Despite dire warnings over the future of some clubs and financial problems for many, most seriously Sussex and Middlesex, nothing can stop the excitement over the start of a new County Championship season.
The weather may be customarily Baltic for this time of year, but there is a hope this summer that the disconnect between England and the domestic game can be healed, with international selection a major carrot for many players at the start of this season.
Aside from the subplots over England places that might be up for grabs, the Division One campaign will be shaped by Surrey’s response to losing their title to Nottinghamshire last summer after three years leading the way. Somerset, Essex and Sussex will also hope to also have a say in the title race.
In Division Two Derbyshire, third last season, will hope to elbow their way to a promotion spot ahead of the more-fancied Lancashire and Durham.
There promises to be many more subplots too. So, here’s a look at how each county is shaping up ahead of the new season – and The i Paper’s predictions for the summer ahead.
County Championship team-by-team guide 2026
Leading runscorer Division One: Dean Elgar (Essex) Leading wicket-taker Division One: Ollie Robinson (Sussex) Leading runscorer Division Two: Marcus Harris (Lancashire) Leading wicket-taker Division Two: Mohammad Abbas (Derbyshire)Division One
Essex
Captain: Tom Westley
Key signing: Wiaan Mulder – South Africa all-rounder, who hit 367 not out against Zimbabwe last year to threaten Brian Lara’s record Test score of 400, is available for the first six matches.
Key player: Simon Harmer – The evergreen spinner has 513 first-class wickets at 23 for Essex in nine summers at Chelmsford.
2025 finish: 6th
The i Paper prediction: 3rd – Never got going last season after a slow start but still only finished nine points off third. Don’t rule out a title challenge.
Glamorgan
Captain: Kiran Carlson
Key signing: Sean Dickson – Journeyman who has a first-class triple-century bolsters batting after Sam Northeast’s departure.
Key player: Asa Tribe – Opener scored big runs in Division Two and is in line for an England call-up if he starts the season well.
2025 finish: 2nd Division Two (promoted)
The i Paper prediction: 10th – Staying up would represent success for Glamorgan, who have only ever twice before been in the top flight, but it’s a big ask.
Hampshire
Captain: Ben Brown
Key signing: Jake Lehmann – Australian, who has joined on a two-year deal, offers experience and reliability with the bat.
Key player: Kyle Abbott – Another 50-plus wicket season in 2025 but the former South Africa quick turns 39 in June.
2025 finish: 8th
The i Paper prediction: 9th – Survived by a point last season. Could be another summer of struggle.
Leicestershire
Captain: Ian Holland
Key signing: Ajaz Patel – The New Zealand left-arm spinner is a shrewd addition after the departure of Keshav Maharaj.
Key player: Rehan Ahmed – The leg-spinning all-rounder scored 760 runs at 50 from No 3 last summer. Now has a chance to prove himself in the top flight.
2025 finish: 1st Division Two (promoted)
The i Paper prediction: 8th – Romped to Division Two title last year but losing captain Peter Handscomb to personal reasons on eve of the season is a blow.
Leicestershire are back in the top flight after winning Division Two last year (Photo: Getty)Nottinghamshire
Captain: Haseeb Hameed
Key signing: Fergus O’Neill – Okay, it’s a re-signing, and he’s only here until June, but the Australian seamer’s return after 21 wickets in his month-long spell last year may be significant.
Key player: Hameed – Captain, leading runscorer and inspiration last summer.
2025 finish: 1st (Champions)
The i Paper prediction: 4th – Could start season strongly but doubts they will be able to last the course for the whole summer.
Somerset
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Key signing: Josh Shaw – How about the only signing (so far)? The 30-year-old seamer, who comes in from Gloucestershire, has a modest first-class record.
Key player: James Rew – Team’s leading runscorer last season and the wicketkeeper is on England’s radar.
2025 finish: 3rd
The i Paper prediction: 2nd – squad has a great mix of youth and experience and will surely challenge.
Surrey
Captain: Rory Burns
Key signing: Rahul Chahar – India leg-spinner has been signed for the final eight games of the season.
Key player: Ollie Pope – Dropped by England, the No 3 batter could score a mountain of Championship runs this summer.
