Day one roundup
As the season’s last round of championship cricket rolled around, players paid tribute to Dickie Bird, who died on Tuesday, aged 92. At his spiritual home, Headingley, a minute’s applause was observed, the players lining up on the pitch, and a bouquet of flowers and trademark umpire’s white cap placed on Bird’s dressing‑room balcony chair.
Bird, who funded the balcony in 2015, would have enjoyed the first five overs of the day when Yorkshire reduced their fellow relegation candidates Durham to seven for two, but 93 from David Bedingham and an unbeaten 87 from Ben Raine turned the tables. Yorkshire need eight more points to be sure of Division One cricket next year, Durham may require a win because of Surrey’s impression of a soggy paper bag at the hands of fellow strugglers Hampshire.
Surrey, champions for three years on the bounce, needed a maximum point win to put pressure on the leaders, Nottinghamshire. But, albeit with a side weakened by illness and the withdrawal of England players, they were dismissed for just 147, their lowest total of the season. Dan Lawrence top scored with 36. There were three wickets each for James Fuller, Washington Sundar and Kyle Abbott, who passed fifty wickets for the summer for the sixth time. Hampshire then sailed calmly to a seven-run lead at stumps.
All of which was music to the ears of Nottinghamshire, who bowled out Warwickshire for 258 in a frenetic last session and now need just two more points – 300 runs – to secure the title. Warwickshire had revived at 244 for five but lost their last five wickets for 14 runs, Dan Mousley last man out for 74.
Elsewhere, Steve Eskinazi made a first century for Leicestershire against Northamptonshire, Middlesex’s captain, Leus du Plooy, biffed an unbeaten 171 against Gloucestershire, the Somerset academy graduate Josh Thomas hit a run-a-ball fifty on his championship debut proper, and James Rew his fifth 50 of the summer to frustrate Essex, who remain in relegation danger.
After a season of wrangling, meetings, more meetings, letters and votes, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that the motion to remodel the County Championship structure had not received the required two-thirds majority of votes it needed to pass. The 18 first-class counties were tied at 9-9, which means the current two-division 14-game, two up, two down, competition remains.
The announcement drew an immediate retort from the Professional Cricketers’ Association. The union’s chief executive, Daryl Mitchell, said the current structure was “not fit for purpose,” while its chair, Olly Hannon-Dalby, said: “Over the past two years, we have seen increasing levels of genuine concern for player health and wellbeing and as an association we represented this in the strongest possible way. Ultimately the required minimum number of 12 county chairs did not see player welfare as a priority.”
That’s it from us for today, with Nottinghamshire reaching for the pennant. Looks like it might be done and dusted tomorrow – do join us for the denouement. Thanks for your company – good night!
Close of play scores
Chelmsford: Essex v Somerset 339-6
Southampton: Hampshire 154-3 v Surrey 147
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire 258
New Road: Worcestershire 123 v Sussex 228-5
Headingley: Yorkshire v Durham 322-7
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 265 v Lancashire 55-0
Canterbury: Kent v Derbyshire 389-2
Lord’s: Middlesex 394-5 v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Leicestershire 392-7
Back with a last paragraph from Hopps at Headingley:
“Ben Raine is transforming Durham’s position at Headingley. From 203 for 6, and with gloom beginning to descend, Yorkshire were well on top. A stubborn cloud clung over Headingley, as if paying homage to Dickie Bird, who would have been fussing with his light meter, while it was blue in every other direction.
“Raine has walloped four sixes so far and has batted in typically rumbustious style. Much better than anticipated when David Bedingham fell for 93, trying to pull the new ball and spooning to third man where George Hill completed a dash from slip with a fine diving catch. Yorkshire will be rueing a few dropped opportunities in the slips and, latterly, by Jonny Bairstow, who was all a fumble when Matthew Potts edged. Is he Matthew these days or Matt or Mattie? It’s changed a bit over the years.
“Lots to play for here then over the next three days, although neither of these sides will be cheered by the news from the Rose Bowl where Hampshire are making surprising progress against Surrey.”
