2016 County Championship
Administrator(s) | England and Wales Cricket Board |
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Cricket format | First-class cricket (4 days) |
Tournament format(s) | League system |
Participants | 18 |

The 2016 County Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2016 Specsavers County Championship),[1] is the 117th cricket County Championship season. It is scheduled to be the last season with nine teams in each division, after it was announced in March 2016 that the 2017 season would feature only eight teams in Division One. As a result, only one team will be promoted from Division Two in the 2016 season, whilst two teams would be relegated from Division One.[2]
The season saw a significant change in playing regulations where instead of a mandatory coin toss to determine choice of batting or bowling first, the visiting team was allowed to choose to bowl first if they desired.[3][4] This change was introduced by the ECB cricket committee in November 2015 as a response to concerns raised about the standard of pitches, particularly in Division Two of the Championship. The initiative aims to reduce the preparation of seamer friendly wickets which had seen matches completed quickly, made batting harder early in matches and generally gave an advantage to the side bowling first.[5] By encouraging Counties to produce more balanced wickets the initiative aims to promote the skills required in Test cricket, in particular aiding the development of spin bowling and promoting more patient batting.[3][4][6]
Tougher penalties for poor pitches and the use of the new regulations just in Division Two of the Championship had been considered by the ECB, but the committee opted to implement the change across both divisions in 2016.[4] On the opening day of the 2016 season, four captains opted to bowl first with the choice of batting or bowling being decided by a toss in just one match.[6]
Teams
The 2016 Championship is divided into two divisions of nine teams each. Each County will play every other side in their division twice with matches lasting four days - once at home and once away. At the end of the season one County will be promoted from Division Two and two relegated from Division One in order to create a smaller Division One in 2017.[2]
Division One
Team promoted from Division Two
Division Two
Team relegated from Division One
Standings
Teams receive 16 points for a win, 8 for a tie and 5 for a draw. Bonus points (a maximum of 5 batting points and 3 bowling points) may be scored during the first 110 overs of each team's first innings.[34]
Division One
Source: [34] |
Division Two
Source: [35] |
Fixtures
The fixture list for the 2016 season was announced in December 2015.[36][37]
Division One
10–13 April |
(H) Durham |
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Match drawn |
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10–13 April |
(H) Hampshire |
v |
Match drawn |
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10–13 April |
(H) Nottinghamshire |
v |
Nottinghamshire won by 3 wickets |
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17–20 April |
v |
Lancashire (H) |
Lancashire won by 8 wickets |
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17–20 April |
(H) Middlesex |
v |
Match drawn |
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17–20 April |
(H) Yorkshire |
v |
Match drawn |
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24–27 April |
v |
Durham (H) |
Match drawn |
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24–27 April |
(H) Surrey |
v |
Match drawn |
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24–27 April |
v |
Warwickshire (H) |
Match drawn |
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1–4 May |
Hampshire (H) |
v |
Match drawn |
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1–4 May |
Nottinghamshire (H) |
v |
Match drawn |
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Trent Bridge, Nottingham Umpires: Michael Gough and Richard Kettleborough Player of the match: Alex Lees (Yorkshire) | |||||
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1–4 May |
v |
Somerset (H) |
Match drawn |
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1–4 May |
Surrey (H) |
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Match drawn |
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8–11 May |
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8–11 May |
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8–11 May |
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8–11 May |
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15–18 May |
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15–18 May |
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15–18 May |
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15–18 May |
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22–25 May |
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22–25 May |
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22–25 May |
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22–25 May |
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28–31 May |
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28–31 May |
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29 May–1 June |
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29 May–1 June |
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19–22 June |
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20–23 June |
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20–23 June |
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26–29 June |
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26–29 June |
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26–29 June |
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2–5 July |
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3–6 July |
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3–6 July |
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3–6 July |
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10–13 July |
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10–13 July |
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11–14 July |
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Division Two
10–13 April |
v |
Essex (H) |
Essex won by 10 wickets |
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10–13 April |
(H) Northamptonshire |
v |
Match drawn |
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10–13 April |
(H) Worcestershire |
v |
Match abandoned |
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17–20 April |
(H) Glamorgan |
v |
Leicestershire won by 10 wickets |
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17–20 April |
v |
Gloucestershire (H) |
Match drawn |
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17–20 April |
(H) Sussex |
v |
Match drawn |
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24–27 April |
v |