2025 finish: 2nd
The i Paper prediction: 1st – Missed out on fourth title in a row last summer but looks inevitable that the strongest squad in the country will bounce back.
Pope was dropped by England during the Ashes – but could help Surrey back to the top of the pile (Photo: Getty)Sussex
Captain: Ollie Robinson
Key signing: Tom Price – Move from Gloucestershire may bring the best out of the 26-year-old all-rounder.
Key player: James Coles – The 21-year-old got more than 1,000 Championship runs and 20 wickets last year. More than just a white-ball star following his £390,000 Hundred deal.
2025 finish: 4th
The i Paper prediction: 5th – This is a squad that should finish higher but 12-point deduction for financial issues hinders them before a ball has been bowled.
Warwickshire
Captain: Ed Barnard
Key signing: Nathan Gilchrist – Fast bowler brought in from Kent could be set for a big summer after a winter with England Lions.
Key player: Chris Woakes – Fresh from international retirement, the former England seam all-rounder should clean up this summer.
2025 finish: 5th
The i Paper prediction: 6th – Talented squad but the batting looks a little light to mount a title challenge.
Yorkshire
Captain: Jonny Bairstow
Key signing: Sam Whiteman – Aussie keeper-batter born in Doncaster won three successive Sheffield Shield titles with Western Australia from 2022 to 2024.
Key player: George Hill – All-rounder took 51 wickets at 16.72 last season.
2025 finish: 7th
The i Paper prediction: 7th – Mid-table mundanity probably beckons again for Bairstow’s team.
Jonny Bairstow will lead Yorkshire’s efforts to get out the squeezed middle (Photo: Getty)Division Two
Derbyshire
Captain: Wayne Madsen
Key signing: Shoaib Bashir – England spinner is looking to rebuild his career following move from Somerset.
Key player: Mohammad Abbas – Another new signing, the Pakistan fast bowler rejected Division One moves for Derby.
2025 finish: 3rd
The i Paper prediction: 1st
Durham
Captain: Alex Lees
Key signing: Kemar Roach – West Indies quick, who played for Surrey last year, joins in June.
Key player: Emilio Gay – Left-handed opener scored 1,476 Division One runs last year.
2025 finish: 9th Division One (relegated)
The i Paper prediction: 3rd
Gloucestershire
Captain: Cameron Bancroft
Key signing: Gabe Bell – Aussie quick is available for the first six games of the season.
Key player: Ben Charlesworth – The 25-year-old all-rounder is expected to have a breakthrough year after 914 runs last season.
2025 finish: 6th
The i Paper prediction: 6th
Kent
Captain: Daniel Bell-Drummond
Key signing: Sam Northeast – Experienced batter rejoins his old club after eight years away
Key player: Ben Compton – Opener was last year’s leading runscorer and needs big runs again.
2025 finish: 8th
The i Paper prediction: 5th
Lancashire
Captain: James Anderson
Key signing: Ajeet Singh Dale – England Lions fast bowler joins from Gloucestershire.
Key player: Anderson – England’s all-time leading wicket-taker should fire promotion push.
2025 finish: 5th
The i Paper prediction: 2nd
Anderson is back for his 26th season in professional cricket (Photo: Getty)Middlesex
Captain: Leus Du Plooy
Key signing: Peter Fulton – Financial constraints mean no players in but the Kiwi has been appointed coach.
Key player: Toby Roland-Jones – One-time England seamer is still picking up wickets at the age of 38.
2025 finish: 4th
The i Paper prediction: 8th
Northamptonshire
Captain: Luke Procter
Key signing: Nathan McSweeney – Getting Australia opener a big coup for coach Darren Lehmann.
Key player: Saif Zaib – County Championship’s leading runscorer last year across both divisions.
2025 finish: 7th
The i Paper prediction: 7th
Worcestershire
Captain: Brett D’Oliveira
Key signing: Beyers Swanepoel – South African all-rounder available for whole season.
Key player: Jake Libby – Will set the tone for whole team with the bat.
2025 finish: 10th Division One (relegated)
The i Paper prediction: 4th
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