Time for me to summon up some words for the paper, but do chat on BTL.
Centuries galore in Division Two
In Division Two, Glamorgan just scraped past 250 before being bowled out. Five wickets to Tom Bailey. Lancs 24-0.
And, blimey Derbyshire, unbeaten centuries from Reece and Madsen, grind Kent into the Canterbury dust. Derby 343-2.
Du Plooy’s 152 not out at Lord’s has put Middx in a pretty position against Gloucestershire. Middx 345-5.
And Eskinazi goes on and on at Wantage Road, 145 not out in Leicestershire’s 380-7
No fourth century for Rew, caught off Bracewell for 75 – Somerset are five down.
At the Rosebowl, Middleton and Gubbins continue to defy Surrey, Hampshire 85 for one.
Mousley and Barnard continue to hold off bowling-point greedy Notts, Warwicks 154-5.
James Coles (89) and John Simpson (52) have already stretched Sussex’s lead to 76 at New Road. Sussex 199-4.
A second wicket for Jack White at Headingley, Bedingham seven short of his hundred. Durham 246-7, looking more perky than at 155-5.
Another fifty for James Rew at Chelmsford, his fifth fifty of the season, alongside three hundreds and a thousand runs. A shoo-in for the Lions tour, you’d have thought. Somerset 247 for four.Two wickets for Jamie Porter and one each for Charlie Bennett and Doug Bracewell.
Updated
Hundreds for Eskinazi and Reece
Happy penultimate innings for Luis Reece (his first hundred of the season) and new Leicestershire signing Stevie Eskinazi.
“Just wanted to put in a word for the inebriates at Lord’s,” writes Alison Scott. “It is the annual Lord’s beer festival this week, with 40+ cask and craft beers from a dozen local breweries. Pick up your beer from the nursery pavilion, close to Compton.
”Is there a better pastime in the world than this?”
This news may interest a few other readers.
Meanwhile at Southampton, a third ball change for unhappy Surrey, Hampshire are 44 for one.
Two wickets in two overs at Trent Bridge – Warwicks 127-5, Malik c behind for 20 off James. Tick tock.
Tea-time-ish scores
Chelmsford: Essex v Somerset 211-4
Southampton: Hampshire 44-1 v Surrey 147
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire 127-4
New Road: Worcestershire 123 v Sussex 124-4
Headingley: Yorkshire v Durham 193-5
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 233-8 v Lancashire
Canterbury: Kent v Derbyshire 244-2
Lord’s: Middlesex 276-4 v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Leicestershire 262-6
Updated
Derbyshire in support of the status quo
“The Club’s Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, as well as the coaching and playing staff, were resoundingly in support of the status quo over what was put forward as the proposed changes.”
Following the recent announcement by the England & Wales Cricket Board, #DCCC would like to publicly confirm its position regarding the proposed changes to the domestic structure.
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 24, 2025
Read ⤵
Ignore what I said earlier about the structure decision being locked in until 2031 – it seems that was only the case if the changes had gone through.
More from Headingley, where Hoppsy is high on AI.
“It was considerate of county cricket’s high and mighty to announce the structure of next season’s Championship before the start of the last match.
“To delay the decision throughout the summer was incompetent enough; to have left things in abeyance for the final round would have been a travesty. The moment that 14 matches were retained, cue the predictable outcry about overworked players from the PCA. Yet a cursory glance at the first division bowling averages suggests that only three seam bowlers have bowled more than 350 overs - Ben Raine, Kyle Abbott, who many would have predicted, and Ethan Bamber, quite the opposite. Bamber is fast heading towards 450 for Warwickshire after transferring allegiances from Middlesex.
“It appears that Google AI, at least, has come out in sympathy with the PCA by announcing (in the answer to one diligent search query) that the season had ended with Raine finishing as Durham’s leading championship wicket taker. Pace bowling shortages are the reason that Durham are in the bottom two, but it is batting frailties that have been evident at Headingley today.