Derbyshire (H) |
Match drawn |
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24–27 April |
(H) Essex |
v |
Essex won by an innings and 92 runs |
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24–27 April |
(H) Gloucestershire |
v |
Match drawn |
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24–27 April |
v |
Leicestershire (H) |
Match drawn |
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1–4 May |
v |
Kent (H) |
Kent won by 10 wickets |
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1–4 May |
v |
Northamptonshire (H) |
Match drawn |
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1–4 May |
Sussex (H) |
v |
Match drawn |
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1–4 May |
v |
Worcestershire (H) |
Match drawn |
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Statistics
- As of 4 May 2016
Division One
Most runs
Player | Team | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 100s | 50s |
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Kumar Sangakkara | Surrey | 3 | 6 | 397 | 66.16 | 171 | 1 | 2 |
Sam Robson | Middlesex | 3 | 5 | 368 | 73.60 | 231 | 2 | 0 |
Jonny Bairstow | Yorkshire | 3 | 5 | 335 | 67.00 | 246 | 1 | 0 |
Jonathan Trott | Warwickshire | 3 | 3 | 320 | 160.00 | 219* | 1 | 1 |
Keaton Jennings | Durham | 3 | 4 | 308 | 102.66 | 116 | 2 | 1 |
Source:[40] | ||||||||
Most wickets
Player | Team | Matches | Overs | Wickets | Average | BBI | 5W | 10W |
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Jake Ball | Nottinghamshire | 3 | 101.0 | 19 | 18.94 | 5/98 | 1 | 0 |
Ravi Rampaul | Surrey | 2 | 60.4 | 14 | 18.07 | 5/85 | 2 | 0 |
Keith Barker | Warwickshire | 3 | 102.0 | 14 | 21.71 | 5/53 | 1 | 0 |
Neil Wagner | Lancashire | 2 | 69.4 | 13 | 17.30 | 6/66 | 2 | 1 |
James Tomlinson | Hampshire | 3 | 84.1 | 13 | 20.84 | 4/74 | 0 | 0 |
Source:[41] | ||||||||
Division Two
Most runs
Player | Team | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | HS | 100s | 50s |
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Alastair Cook | Essex | 4 | 7 | 523 | 130.75 | 142 | 3 | 1 |
Tom Westley | Essex | 4 | 6 | 432 | 72.00 | 125 | 2 | 2 |
Chris Dent | Gloucestershire | 3 | 5 | 407 | 101.75 | 180 | 2 | 1 |
Ben Duckett | Northamptonshire | 3 | 4 | 400 | 133.33 | 282* | 1 | 2 |
Chesney Hughes | Derbyshire | 3 | 5 | 400 | 133.33 | 137* | 2 | 1 |
Source:[42] | ||||||||
Most wickets
Player | Team | Matches | Overs | Wickets | Average | BBI | 5W | 10W |
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Jamie Porter | Essex | 4 | 137.5 | 24 | 19.20 | 5/46 | 2 | 0 |
Graham Napier | Essex | 4 | 131.5 | 23 | 20.17 | 5/92 | 1 | 0 |
Clint McKay | Leicestershire | 3 | 105.0 | 15 | 21.46 | 6/73 | 1 | 0 |
Liam Norwell | Gloucestershire | 3 | 125.0 | 13 | 31.30 | 4/104 | 0 | 0 |
Michael Hogan | Glamorgan | 3 | 98.5 | 10 | 30.00 | 4/74 | 0 | 0 |
Source:[43] | ||||||||
References
- ↑ "Specsavers sign four-year deal to sponsor County Championship". Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- 1 2 "County Championship: Only one promotion spot in Division Two this summer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- 1 2 Coin toss to be scrapped in County Championship cricket, BBC Sport, 2015-11-26. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- 1 2 3 No mandatory toss in the County Championship, CricInfo, 2015-11-26. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ↑ Hopps D, Dobell G (2015)The toss debate: aiding spin v home advantage, CricInfo, 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- 1 2 Win the toss and...actually don't bother, CricInfo, 2016-04-10. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ↑ "Stoneman Named New Limited-Overs Captain". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Player Profiles".
- ↑ "Vince nets new deal and Hants captaincy". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Hampshire's First Team - The Ageas Bowl". The Ageas Bowl.
- ↑ [http://www.ageasbowl.com/cricket/fixtures-and-results/fixtures/> "Fixtures"]. The Ageas Bowl.
- ↑ Chris Ostick (27 November 2015). "Steven Croft named new Lancashire captain as Tom Smith steps down". men. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Lancashire Players". Lancashire County Cricket Club.
- ↑ "Middlesex County Cricket Club: Voges returns as overseas player & captains announced". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Middlesex County Cricket Club: 1st XI".
- ↑ "Middlesex County Cricket Club: Professional".
- ↑ "NCCC News : Christian, Read To Lead Notts In 2016". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club - Official website".
- ↑ Vic Marks. "Marcus Trescothick stands down as Somerset captain after six years". the Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Fixtures".
- ↑ "Teams Playing Staff - Somerset County Cricket Club".
- ↑ "Gareth Batty Appointed Surrey Captain". Kia Oval. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Surrey 1st XI Fixtures 2016". Kia Oval.
- ↑ "Surrey Playing Squad". Kia Oval.
- ↑ "Ian Bell replaces Varun Chopra as Warwickshire captain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Bears Squad".
- ↑ "Yorkshire CCC unveil new strips for 2016 campaign". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ↑ "Fixtures". Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
- ↑ "Teams - Yorkshire County Cricket Club". Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
- ↑ Fixtures - County Championship Division Two, CricInfo. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dobell G, Hopps D (2016) Tight race for one promotion spot, CricInfo, 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ↑ Derbyshire CCC: Fixtures released and Welch looks for a flying start, Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ↑ 2016 Fixture list released, Sussex County Cricket Club. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- 1 2 "Table – County Championship Division One". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Table – County Championship Division Two". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ↑ "County Cricket fixtures for 2016 announced".
- ↑ "County Championship: Yorkshire start season against Hampshire". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Fixtures - County Championship Division One - Cricket - BBC Sport". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Fixtures - County Championship Division Two - Cricket - BBC Sport". BBC Sport.
- ↑ "Specsavers County Championship Division One, 2016 / Records / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ↑ "Specsavers County Championship Division One, 2016 / Records / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ↑ "Specsavers County Championship Division Two, 2016 / Records / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ↑ "Specsavers County Championship Division Two, 2016 / Records / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
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