Yorkshire County Cricket Club

The ECB Reporters Network, an independent reporting service covering the county game, has produced a county-by-county guide to this season’s Rothesay County Championship. Here, are their 18 fact-file articles.

DIVISION ONE

ESSEX

Previewed by Martin Smith, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Tom Westley

Director of cricket: Chris Silverwood

2025 finish: 6th

2025 highest run-scorer: Paul Walter (914)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Jamie Porter (49)

Key winter moves: Essex had already bagged the pacy Zaman Akhter from Gloucestershire and Durham rookie Mitchell Killeen before the end of last season to make rotation of their seam attack smoother. They have also added Wiaan Mulder for the first two months of the season to cover Jordan Cox’s absence at the IPL. The prolific South African accumulator will also provide a useful bowling option.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: With some of the more senior players reaching the twilight of their careers, who will step up in their places? Charlie Allison enjoyed a breakthrough season with the bat in 2025 and has surely cemented his spot long-term. Another home-grown talent Charlie Bennett emerged late on in the campaign to suggest he could bolster a bowling unit often overstretched last year.

Aiming to catch selectors’ eyes: With positions in England’s upper order looking up for grabs after the Ashes, a call-up for Jordan Cox may not be long coming. The combative right-hander, a man for all formats, fits the attacking England model but is capable of switching to more orthodox, conservative mode if circumstances demand.

Final thought: We’re looking forward to seeing far greater equality between bat and ball. Last season, Essex batters accumulated a remarkable combined total of 20 red-ball centuries. Not bad for a side who struggled alarmingly on admittedly unresponsive pitches. But at the same time the bowlers claimed all 20 wickets in a match on just five occasions. Altogether, it made for a glut of forgettable draws.

GLAMORGAN

Previewed by Blake Bint, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Kiran Carlson

Head coach: Richard Dawson

2025 finish: 2nd (in Division Two, promoted)

2025 highest run-scorer: Colin Ingram (1,076)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Timm van der Gugten (34)

Key winter moves: It has been a quiet winter despite promotion. Sean Dickson joins from Somerset, albeit at the expense of captain Sam Northeast returning to Kent. Academy success in 2025 has seen rookie contracts given to two while James Harris’ retirement and the fact that Asitha Fernando is not returning leaves bowler-shaped holes. Colin Ingram is the only season-long overseas although Australian quicks Ryan Hadley and Nathan McAndrew will be there, for the first six, and for two matches in June respectively.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Glamorgan are back in Division One for the first time since 2005, which is exciting on the surface. Then though, they had an England international as captain and another play a vital part in the Ashes win that summer; and yet they still recorded 14 losses from 16 games. Glamorgan will be hoping their top seven can offer stability, young though several may be, and be at the forefront of avoiding defeats if not picking up wins.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Asa Tribe has overtaken Ben Kellaway as the most talked about Glamorgan youngster, but both have exceptional talent. The former had hundreds for Jersey at 19 and racked up 731 runs at 45.68 last season. Looking a traditional opening batter, he made a century on the England Lions’ tour to Australia and now has franchise recognition.

Final thought: Glamorgan have plenty to do to last more than one season in the top-flight this time round. More notable than on-field business, the club has kept the successful coaching combination of Richard Dawson and Ian Harvey, who also had success with Gloucestershire in 2015. To win first-class matches you need 20 wickets; with a shortage of seamers, leg-spinner Mason Crane should get more opportunities after claiming 23 scalps in just five red-ball games last year.

HAMPSHIRE

Previewed by Alex Smith, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Ben Brown

Head coach: Russell Domingo

2025 finish: 8th

2025 highest run-scorer: Ben Brown (758)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Kyle Abbott (56)

Key winter moves: The biggest shake-up at Utilita Bowl has come off the field with Adi Birrell leaving after seven years, to be replaced as head coach by his protégé, Russell Domingo. Bowling coach Shane Burger has arrived from Somerset to take over from Graeme Welch. On the pitch, Keith Barker is the only major departure, with highly experienced batter Australian Jake Lehmann arriving as a domestic player after helping South Australia win their second successive Sheffield Shield title.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Players stepping up. The likes of Fletcha Middleton, Toby Albert, Ali Orr, and Scott Currie have been given opportunities and now they need to come of age and support the experienced core of Ben Brown, Liam Dawson, Kyle Abbott and Nick Gubbins. The recruitment of Jake Lehmann should ease some of the batting pressure, while Ben Mayes’ emergence is one to keep a close eye on – especially after a run-filled winter at the Under 19 World Cup.

