The Rothesay County Championship is set for a thrilling finale with just five points separating the top three counties in the title race, while there are some significant games to come in the relegation battle.
Here we have taken a look at each county’s final two games and how that could not only shape their season, but also the possible ramification at the top and bottom of the table.
Division One
Somerset - 189 points
Remaining games: Yorkshire (away), Surrey (home).
Cricket Media Club Player of the Season voting: Craig Overton (14), Tom Abell (9), Josh Thomas (7), James Rew (7).
A first-ever Rothesay County Championship title, for a club founded in 1875, might be just two weeks away. Somerset have been here before though – they have finished second or third in five of the past 10 seasons – but will that heartache drive this group forward to immortal status in the south-west?
Since suffering back-to-back defeats against Yorkshire and Glamorgan in early May, they’ve gone unbeaten in seven games. Standing in their way are trips to Yorkshire and a home visit of Surrey – the two counties with the most County Championship titles. Craig Overton and Tom Abell sit inside the top 10 of the Cricket Media Club’s Rothesay Player of the Season voting.
Nottinghamshire - 185 points
Remaining games: Sussex (away), Yorkshire (home).
CMC Player of the Season voting: Olly Stone (11), Liam Patterson-White (6), Joe Clarke (5), Jack Haynes (5).
Notts have suffered just one defeat all season – at home to Somerset – as their even spread of class across the squad has driven their quest for back-to-back titles for the first time in club history. They are, however, yet to beat a team currently in the top half of the table this season and that will need to change with Sussex (fourth) and Yorkshire (fifth) to come.
Olly Stone has been arguably the form player of the competition since the August resumption, taking 25 wickets at just 12.48, moving him up to equal third in the CMC Player of the Season award on 11 votes.
Warwickshire - 184 points
Remaining games: Essex (away), Leicestershire (home).
CMC Player of the Season voting: Ethan Bamber (11), Ed Barnard (7), Michael Booth (4), Rob Yates (4).
The Bears are the form team in the Rothesay County Championship having gone unbeaten in 10 games and having secured back-to-back innings wins against Hampshire and Glamorgan. They travel to Essex, who have lost four of their past five, this round before hosting a Leicestershire side that sit in the relegation zone. Ethan Bamber, second in Division One’s wicket-taker’s list, has been lethal in the first innings over the past month taking 13 wickets at 14.23.
Sussex - 154 points
Remaining games: Nottinghamshire (home), Hampshire (away)
CMC Player of the Season voting: Henry Crocombe (9), James Coles (5), John Simpson (4), Sean Hunt (4).
This week’s home clash with Notts is simply must-win if they are to retain any title hopes. One win in their past five games has slowed Sussex’s progress and England call-ups will leave them without their two best-placed players in the CMC Player of the Season voting, with James Coles on T20 duty this round before Henry Crocombe set to join the national team for the ODI series during the final round.
Yorkshire - 142 points
Remaining games: Somerset (home), Nottinghamshire (away)
CMC Player of the Season voting: George Hill (8), Dom Bess (6), Adam Lyth (4), James Wharton (4).
A thumping win over Essex last week all but secured safety following an up-and-down campaign that has seen Yorkshire beat Somerset away but lose to Hampshire at home. They face two tough games to finish against two title contenders, so they can shape the title race yet, with designs on pushing for their first top-four finish since 2018.
George Hill is one of the form players in Division One while India spinner Kuldeep Yadav – who produced his best-ever first-class figures with 10 wickets against Essex – has one game left on his deal.
Surrey - 137 points
Remaining games: Glamorgan (home), Somerset (away)
CMC Player of the Season voting: Dan Lawrence (5), Jamie Smith (5), Dom Sibley (4), Matthew Fisher (3).
Seven draws tells the story of a frustrating Surrey season during which they’ve won just one of their past eight games. That was a vital win though when they snatched a nervy one-wicket win at home to Yorkshire a fortnight ago, before last week’s rain-affected draw at Sussex ensured they remain at arm’s length from the relegation scrap below them.
Dan Lawrence is set to return for the final two games after his successful return to the England Test team. They can still play a key part in the title race with a final-round trip to leaders Somerset.
Glamorgan - 127 points
Remaining games: Surrey (away), Essex (home)
CMC Player of the Season voting: Kiran Carlson (6), Mason Crane (6), Tom Norton (5), Ben Kellaway (2)
Glamorgan have impressed in their first season back in the top-flight for two decades under highly-regarded head coach Richard Dawson. Their home win over Somerset was one of the matches of the season and they were pushing at the fringes of the title race just a month ago. But they’ve lost form at the wrong time – going winless since the resumption of the County Championship last month and losing three of four games.
If they can get something from a trip to Surrey this week that will help ease relegation concerns with a potentially vital final home clash with an Essex side also looking to avoid the drop.
Essex - 124 points
Remaining games: Warwickshire (home), Glamorgan (away)
CMC Player of the Season voting: Matt Critchley (7), Dean Elgar (5), Sam Cook (5), Simon Harmer (4)
Essex have lost four of their past five games to cast them into the relegation fight. Their four wins this season have all come against Hampshire and Leicestershire – the two counties in the relegation zone – which could prove important come season’s end. Having Sam Cook available from the first ball of the game – knowing how dangerous he is with the new ball on a fresh wicket – after being part of England’s Test squad will be a major boost in their run-in.
Leicestershire - 116 points
Remaining games: Hampshire (home), Warwickshire (away)
CMC Player of the Season voting: Ian Holland (3), Jake Weatherald (3), Rehan Ahmed (3), Sheridon Gumbs (3).
Leicestershire face a must-win game against bottom-placed Hampshire this week as they look to retain their place in the top-flight. The Foxes had been unbeaten in four games before last week’s defeat to leaders Somerset – a run that included an innings victory against Yorkshire and evidence they are more than capable of climbing out of the bottom two. Rehan Ahmed is available against Hampshire before he joins up with England and will miss the tough final-round trip to Warwickshire.
Hampshire - 92 points
Remaining games: Leicestershire (away), Sussex (home)
CMC Player of the Season voting: Jake Lehmann (10), Kyle Abbott (8), Sonny Baker (5), Delano Potgieter (2)
Head coach Russell Domingo has admitted it would take “a bit of a miracle” to avoid relegation with a 32-point gap to safety as Hampshire enter the final two rounds. Kyle Abbott has been outstanding again this season – leading the Division One wicket-takers list with 57 while Jake Lehmann is third on the run-scorer’s list.
With the likes of young guns Manny Lumsden - who took a five-for against Notts last week – Sonny Baker, Eddie Jack and Ben Mayes in their squad there is plenty of reason for optimism on the south coast should they spend 2027 in Division Two.