“Half the side have perished for 155, the latest being Will Rhodes, after a half century against his form county, and Ollie Robinson, who left one. Perhaps he had been on Google AI and thought the season had already ended”
Updated
And a final missive from Luke, watching Middlesex and Gloucestershire at autumnal Lord’s.
"Du Plooy brought up his century with a sweet late cut for four and has since moved to 110 not out. Geddes has just brought up his half-century, 52 not out, and that’s the 100 partnership. Middlesex are 261-4: are Gloucestershire “on the beach”?
“Frankly it doesn’t matter when the sun is shining, Lord’s is looking as stunning as ever, and the ground is mercifully free of the inebriated non-cricket fans that populate all modern Test matches. The forecast is fine for the rest of the match, too, so get yourself down here in the coming days. And with that I’m away to the office.”
Thank you!
The numbers are in
A skein of smoke escapes from the walls of the ECB. Ali’s sources tell him that the vote on the Championship structure was a 9-9 split.
Updated
Daniel Gallan on cricket’s handshake, or not.
A second slip catch of the day for Freddie McCann and a first bowling point for Notts. The title is (four points) within grasp.
📹 Catching practice in the slips.#NOTvWAR | 📺 https://t.co/odtZgMvROU https://t.co/CyhgCz4wTx pic.twitter.com/CBHYHfJPU0
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 24, 2025
Updated
A maiden first-class wicket for Charlie Bennett at Cheltenham.
👏 A special moment for Charlie Bennett.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 24, 2025
Live Stream, Scorecard & Highlights ➡️ https://t.co/OAbHqxqubN
Somerset 178-3 (51 overs)
🦅 #FlyLikeAnEagle pic.twitter.com/FYi78OILXX
Six for Ollie Robinson and more
A trot round the grounds as the umpires lead the Hampshire batters out to the middle. Surrey’s collapse means, I think, that Notts now need only five points. Please let me know if I’ve done that wrong.
In Division One:
They’ve changed the balls at Chelmsford where Somerset are 182 for three – young Josh Thomas finally out for 86
Warwicks are 92-2 on an anoraks day at Trent Bridge. Notts will be very happy with a slow nothing kind of day, especially when they check on events at The Rosebowl.
Things are running fast-forward at New Road where Worcestershire were all out for 123 – six wickets for Ollie Robinson, four for Jaydeve Unadkat - and Sussex are 67 for three in reply.
And David Bedhingham (63 not out) leads Durham to 155-5 on a flattening pitch at Headingley. Will Rhodes was out for 50.
More from a sun-drenched Lord’s. Over to Luke.
“Du Plooy, who continues to strike the ball imperiously, moves serenely to 92 not out – Middlesex 221-4. Ben Geddes is seeing it well too in glorious warm sunshine and has crashed a few to the boundary for his 30 not out. There may not be anything riding on this match but it’s been a well-balanced day up to this point, although you wonder where Gloucestershire would be without the four wickets of Singh Dale.”
And at the Rosebowl, Chahar has cut Washington Sundary to slip. Gareth Batty will not be happy. Surrey are all out for 147 and earn not a single batting point.
Updated
Also a last hurrah around the clubs next weekend, here in Manchester and Blackburn – walking cricket, disability cricket, women’s cricket and tapeball
Blackburn Inclusion Festival!
— Lancashire Cricket Foundation (@LancsCricketFDN) September 19, 2025
Through ECB Cricket Cities we are showcasing our inclusion programmes at festivals in Manchester and Blackburn🥳#Nationalinclusionweek pic.twitter.com/Wxh1YgTibw
At Sophia Gardens, Mason Crane and Timm van der Gugten have sniffed the smelling salts and added 50 for the eighth wicket. Glamorgan 193-7 against Lancs.
They’re back on at Trent Bridge, and the safe hands of Freddie McCann grab onto Rob Yates at slip off the deserving Abbas. Warwickshire 72 for 2.