Aiming to catch the Test selectors’ eye: Sonny Baker. His international debuts last summer might have been ones to forget but his first injury-free Rothesay County Championship season should be deemed a success. His pace speaks for itself, but he is picking up skills and smarts all the time. He is a knowledge sponge, and having Kyle Abbott nearby will only fast-track his development.

Final thought: From early-season overseas chaos to points deductions, and double white ball final heartache to almost relegation – but for Durham’s catastrophic final day Hampshire would be in Division Two. 2025 was a year to forget. Simply, 2026 has to be better. The talent is in the squad, but they lack the experience and reliability to be considered title challengers. Improving home form, where they won once last year on largely lifeless pitches, must be a priority.

LEICESTERSHIRE

Previewed by Jon Culley, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Ian Holland

Head coach: Alfonso Thomas

2025 finish: 1st (in Division Two, promoted)

2025 leading run-scorer: Lewis Hill (917)

2025 leading wicket-taker: Ian Holland (38)

Key winter moves: Club captain Peter Handscomb is unavailable for the season due to family commitments but has re-signed until 2027 in a show of faith. Stephen Eskinazi (Middlesex) and Jonny Tattersall (Yorkshire) were added to the batting resources last season. Somerset all-rounder Ben Green moves permanently after several loan spells, to be joined by Taunton colleague Josh Davey. Restrictions imposed by Cricket South Africa scuppered the signing of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, although the loss is softened by the recruitment of New Zealand left-armer Ajaz Patel.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Pace bowling prospect Alex Green was a sensation in last season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, when his 18 wickets included three five-fors. Genuinely quick, and 6ft 7ins tall, the 19-year-old academy graduate impressed again in the winter, taking wickets during England’s run to the Under-19 World Cup final. He will be pushing for inclusion in the red-ball side.

Aiming to catch the Test selectors’ eye: After an exceptional county summer that brought five hundreds in 16 Rothesay County Championship innings, not to mention 13 wickets in a match against Derbyshire, it baffled many judges that leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed was not part of England’s Ashes squad. If he can maintain that form against Division One opponents, the 21-year-old’s case will surely be irresistible.

Final thought: Leicestershire, who finished bottom of Division Two as recently as 2022, romped to the 2025 title to end a 22-year exile from Division One. Staying there will be tough, given that historically one in three promoted teams are relegated after just one season, and almost half within two. With Chris Wright retired and Logan Van Beek joining Yorkshire, the pace attack needs Josh Hull to mature into a consistent spearhead but the Foxes will fight for every point.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Previewed by Jon Culley, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Haseeb Hameed

Head coach: Peter Moores

2025 finish: 1st

2025 leading run-scorer: Haseeb Hameed (1,258)

2025 leading wicket-taker: Brett Hutton (38)

Key winter moves: The loss of Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas to Derbyshire was an unexpected blow. ln his place, Mohammad Ali, another experienced Pakistan quick, is set to play in the last six Rothesay County Championship rounds; Australian seamer Fergus O’Neill, who took 21 wickets in four appearances at the start of 2025, could play in the first eight. The impressive South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne returns and the early availability of England’s Ben Duckett after cancelling his IPL deal is a real boost.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: The battle to be the county’s No 1 spinner. After his sensational end to the 2024 season, teenage off-spinner Farhan Ahmed was in pole position last April before Liam Patterson-White, the left-armer whose career had lost direction a little, was handed a recall and subsequently made himself impossible to leave out. Leg-spinner Calvin Harrison has moved to Northamptonshire but another left-armer, Joe Pocklington, who impressed in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, adds to the competition.

Aiming to catch the Test selectors’ eye: Haseeb Hameed has had a fragmented international career so far but after 2,349 first-class runs at 58.72 over the last two seasons, including seven centuries, three of them doubles, two carrying his bat, he’s surely worth another look. A pretty good player when last selected, he remains technically sound but scores at a markedly quicker tempo.

