County Championship returns: The state of play as finish line in sight for domestic cricket season

Following a hectic white-ball August and the long-awaited return for the Vitality Blast knockout stages, the Rothesay County Championship is also back on Monday with three rounds of fixtures remaining as Division One and Two look set for a thrilling conclusion.

A review into revamping the domestic structure has not brought about an official alteration to the County Championship as of yet, despite the many rumours, as has been the case with the Vitality Blast and therefore for many teams, there remains some confusion as to what their finishing position might mean for 2026.

With the current structure in mind, we take a look at how both divisions are shaping up ahead of the final red ball return, with Surrey aiming to be the best in the land once more, whilst there is a refreshing look to the promotion race in Division Two.

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Division One: Surrey look to fend off Notts challenge; cluster of teams battle to avoid the drop

It may have ended in disappointment for Surrey once again in the Vitality Blast as they were beaten at the quarter-final stage by Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Wednesday but the dominant force in red ball cricket still have their sights set firmly on a fourth consecutive Division One title.

They hold a slender nine-point advantage over second placed Nottinghamshire heading into the final three games, having yet to taste defeat so far this season, with two games at the Kia Oval to come, including a possible decider against Notts, before rounding off the campaign with a trip to Hampshire – a ground where they lifted the trophy in 2023.

As for Nottinghamshire, their surprise push for the title comes off the back of an uninspiring 2024 campaign in which they finished only one place above the drop but in Haseeb Hameed, they have an inspired leader who has surged to the top of the Division One run-scoring charts with 1,108 at an average of 79.14.

Contributions have come throughout the side though with both bat and ball, with seven different centurions and as many five-wicket haul scalps, for a Notts side who face a favourable return away at bottom side Worcestershire before that crunch clash with Surrey as the East Midlands outfit go in search of a first Division One crown since 2010.

Somerset and Warwickshire both retain outside chances of overhauling the sides above them, though the 26 and 27-point deficit respectively surely is too big of an ask to claw back against a currently unbeaten Surrey side.

Runners-up three times in four seasons between 2016-2019, Somerset are one of three teams yet to win the County Championship but the wait is likely to go on for the regular white ball contenders, though they do have two of their three remaining games to play at Taunton  which is well known for producing positive results.

As with Notts, it has been a case of a much improved showing from Warwickshire after they stuttered to a seventh placed finish in 2024, with their memorable victory over rivals Worcestershire in July all but securing a positive mid-table finish ahead of trips to the Kia Oval and Trent Bridge in a testing final month.

From fifth place down, it is very much looking over their shoulder territory, with just three points separating a group of four teams who sit above the drop zone.

2024 runners-up Hampshire have been without key players in James Vince and Mohammad Abbas this time around, struggling to convert draws into wins as a result and still with work to do ahead of a busy final few weeks which also includes a One Day Cup final and potential T20 Finals Day appearance.

Promoted duo Sussex and Yorkshire have both given themselves a strong chance of survival.

Paul Farbrace’s impressive outfit adapted quickly to the top flight with three wins before the Vitality Blast commenced but consecutive innings defeats to sides below them at the end of July has dragged them back into the mix, and they face South Coast rivals Hampshire next week with both teams hoping to give themselves some breathing room away from the bottom two with a win.

Yorkshire found life harder at the start of the campaign but two wins in their last three Championship matches lifted them above the dotted line, with experienced opener Adam Lyth one of only three players to have passed 1,000 runs in Division One and all-rounder George Hill one of the standout performers in the country with 39 wickets.

Essex, regular challengers towards the top end of the table, have had an uncharacteristically poor Championship season, on top of a fairly miserable T20 Blast campaign.

The injury-plagued squad struggled on their travels in the early stages of the season but their impressive display at Hove towards the end of July was vital and they now find themselves 12 points ahead of Durham, who they face at Chelmsford next week in a potentially decisive clash.

The onus is on Durham currently in the trap door, who suffered two damaging defeats between the two white competitions, off the back of conceding a demoralising record 820-9 at Surrey earlier in the month.

On the positive side, they do have a favourable fixture list to come with their three remaining games against the teams around them, including that crucial contest with Essex, before a home game against Worcestershire and a trip to Yorkshire to round off the season.

The picture is far more bleak for Worcestershire, who despite their best efforts are set for a return to Division Two after two seasons in the top flight, currently on 89 points and 37 adrift of safety but do have a One Day Cup final on the horizon which will occupy most of their attention.

Staying up last year was a significant achievement given their resources, though their once again spirited side have struggled to produce complete performances across four days and have only been able to muster a solitary win, despite Tom Taylor leading the wicket-taking charts on 43 dismissals and Jake Libby the next in line to pass 1,000 runs.

Division Two: Leicestershire on verge of title; Glamorgan in pole position to join Foxes

Leicestershire have been the runaway leaders from the very start, racing out the blocks by winning a remarkable five during the first half of the campaign, relentless in both the batting and bowling department.

The Foxes suffered their first and only defeat of the season so far against Middlesex at the start of July but responded in fashion with a comprehensive win over promotion rivals Derbyshire, meaning the gap to third place is a near insurmountable 52 points, also sitting 28 points clear of Glamorgan in second as they close in on a first ever County Championship promotion after relegation in 2003.

Glamorgan are also aiming to end a rot of their own, 20 years after they were relegated from Division One, with a healthy 24-point cushion on Derbyshire in third.

The Welsh county had a slow start in April but rattled off three straight wins before the T20 Blast, then had a double success at the end of July to propel them into the top two, with a key fixture to come away at Derbyshire in the penultimate round of fixtures.

What about the chasing pack?

Derbyshire are perennial red ball strugglers but after two hugely disappointing white ball campaigns in 2025, Mickey Arthur’s side will be desperate to end their twelve-year absence from Division One.

In a season of red ball promise, the East Midlands side have become harder to beat having lost on only two occasions, though with seven draws have often lacked the cutting edge of the teams above them and will likely need to double their season win tally in the final three games to stand any chance of overtaking Glamorgan.

Two wins in their last three have boosted Middlesex’s chances of a top flight return, including form from Kane Williamson with back-to-back centuries, though they will feel a positive result against Derbyshire, whom they are three points further back, at Lord’s next week is a must.

Gloucestershire find themselves too far back in fifth, another side who have been draw specialists and with only one win to their name, with a visit to leaders Leicestershire to come next week.

Division Two big hitters Lancashire had an unexpectedly sluggish start to the campaign, resulting in a change of Head Coach and leadership, without a win until their ninth fixture which was then swiftly followed by their second in their next match under the interim captaincy of James Anderson.

The resurgence was short lived though as they were comprehensively beaten by Glamorgan at Old Trafford in their last outing which put an end to any hopes of securing an immediate return to Division One.

Northamptonshire will still be on a high from their impressive seven-run win over Surrey in the T20 Blast quarter-final and thus understandably one eye will be on preparations for Finals Day when they welcome promotion-chasing Glamorgan.

Darren Lehmann’s impact on the short-format side has not quite been replicated in the four-day game, though with only 18 points separating third and seventh, a strong end to the campaign would result in a more positive outlook.

After relegation in 2024, Kent’s fortunes have not changed as they sit bottom of the second division on 97 points, despite having the competition’s leading run-scorer across both divisions in Ben Compton (1,198), losing four straight games in May and later receiving an eight-point deduction for poor conduct, meaning all hopes for their season rest firmly on Saturday’s T20 quarter-final away at Lancashire Lightning.

By Dom Harris

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