Apparently Surrey were allowed to play Pope and Atkinson for two of the last three Championship games. Can see why they gambled on the early September matches, but it has left them a bit worn around the edges today. Both teams in black armbands at the Rosebowl in memory of Dickie Bird as they are at Headingley, and possibly round the country.
This looks great, trials in October:
Applications open to current Year 11 students to join the SACS programme in 2026 with trials this October Half Term! 🥁
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 24, 2025
Launched in 2023, SACS offers state school sixth-form students high-quality cricket training alongside their academic studies.
🏏 4 hours of cricket coaching… pic.twitter.com/PCJNiAm2CV
Dan Lawrence joins the sorry parade, a lackadaisical top edge to cover. Surrey 115 for eight. Fuller 3-25.
Over to Luke, at Lord’s:
“Two in two for Singh Dale soon after lunch. First Hollman, caught behind for 55 off a beautiful swinging delivery, then Ryan Higgins, lbw first up for nought. Du Plooy remains 68 not out, hoping to seize his penultimate chance of the season to massage his batting average. Singh Dale now has figures of four for 44 off 10 overs. Middlesex 167-4.”
Gloucestershire enjoying ASD’s last hurrah.
Tom Lawes, who nearly batted Surrey to victory against Notts last week, steps back ostentaciously and dinks the ball back to Dawson who takes the catch without fanfare. Surrey slip to 109-7.
A third wicket for Tom Bailey as Glamorgan implode, blissfully without consequence! 147-7. Chris Cooke the highest scorer, and last man out, for 37.
County caps for Dillon Pennington, Jack Haynes and Liam Patterson-White at Trent Bridge this morning. And it is still raining in Nottingham.
Hello Em Jackson!
“Whilst I’m sure you’re getting a thousand cricket loving monkey at a thousand typewriters sending in their missives, I believe the following would bring the best of cricketing times:
”Three divisions of six - play Home and Away (from Day 1 of season - no breaks for internationals/Hundred).
”As summer comes on stream, T20 Blast starts (groups of 4, H & A - top two to QF/SF/F for Blast Trophy & same for a Blast Shield for the groups 3rds and 4ths).
”50 Over Cup is an FAC style comp with 18 FC sides, plus SCO/WAL/IRL & 11 best minor counties (for 32 in total) and goes 32/16/8/4/2.
Hundred can happen in the summer wherever it needs to be, but the Blast keeps on rolling.”
Come back from the overgrown garden to find Surrey have lost another wicket in what looks like a final-round sigh, Matt Fisher and Rahul Chandar notwithstanding. A 51st wicket of the season for Kyle Abbott, Albert gone for five. Surrey 93 for six.
A 29-wicket morning. Time for some lunch, back shortly.
An update from Luke before he tests the Lord’s lunch.
“Middlesex’s match preview stated that the County Championship format “staggeringly remains uncertain”, so at least minds have been put at rest with confirmation that the current format remains for next season.
“Luke Hollman (42 not out) and Leus du Plooy (51 not out) have batted excellently after Middlesex lost two early wickets and they head in for lunch at 131-2 from 27 overs. They have put on 97 for the third wicket and Du Plooy in particular has been striking the ball handsomely.
“Have Gloucestershire applied as much pressure as they would like with the ball? Marchant de Lange was expensive, bowling fast and disappearing to the boundary equally quickly, going for 32 off five overs. There is a decent crowd in at Lord’s, plenty of people keen to snatch one last hit of proper cricket before winter, and Middlesex will be content with their morning’s work.”
Lunchtime scores
Chelmsford: Essex v Somerset 111-1
Southampton: Hampshire v Surrey 79-5
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire 70-1
New Road: Worcestershire 91-6 v Sussex
Headingley: Yorkshire v Durham 63-3
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 114-6 v Lancashire
Canterbury: Kent v Derbyshire 108-1
Lord’s: Middlesex 131-2 v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Leicestershire 122-4
Updated
Leicestershire are having a nasty half hour before lunch, now 121 for four, two for Scrimshaw. Everyone prepares for sandwiches.