Final thought: After two seasons nearer the bottom of the Division One table than the top, Nottinghamshire’s dethroning of Surrey still seemed a slightly fanciful notion until it happened, thanks to Josh Tongue spearheading a brilliant win at the Kia Oval in the penultimate round. Tongue may not be around often this year and it would be a good moment for Dillon Pennington to realise his full potential. Defending their title will not be easy, but confidence is high.

SOMERSET

Previewed by Richard Latham, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Lewis Gregory

Head coach: Jason Kerr

2025 finish: 3rd

2025 highest run-scorer: James Rew (1,053)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Jack Leach (52)

Key winter moves: With Ben Green, Kasey Aldridge, Josh Davey, Sean Dickson and Shoaib Bashir all having left to ply their trade at other counties, Somerset fans may have anticipated a glut of new signings. Instead, the club look set to give some of their younger players a chance and have recruited only seamer Josh Shaw from Gloucestershire to add experience to the bowling attack.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: The impact Somerset’s less experienced players can have on a squad that could be stretched by injuries. Josh Thomas will be a candidate to open the batting, while Alfie Ogborne’s left-arm seam may offer variety to the bowling. England Under-19 captain Thomas Rew is still completing his studies at King’s College but clearly has the talent to increase batting options as the season progresses.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: James Rew was called into England’s squad as replacement for the injured Jordan Cox last May without getting a game. He had just become the youngest player since Denis Compton in 1939 to score 10 first-class centuries and went on to top 1,000 Rothesay County Championship runs in 2025. Sure to be on the selectors’ radar if he starts well.

Final thought: Jack Leach was Somerset’s most potent bowling weapon last season and it will be interesting to see what type of pitches the experienced left-arm spinner is given to bowl on as the summer progresses.

SURREY

Previewed by Mark Baldwin, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Rory Burns

Head coach: Gareth Batty

2025 finish: 2nd

2025 highest run-scorer: Dom Sibley (1,274)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Dan Worrall (32)

Key winter moves: Experienced Australian all-rounder Sean Abbott has rejoined for a fourth spell at the club. Abbott, who turned 34 at the end of February and has 58 white-ball international caps, also played for Surrey in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Head coach Gareth Batty says Abbott, available for all cricket until the end of July, provides both on-field and off-field leadership. Surrey have also brought in India leg-spinner Rahul Chahar for the final eight games of the season. Chahar took 10 wickets on Surrey debut in last September’s win at Hampshire. His 8/51 is the best first-class bowling figures by a debutant for the club, breaking William Mudie’s 166-year-old record when he took 7/61 in 1859.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Surrey are on something of a quest this summer, having been pipped to the Rothesay County Championship title by Nottinghamshire last September. Although frustrated at being beaten by just 20 runs by Notts in what was in effect a title-decider at the Kia Oval in the penultimate round of matches, Surrey’s players and management accept they were not quite at their best last year in a bid for a fourth successive title. They are particularly relishing taking on Notts twice this season.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson all start the season with much to prove after underwhelming performances in last winter’s Ashes series, but could both Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence come again at England level?

Final thought: Alec Stewart’s return full-time last autumn to the director of cricket role he has held with such distinction at Surrey since 2013 – apart from an 18-month step-back to care for his late wife Lynn, who sadly lost a brave fight against cancer early last summer – has been welcomed by all at the Kia Oval. Players and staff know Stewart will provide the same fierce attention to detail and ‘overview’ leadership that helped to guide Rory Burns’ team to four championships between 2018 and 2024. Can they make it five titles in nine summers?

SUSSEX

Previewed by Bruce Talbot, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Ollie Robinson

Head coach: Paul Farbrace

2025 finish: 4th

2025 highest run-scorer: John Simpson (1,086 runs)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Ollie Robinson (39 wickets)

Key winter moves: Sussex added three red-ball players to their Rothesay County Championship squad and have given themselves more options in two key areas: the top order and the all-rounder slot. Jack Leaning is back working with Paul Farbrace, the coach who knows him best, while Tom Price is a genuine all-rounder who will relish the step up to Division One. Seamer Dom Goodman has followed Price from Gloucestershire and will offer good back-up to Ollie Robinson and the other quicks.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: James Coles is likely to get the chance to showcase his undoubted talent in the top four and it’s unlikely to faze him. Can the experienced Jack Leaning rediscoverer his best form after linking up with Farbrace again and how will Ollie Robinson, who now has the twin responsibilities of leading the seam attack and captaining the team, handle the extra responsibility? Tom Price adds beef to an already strong lower-middle order and is a potential match-changer with bat and ball.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: If Coles makes his England debut this summer it’s likely to be in one-day cricket after he picked up a £390k contract at The Hundred. But the 21-year-old has all the skills to develop into a Test batter too. He scored four centuries last season – his first in Division One – and is capable of kicking on this summer.

