |
- Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat.
- Play on Day 1 was reduced to 73 overs due to bad light.
- Play on Day 2 was reduced to 71.5 overs due to bad light.
- Luke Hollman replaced Zafar Gohar as an injury substitute for Middlesex.
- Points: Northamptonshire 15, Middlesex 13.
17–20 April 2026 Scorecard |
Gloucestershire (H) |
v |
|
- Lancashire won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 44 overs of play was possible on day 1 due to rain and wet outfield.
- Tommy Boorman (Gloucestershire) made his first-class debut.
- Ollie Sutton replaced Ajeet Singh Dale and Harry Singh replaced Luke Wells as an injury substitute for Lancashire.
- Points: Lancashire 19, Gloucestershire 3.
24–27 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Derbyshire (H) | |
39/0 (4.4 overs) Ben Charlesworth 20* (13) |
- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Luis Reece replaced Anuj Dal as an injury substitute for Derbyshire.
- Craig Miles replaced Henry Brookes as an injury substitute for Gloucestershire.
- Points: Gloucestershire 21, Derbyshire 3.
24–27 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Durham (H) | |
- Durham won the toss and elected to field.
- James Minto replaced Sam Conners as an injury substitute for Durham.
- George Bell replaced Arav Shetty as an injury substitute for Lancashire.
- Points: Durham 20, Lancashire 6.
24–26 April 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Worcestershire (H) | |
- Kent won the toss and elected to bat.
- Ben Dawkins replaced Ben Compton as an injury substitute for Kent.
- Points: Worcestershire 23, Kent 2.
May
1–4 May 2026 Scorecard |
Kent (H) |
v |
|
24/0 (5 overs) Harry Came 16* (16) | ||
- Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
1–4 May 2026 Scorecard |
v |
Northamptonshire (H) | |
40/0 (14 overs) Ricardo Vasconcelos 22* (47) | ||
- Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat.
1–4 May 2026 Scorecard |
Middlesex (H) |
v |
|
- Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat.
- Luke Robinson (Durham) made his first-class debut.
8–11 May 2026 Scorecard |
Derbyshire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 May 2026 Scorecard |
Gloucestershire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 May 2026 Scorecard |
Worcestershire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 May 2026 Scorecard |
Lancashire (H) |
v |
|
15–18 May 2026 Scorecard |
Gloucestershire (H) |
v |
|
15–18 May 2026 Scorecard |
Lancashire (H) |
v |
|
June
12–15 June 2026 Scorecard |
Northamptonshire (H) |
v |
|
12–15 June 2026 Scorecard |
Lancashire (H) |
v |
|
12–15 June 2026 Scorecard |
Worcestershire (H) |
v |
|
19–22 June 2026 Scorecard |
Derbyshire (H) |
v |
|
19–22 June 2026 Scorecard |
Worcestershire (H) |
v |
|
August
20–23 August 2026 Scorecard |
Derbyshire (H) |
v |
|
20–23 August 2026 Scorecard |
Lancashire (H) |
v |
|
20–23 August 2026 Scorecard |
Gloucestershire (H) |
v |
|
27–30 August 2026 Scorecard |
Derbyshire (H) |
v |
|
27–30 August 2026 Scorecard |
Northamptonshire (H) |
v |
|
27–30 August 2026 Scorecard |
Worcestershire (H) |
v |
|
September
2–5 September 2026 Scorecard |
Gloucestershire (H) |
v |
|
2–5 September 2026 Scorecard |
Northamptonshire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 September 2026 Scorecard |
Derbyshire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 September 2026 Scorecard |
Worcestershire (H) |
v |
|
8–11 September 2026 Scorecard |
Lancashire (H) |
v |
|
15–18 September 2026 Scorecard |
Northamptonshire (H) |
v |
|
15–18 September 2026 Scorecard |
Gloucestershire (H) |
v |
|
24–27 September 2026 Scorecard |
Worcestershire (H) |
v |
|
24–27 September 2026 Scorecard |
Lancashire (H) |
v |
|