A beautiful ball from Washington Sundar leaves Ollie Sykes trailing back to the pavilion for 16. Surrey 76 for five and Notts might secure the title by er…. sooner than we thought.
A hacked-off PCA have also released data supporting their position. A survey done pre-season produced the figures below, percentages that have risen since 2024.
83% of players are concerned about their physical wellbeing due to the current schedule
67% of players are concerned about their mental wellbeing due to the current schedule
72% believe the current schedule is not conducive to high performance
77% believe too much domestic cricket is currently played
PCA: "Structure not fit for purpose"
The PCA have issued a statement following the first-class counties decision to retain the 14-match Championship. The PCA’s player’s committee, chair Olly Hannon-Dalby and Chief Exec Daryl Mitchell, worked alongside the county chairs during the consultation period.
PCA Chair, Olly Hannon-Dalby, said:
“The players voice on the schedule has been steadfast for a number of years and provided a clear directive for the game to join together to improve standards for all.
Over the past two years, we have seen increasing levels of genuine concern for player health and wellbeing and as an Association we represented this in the strongest possible way. Ultimately the required minimum number of 12 county Chairs did not see player welfare as a priority.
“The players voice must be heard and while we recognise scheduling concerns go well beyond county cricket with a cluttered international calendar and similar issues in other sports, we cannot relent in our ambition to create minimum standards to allow for a safer schedule.”
PCA Chief Executive Officer, Daryl Mitchell, said:
“Throughout the process players have been agile and willing to compromise, initially supporting a 12-game season and then a 13-game option so it is incredibly disappointing the game could not come together to improve county cricket, despite the best intentions of the players.
“Unfortunately, the decision-makers have failed to ensure our premiere red-ball competition remains a standout in world cricket by evolving, not just to meet the needs of modern professionals, but to provide a product that captures the imagination for all.
“Players appreciate the small tweak to the Vitality Blast schedule, however, we are yet to see a fixture list. At the very least, we expect to see a significant reduction in back-to-back fixtures.
“With the continuation of a 14-game Championship season, an indicative schedule for 2026 we have seen suggests there will be two games in nine days following The Hundred, this cannot be acceptable. We now need to ensure the best possible schedule can be created in a structure that remains not fit for purpose.”
Updated
Hoppsy with another missive from Headingley:
“With Yorkshire holding a six-point lead over Durham, there was a fear that they would aim to produce the flattest surface imaginable to ensure the draw that would retain their First Division status and potentially send Durham down in their place. It is too early to judge, but Yorkshire already have three wickets, two to Finlay Bean at third slip (Alex Lees and Emilio Gay) within three balls and followed up with Ben McKinney, a keeper’s catch for Jonny Bairstow, to leave them 51 for 3.
“In April, I fondly though that Durham’s batting strength made them title contenders if their seam bowling stocks held up, but they didn’t, and this morning the batting has malfunctioned at the worst possible time.
“There is evidence that creating a draw surface has at least crossed Yorkshire’s mind. Richie Robinson prepared two pitches, the greener one has been overlooked in favour of a hybrid pitch only previously used for The Hundred. Some hybrids prove to be notoriously flat, but it is September, so we will see.
“Yorkshire’s players will be driven to provide a win in Dickie Bird’s memory. Sometimes young players stand in memory of old men because it is their duty, but they were all close to Dickie, as a bouquet of flowers and his famous white cap lying on his dressing-room balcony chair before start of play testifies.”
Sob.
Confirmation from the ECB that the CC structure remains the same for 2026
The ECB have confirmed that the proposal to play a remodelled 13-match, three-group County Championship didn’t get the required two-thirds majority of votes from the first-class counties. So the current structure of 14 games, two divisions, two up, two down, remains.
The decision follows a county-led review into the structure of the men’s county competitions, in consultation with the PCA, which proposed changes to the Championship, men’s Blast and men’s Metrobank ODC.