Final thought: Sussex start the season with a 12-point deduction for financial misdemeanours, but Farbrace thinks his squad is strong enough to be considered title challengers. Although opener Daniel Hughes is back from Australia, there will be no overseas bowler until Jaydev Unadkat arrives in June and that might stretch bowling resources in the first half of the season. But if they can keep their key players fit and utilise the squad depth, Sussex can improve on last season’s fourth place.

WARWICKSHIRE

Previewed by Brian Halford, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Ed Barnard

Head coach: Ian Westwood

2025 finish: 5th

2025 highest run-scorer: Ed Barnard (922)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Ethan Bamber (43)

Key winter moves: Warwickshire have acted decisively to strengthen a senior seam-bowling department which has leaned far too heavily on the excellent Olly Hannon-Dalby for too long. Jordan Thompson has arrived from Yorkshire, Nathan Gilchrist from Kent and Keith Barker is back from Hampshire. With Chris Woakes having retired from international cricket, the pace attack has an appealing depth, allowing for rotation to help keep all its members fit.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: The Edgbaston faithful are looking forward to seeing Chris Woakes back in the Bears fold – the all-rounder has played just 12 Rothesay County Championship matches in the last nine seasons. Woakes’ appetite for the game remains high and he is hungry to make a big contribution to his beloved county. Seeing Woakes and Barker running in will evoke memories of 2012 glory!

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Ed Barnard – the all-rounder has hugely impressed in all departments since moving across from Worcestershire and more of the same must surely be rewarded with a call-up. He was also appointed captain just before the start of the season.

Final thought: Warwickshire’s squad enters the 2026 season in better shape than for several years. After all the recent transition, fifth in the Championship in 2025 was a decent effort in Ian Westwood’s first year as head coach. With some stability and experience in the ranks, and the transformed seam attack, his second could bring a serious challenge for honours.

YORKSHIRE

Previewed by Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Jonny Bairstow

Head coach: Anthony McGrath

2025 finish: 7th

2025 leading run-scorer: Adam Lyth (1,173)

2025 leading wicket-taker: George Hill (51)

Key winter moves: Australia Test quick Jhye Richardson’s signing for April and May – potentially into June – has turned heads, while his Western Australia captain Sam Whiteman has penned a three-year all-format contract. Batter-keeper Whiteman, Doncaster-born, is local-qualified. Seam-bowling all-rounders Logan van Beek and Will Sutherland join Richardson as early-summer overseas signings. The returning Sutherland is only available for two June matches alongside his Blast commitments. Dawid Malan, Matt Milnes, Jonny Tattersall and Jordan Thompson have departed.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Yorkshire, promoted in 2024, consolidated their Division One status last summer. After a slow start, three of their four wins came during the last seven matches, taking as many points as champions Nottinghamshire in that period. Now, it’s about pushing on to challenge the likes of Notts and Surrey over the full distance. They certainly have the firepower under captain Jonny Bairstow, with emerging talent such as George Hill, Will Luxton, Matthew Revis and James Wharton developing impressively.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Top-order batter James Wharton, 25, recently earned his maiden Lions call-up on the curtailed Abu Dhabi trip. He has totalled 1,533 runs in 23 Rothesay County Championship matches across the last two seasons, including 2024 scores of 188 and 275. He contributed seven Division One half-centuries last season. An improved conversion rate could do wonders for him.

Final thought: A key factor in Yorkshire’s drive for success is always England availability. If Harry Brook and/or Joe Root can parachute in and rack up the runs ahead of the international summer beginning, then that could set the county on the right track for a first four-day title since 2015. That’s certainly the aim for coach Anthony McGrath, who tasted similar success in his Essex days.

DIVISION TWO

DERBYSHIRE

Previewed by Nigel Gardner, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Wayne Madsen

Head coach: Mickey Arthur

2025 finish: 3rd

2025 highest run-scorer: Wayne Madsen (1,158)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Luis Reece (50)

Key winter moves: Persuading the experienced Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Abbas to reject offers from Division One counties and sign a two-year contract is a statement of intent by Derbyshire, who made another impressive move with the recruitment of England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir. The bowlers will also benefit from the vast experience of Chris Wright, who has taken up his first coaching role after the former Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Middlesex and Essex seamer announced his retirement at the end of last season.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: After narrowly missing out on promotion in 2025, Derbyshire look to have a genuine chance of booking a place at the top table for the first time in 14 years. Abbas will spearhead an attack in which all-rounder Luis Reece excelled last season to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the division while Matt Montgomery strengthens a batting line-up that will once again be led by the evergreen Madsen and attacking Australian opener Caleb Jewell.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: After the selectors overlooked him for the entirety of the chastening 4-1 Ashes defeat, Bashir will be determined to remind them of his qualities by making a strong start to life at his new county following his switch from Somerset.

Final thought: A new season brings with it fresh hope and the exciting fast bowling prospect Harry Moore will be looking forward to it more than most. The England Under-19 quick missed all of the 2025 campaign with a back injury so will be aiming to build on the potential he showed towards the end of the previous summer.

DURHAM

Previewed by Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Alex Lees

Head coach: Ryan Campbell

2025 finish: 9th (in Division One, relegated)

2025 leading run-scorer: Emilio Gay (954)

2025 leading wicket-taker: Ben Raine (44)

Key winter moves: Prolific South Africa batter David Bedingham has re-signed on an all-format overseas deal for the seventh straight season. He will be joined until mid-June by Kemar Roach, the West Indian fast bowler who won three Rothesay County Championships with Surrey but wanted a change of scenery. Kasey Aldridge and Archie Bailey have arrived permanently from Somerset and Gloucestershire following 2025 loan spells while ex-Afghanistan U19 leg-spinner Shafiqullah Ghafari has signed as a local. Mitchell Killeen, Paul Coughlin and Bas de Leede have all departed.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Promotion must be the priority following a last-minute relegation last September. Alongside Lancashire, they start the summer as one of the favourites in Division Two. A number of players, old and young, have a point to prove up at the Banks Homes Riverside, where coach Ryan Campbell will be urging positive, attacking cricket. Ironically, though, their lack of chutzpah with the bat during the final afternoon of 2025 at Headingley in September cost them their Division One status.

Aiming to catch the Test selectors’ eye: Opening batter Emilio Gay led the way for Durham last summer with nigh on 1,000 runs in Division One, including a best of 161, and then scored two half-centuries for the Lions in Australia before Christmas. A flying start to the season could do wonders for the 25-year-old left-hander’s hopes of a senior England debut.

Final thought: Durham fans will hope there’s no lingering disappointment following last year’s relegation, which hit them like a freight train on the season’s final day. Needing to bat out the last two sessions against Yorkshire at Headingley, they crumbled to 85 all out to fall through the trap door. They could also do with a more settled bowling unit after injuries and unavailability hurt them last year. The lack of support for Ben Raine’s 44 wickets was an issue.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Previewed by Richard Latham, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Cameron Bancroft

Head Coach: Mark Alleyne

2025 finish: 6th

2025 highest run-scorer: James Bracey (1,010)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Ajeet Singh Dale (40)

Key winter moves: Australian pace bowler Gabe Bell is available for the first six Rothesay County Championship games and is expected to relish English conditions, while the recruitment of Will Williams from Lancashire and the return of Craig Miles from Warwickshire will further strengthen a seam attack depleted by the moves of Josh Shaw, Ajeet Singh Dale, Tom Price and Zaman Akhter to Somerset, Lancashire, Sussex and Essex respectively.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Whether Ben Charlesworth can continue his development into a genuine big-hitting all-rounder. The powerful left-hander looks set to open the batting with skipper Cameron Bancroft after scoring 914 Championship runs at an average of nearly 40 last season. Having made his debut at 17, 25-year-old Charlesworth is now a seasoned first XI player and has been working on his right-arm seam bowling, which brought 16 Championship wickets in 2025.