The counties did agree , via a vote in July, to alter the format of the Vitality Blast to 12 group-stage matches, with counties moving into three groups of six. This reduces both the number of games and the amount of travel.
The competition will also be played in a block before The Hundred, with 2026 Men’s Finals Day confirmed for Saturday 18 July at Edgbaston.
The Metro Bank One-Day Cup structure also remains the same, if CC reduction proposal had passed, the number of ODC group-stage games would have been increased to ten
Updated
Luke has his beady eye on Middlesex’s progress at Lord’s.
“Middlesex are out of the promotion race after a couple of rain-affected draws in recent weeks. But the battle for placings and pride remains on, and Gloucestershire have leapfrogged Middlesex into fourth place in Division 2 after beating Northants in Bristol.
“Out in the middle, under pleasant September sunshine, the Middlesex No 3 Josh de Caires appeared utterly bemused to be given out caught behind for 10 off Singh Dale, soon after striking one particularly glorious boundary through extra cover off Taylor. Replays were inconclusive but suggested he may have a strong case that any noise was not bat on ball.
“Luke Hollman (27 not out) and Leus du Plooy (28 not out) have staved off an early collapse, though, compiling a perky 50 partnership to steer the hosts to 92 for two off 17 overs. Singh Dale bowled well: six overs, two wickets, 25 runs.”
Eh, this wasn’t the plan Surrey…44 for four, as a static Ben Foakes is bowled by James Fuller. Hampshire start to clamber the slippery relegation ladder.
Rain at Trent Bridge
But Notts won’t mind too much – a glance at the scorecards show Surrey are not strutting at the Rosebowl, 43 for 3. Warwickshire 39 for one.
A maiden fifty for Josh Thomas
Twenty year old Josh Thomas (England U19) reaches a rapid fifty in his first Championship game – a new face in Somerset’s revolving-door opening partnership. Somerset 74 for one against Essex.
With an hour gone, let’s trip around the grounds, wickets everywhere. In Div 2:
Lancashire’s B-team bowlers (Balderson, Blatherwick, Bailey) are suddenly potent against promoted Glamorgan: 56 for three.
A rapid 55 from Nye Donald has ended courtesy of Cohen, Derbyshire 70-1 at Canterbuy.
Middx 78-2 at Lord’s, while Budinger bashed a boundary-laden 44 against Northants, Leicestershire 82-1.
While Ryan Patel gives second slip some catching practise at the Rosebowl, Surrey 24-2; Warwickshire are being worked over by Mohammad Abbas – who already lost Al Davies lbw to Brett Hutton for 0. Warwickshire 23-1.
Ali Martin looks up from his Australian immigration forms “England discard Ollie Robinson on a hot streak at New Road”. Too true – Worcestershire, whose Championship season has at least be spruced up by the weekend’s victory in the ODC, slide to 40 for four. Robinson four for 23.
A huge sigh of relief from Scott Currie who was the guilty party at slip a few overs ago, as Abbot nails Sibley in front of his stumps. Surrey 19-1.
And a big friendly hello to Luke McLaughlin, who has escaped the Guardian desk for Lord’s.
“Middlesex got off to a handy start after choosing to bat, 29-0 off five overs, before Sam Robson clipped a poor stroke off his legs straight to mid-wicket: success for Ajeet Singh Dale and Robson gone for 14. There was naturally a minute’s silence for Dickie Bird before play, and now there is heavy metallic clanging emanating from the Allen Stand next to the pavilion, which is being redeveloped in typically fine style by the MCC. Singh Dale is getting a fair bit of movement bowling from the Nursery End while Matt Taylor is bowling a decent pace from the Pavilion End.
“Latest score: Middlesex 33-1 off seven overs.”
Even the eternally-cheerful Kevan James is not too happy with the Hampshire’s batting this season – a couple of the younger players really struggling to press on. Looks lovely at the Rosebowl mind you, autumnal sunshine and shirtsleeves as Wheal wheels in. Surrey 19-0.