Aiming to catch the Test selectors’ eye: After suffering a dip in form following two Test appearances against New Zealand in 2021, James Bracey looked back to his best last season, averaging 50.5 in 24 Championship innings. A capable wicketkeeper, Bracey earned a reputation for sound defence in his early Gloucestershire career but has developed his shot-making and was Gloucestershire’s leading six-hitter in four-day cricket during 2025.

Final thought: The appointment of Jon Lewis as director of cricket last October means that, along with head coach Mark Alleyne, Gloucestershire go into the new season with two of their most experienced former players at the helm. Lewis took 849 first class wickets during his playing career as a seamer and it will be fascinating to see how he can influence a new-look pace attack, which will need to gel quickly if the team are to challenge for promotion.

KENT

Previewed by Fred Atkins, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Daniel Bell-Drummond

Head Coach: Adam Hollioake

2025 finish: 8th

2025 highest run-scorer: Ben Compton (1,386)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Matt Parkinson (35)

Key winter moves: Domestically there are no entirely new faces, but Sam Northeast and Matt Milnes both return and the talent drain seems to have stopped. Aside from Nathan Gilchrist, who joined Warwickshire, Kent kept everyone they wanted to after a summer spent worrying that Tawanda Muyeye, Joey Evison and Grant Stewart might leave. The overseas contingent is entirely South African: Keith Dudgeon returns for the season, joined by Glenton Stuurman for the first phase and Senuran Muthusamy from May onwards.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: A genuinely competitive team again. Kent’s bowling unit has been decimated by injuries in the last two years. This time round the seamers will be heavily rotated to prevent a repeat and the wickets will no longer be batting paradises.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: There’s a clutch of talented youngsters but the most likely to succeed might be Ben Dawkins, who is going to be “huge”, according to no less an authority than Sam Billings. A tall, multi-format batter from the same school as Zak Crawley (Sevenoaks), he’s played for England Under-19s and made an outstanding, unbeaten 111 in List A cricket. Averages 34.4 in four red-ball appearances.

Final thought: Kent’s 2025 season was so desperate that Hollioake resorted to calling in a “non-denominational geopathic surveyor” to the ground over the winter “to support the promotion of positive well-being.” The story went viral, but if Kent’s fortunes do improve this year there may be less fatuous explanations: they’ve recruited well, retained well and they won’t be squandering home advantage by asking undercooked bowlers to toil for two days on lifeless surfaces.

LANCASHIRE

Previewed by Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Sir James Anderson

Head coach: Steven Croft

2025 finish: 5th

2025 leading run-scorer: Luke Wells (1,074)

2025 leading wicket-taker: George Balderson (40)

Key winter moves: Former captain Steven Croft has been appointed permanent head coach after an interim spell during the second half of 2025 and Sir James Anderson as Rothesay County Championship skipper. Ajeet Singh Dale and Paul Coughlin have arrived to bolster the fast-bowling stocks, with Australia A quick Mitch Perry signing an early-season overseas deal. Perry joins Victoria teammate Marcus Harris, the prolific batter who is halfway through a two-year overseas contract. Seamer Will Williams has gone to Gloucestershire.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: A promotion push. The Red Rose start the summer as favourites to win Division Two, and it’s no surprise. They struggled to get out of the blocks last season and, despite finishing well, had left themselves with too much to do. Keaton Jennings resigned as red-ball captain in May, while Dale Benkenstein left his role as head coach. Things look a lot more settled now, which should boost chances of a faster start.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: New recruit Ajeet Singh Dale, from Gloucestershire, made two England Lions appearances in 2024 and 2025. He’s within four wickets of 100 in his Championship career. With significant pace and skill, and at the age of 25, he has every chance of breaking into the Test match plans if he can hit the ground running at Emirates Old Trafford.

Final thought: Steven Croft, who has added ex-England quick Kabir Ali to his backroom staff as the new bowling coach, wants success across the board in 2026. He aims to convert an excellent record of reaching Vitality Blast Finals Days into silverware, for example. But he did recently admit one goal stands above the rest, saying: “We want to win the County Championship, and we can’t do that in Division Two. The main goal is promotion.”

MIDDLESEX

Previewed by Ben Kosky, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Leus du Plooy

Head coach: Peter Fulton

2025 finish: 4th

2025 highest run-scorer: Leus du Plooy (1,009)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Toby Roland-Jones (45)

Key winter moves: Middlesex made their only significant change off the field, with ex-New Zealand international Peter Fulton appointed as head coach after a successful six-year stint with Canterbury. On the playing side, it’s basically as you were, with no room in the budget for overseas additions. Experienced top-order batter Stephen Eskinazi, who was on loan at Leicestershire at the end of last season, converted that temporary switch into a permanent one.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Josh de Caires started out as an opener, then morphed into a frontline off-spinner batting at seven before returning to the top of the order in the second half of last season. Having passed 50 four times in six games and earned himself a new contract, de Caires now has the chance to nail down his spot as Sam Robson’s opening partner if he can begin turning some of those into hundreds.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Already a mainstay of the England Under-19 side that reached the World Cup final in February, 18-year-old seamer Sebastian Morgan made a strong impression in his first three Rothesay County Championship appearances for Middlesex. Morgan’s potential with the bat will also have been noted after his mature knock of 97, coming in at nine against Gloucestershire.

Final thought: Morgan is part of a crop of promising young pace bowlers emerging from Middlesex’s academy, along with the likes of Noah Cornwell, Naavya Sharma and Jamie Feldman. If the younger quicks continue making strides to back up the ever-reliable Toby Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins, Middlesex could force their way back into the promotion conversation. That will also need an experienced batting line-up including Robson, Du Plooy, Higgins and Max Holden to put big scores on the board.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Previewed by Jeremy Blackmore, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Luke Procter

Head coach: Darren Lehmann

2025 finish: 7th

2025 highest run-scorer: Saif Zaib (1,425)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Calvin Harrison (36)

Key winter moves: South Australia batter Nathan McSweeney, just the second skipper to lift all three trophies in Australian domestic cricket, joins as Rothesay County Championship vice-captain fresh from winning the Sheffield Shield again. After a highly impressive loan stint in 2025, former Nottinghamshire leg-spinning all-rounder Calvin Harrison has signed a two-year deal, while explosive hitter Louis Kimber moves south from Leicestershire in search of more red-ball opportunities. Overseas bowlers Australian seamer Harry Conway and Indian international leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal return in early season and mid-summer respectively.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: Head coach Darren Lehmann has called for greater consistency and more ruthlessness, asking batters to back up promising starts with telling scores that can drive games. The club have recruited well during the winter, adding all-round depth which should create competition for places. In a tough division can they kick on now and challenge for promotion after falling away following a promising start to 2025?

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Saif Zaib finished as county cricket’s leading run scorer last season with six centuries and will be looking to build on his breakout year and show Lions/Test selectors that he can back up that form. Calvin Harrison, who toured with the Lions in February, will also be knocking on the door.

Final thought: Northamptonshire have bolstered a talented but often fragile batting line-up, but a promotion challenge will require more consistency. It will be fascinating to see whether the promising youngsters who debuted last year can press for regular spots. The evergreen Ben Sanderson will again lead the attack but much will be expected of young quick Raphy Weatherall.

WORCESTERSHIRE

Previewed by Brian Halford, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay

Captain: Brett D’Oliveira

Head coach: Alan Richardson

2025 finish: 10th (in Division One, relegated)

2025 highest run-scorer: Jake Libby (1,060)

2025 highest wicket-taker: Tom Taylor (58)

Key winter moves: Worcestershire have signed South African all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel on a red-ball contract for 2026. The 27-year-old will be available for the whole Rothesay County Championship season, his second stint in England after a spell with Kent in 2024. Despite the recent yo-yo history having continued with relegation last year, the squad assembled by the Pears over recent years appears strong enough to challenge for another promotion.

What we’re looking forward to seeing: The batting looks interesting. The Pears will look to Jake Libby for the customary crucial top-order anchor with the youthful exuberance of Dan Lategan and Isaac Mohammed fledging into the side around him. With Adam Hose back to fitness after a serious injury sustained in The Hundred, the New Road audience could be in for some entertaining days.

Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Ethan Brookes. With abundant natural talent, capable of playing truly thrilling and match-turning innings with the bat, the 24-year-old all-rounder clearly has the potential to become an international player.

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