Updated
David Hopps is at Headingley, where Dickie Bird’s death will leave a huge hole:
“It’s hard to exaggerate how fond, and in many ways protective, Yorkshire cricket was of Dickie Bird. The county has marked his passing this morning with a minute’s applause (a full minute - that must be worth 10 minutes anywhere else in the country!) and the players are wearing black armbands.
I downed a couple of reflective beers in his memory last night and decided halfway through the second one that the reason I was so fond of him was that his innocence helped reacquaint me with my inner child. Perhaps others felt the same way.
At the bottom of the lifts at Headingley, going up to the media centre, I realised that was one of the last places I had met him.
The conversation went something like this:
“How are you lad, how are you? How are you?”
“Very good Dickie.”
“Are you still working?”
“A bit. I’ve just written your Obit for the Guardian.”
“Will I like it?”
“Well, you’ll be dead won’t you? So you’ll never know.”
“I’ll have to trust you then lad. Ha ha ha.”
(Accosting unwary passing strangers)
“I’ll never see it. I’ll have to trust him won’t I? I’ll have to trust him, won’t I?”
There must be more fond anecdotes about Dickie than just about any cricket personality who has ever lived .”
Updated
At the Rose Bowl, Surrey won the toss and plumped to bat. They are without Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson and Dan Worrall, as well as Australia-bound Will Jacks and the ill Jordan Clark. But they do have Indian legspinner Rahul Chahar. Liam Dawson plays for Hampshire – who get off to a rough start by dropping Dom Sibley at second slip before he’s scored a run.
Updated
A round of applause echoes around the stands at Headingley in memory of Dickie. The sun is out, Durham won the toss and are having a bat. The umpire calls play.
Updated
England pack the heavy artillery for Australia
And a left-field choice in Will Jacks. Ali with the lowdown.
14-match Championship to continue
With one breath left in the season, clarity at last. The counties have voted to reject the proposed changes to the Championship structure, so the 14-match, two tier competition remains until (I was told) 2031 at the earliest.
Those in favour of reform needed 12 counties to vote for the new structure, a number they failed to gather when the votes came in.
Dickie Bird 1933-2025
Some sad news yesterday, with the announcement of the death of Dickie Bird. A man without side whose dedication to the game was both tender and moving. RIP Dickie in your white coat in the sky.
Vic and Hoppsy did him proud:
Updated
Division Two table
1 Leicestershire 218 Champions
2 Glamorgan 189 promoted
3 Derbyshire 164
4 Gloucestershire 163
5 Middlesex 159
6 Lancashire 153
7 Northamptonshire 140
8 Kent 113
Division One table
1 Nottinghamshire 203
2 Surrey 189
3 Somerset 179
4 Warwickshire 168
5 Sussex 150
6 Essex 150
7 Yorkshire 146
8 Hampshire 142
9 Durham 140
10 Worcestershire 100 relegated
Fixtures
Chelmsford: Essex v Somerset
Southampton: Hampshire v Surrey
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Sussex
Headingley: Yorkshire v Durham
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Lancashire
Canterbury: Kent v Derbyshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Gloucestershire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Leicestershire
Preamble
Good morning from a bright autumnal day in the north, the dog’s belly wet from the heavy dew, sunflowers straining for one last show. Somehow, we’re here again, the final round of the County Championship.
And, as luck might have it, there is (nearly) all to play for. After last week’s umbrella gnawer at The Oval, Notts go into the final round with a 14-point lead, needing a maximum of ten points to knock second-placed Surrey off their perch. Surrey need a win and for Notts to crumble under pressure.
At the other end of the table, relegation candidates Yorkshire and Durham fight it out at Headingley. Ten points will keep Yorkshire north of the drop, while Hampshire, Sussex and Essex also sit nervously with their calculators.
We already know that Leicestershire are champions and rise to Division One alongside Glamorgan, and that Worcestershire play their last match in the top tier.
Play starts at 10.30am round the grounds, do join us for one last hurrah.
Updated
