County Cricket 2026

[Voice of fair play]

Surely just a matter of time now before James Rew considered for the England side based on his form.

Only problem is where does he fit in the middle order with the players we have in them positions and Smith also batting well and will be 7.

If not in the side has to be a shoe in for it should any injuries occur

 

[mackembhoy]

Surely just a matter of time now before James Rew considered for the England side based on his form.

Only problem is where does he fit in the middle order with the players we have in them positions and Smith also batting well and will be 7.

If not in the side has to be a shoe in for it should any injuries occur

Root/Brook/Stokes/Smith is a very good problem to have in how do the next crop fit in.

Hope Bethell can cement that number 3 spot.

Hope Rew bags another ton. Looks like a Rootesque batting effort on paper compared to everyone else on the wicket.

England have told him to go and open to get into the side. But I don't think that's the way to go.

 

[GordonMuchallNo1Fan]

Some lad called Anderson taking 3/12 for Lancashire today. He sounds a good player

 

[Durham-Mackem41-Rem]

Gloucester look like they need division three going for be a long hard season for them.

 

[Inside Forward]

I posted an earlier version......now updated with 2025 figures.

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I wonder why Durham doesn’t attract bigger crowds. Is it because this is such a huge football area?

When you look at the population of the North East it’s a little disappointing.

 

[SuperSub]

I wonder why Durham doesn’t attract bigger crowds. Is it because this is such a huge football area?

When you look at the population of the North East it’s a little disappointing.

I think ground location and poor transport links probably play a part. For a large part of the region the Riverside is really only accessible by car whilst those grounds which are pretty central like the Oval, Old Trafford etc can also pick up those people leaving work early who fancy popping in for a couple of hours before heading home.

 

[Inside Forward]

I think ground location and poor transport links probably play a part. For a large part of the region the Riverside is really only accessible by car whilst those grounds which are pretty central like the Oval, Old Trafford etc can also pick up those people leaving work early who fancy popping in for a couple of hours before heading home.

Aye it was a strange location to build the ground mind.

 

[SuperSub]

Aye it was a strange location to build the ground mind.

I would guess the Riverside is probably the county ground with the lowest population surrounding it, mind that's just guesswork based on most grounds being located pretty centrally and within walking distance to much larger towns and cities.

 

[mackembhoy]

Who might England go for out of these spin options. (I've included the overseas for comparison)

Div 1 Spinners

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	416	69.2	5	293	10	5/55	29.30	4.22	41.60	0	1
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	389	64.5	8	240	9	4/175	26.66	3.70	43.22	1	0
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	434	72.2	12	219	8	4/87	27.37	3.02	54.25	1	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	72	12.0	1	37	6	5/9	6.16	3.08	12.00	0	1
	2026-2026	2	4	338	56.2	4	230	6	3/61	38.33	4.08	56.33	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	5	316	52.4	15	158	5	3/49	31.60	3.00	63.20	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	487	81.1	12	223	5	2/37	44.60	2.74	97.40	0	0
	2026-2026	1	2	240	40.0	2	174	4	3/92	43.50	4.35	60.00	0	0
	2026-2026	1	1	123	20.3	1	80	3	3/80	26.66	3.90	41.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	3	168	28.0	4	113	3	2/58	37.66	4.03	56.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	5	330	55.0	11	159	3	2/26	53.00	2.89	110.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2*	2	61	10.1	4	23	2	2/5	11.50	2.26	30.50	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	1	24	4.0	1	13	1	1/13	13.00	3.25	24.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	24	4.0	0	19	1	1/12	19.00	4.75	24.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	144	24.0	2	62	1	1/31	62.00	2.58	144.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	174	29.0	1	131	1	1/89	131.00	4.51	174.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	4	306	51.0	4	177	1	1/93	177.00	3.47	306.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	283	47.1	1	220	1	1/89	220.00	4.66	283.00	0	0

Div 2 Spinners

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
	2026-2026	3*	5	701	116.5	26	283	9	4/55	31.44	2.42	77.88	1	0
	2026-2026	2	4	372	62.0	10	182	6	4/76	30.33	2.93	62.00	1	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	417	69.3	16	148	5	3/47	29.60	2.12	83.40	0	0
	2026-2026	1	1	102	17.0	6	25	3	3/25	8.33	1.47	34.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	246	41.0	2	147	3	1/22	49.00	3.58	82.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	2	12	2.0	0	10	2	2/2	5.00	5.00	6.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	114	19.0	1	82	2	2/40	41.00	4.31	57.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	1	138	23.0	1	98	2	2/98	49.00	4.26	69.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	2	30	5.0	1	6	1	1/5	6.00	1.20	30.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	30	5.0	1	12	1	1/2	12.00	2.40	30.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	162	27.0	10	45	1	1/10	45.00	1.66	162.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	3	324	54.0	11	129	1	1/33	129.00	2.38	324.00	0	0

 

[SuperSub]

Who might England go for out of these spin options. (I've included the overseas for comparison)

Div 1 Spinners

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	416	69.2	5	293	10	5/55	29.30	4.22	41.60	0	1
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	389	64.5	8	240	9	4/175	26.66	3.70	43.22	1	0
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	434	72.2	12	219	8	4/87	27.37	3.02	54.25	1	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	72	12.0	1	37	6	5/9	6.16	3.08	12.00	0	1
	2026-2026	2	4	338	56.2	4	230	6	3/61	38.33	4.08	56.33	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	5	316	52.4	15	158	5	3/49	31.60	3.00	63.20	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	487	81.1	12	223	5	2/37	44.60	2.74	97.40	0	0
	2026-2026	1	2	240	40.0	2	174	4	3/92	43.50	4.35	60.00	0	0
	2026-2026	1	1	123	20.3	1	80	3	3/80	26.66	3.90	41.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	3	168	28.0	4	113	3	2/58	37.66	4.03	56.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	5	330	55.0	11	159	3	2/26	53.00	2.89	110.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2*	2	61	10.1	4	23	2	2/5	11.50	2.26	30.50	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	1	24	4.0	1	13	1	1/13	13.00	3.25	24.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	24	4.0	0	19	1	1/12	19.00	4.75	24.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	144	24.0	2	62	1	1/31	62.00	2.58	144.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	174	29.0	1	131	1	1/89	131.00	4.51	174.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	4	306	51.0	4	177	1	1/93	177.00	3.47	306.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	283	47.1	1	220	1	1/89	220.00	4.66	283.00	0	0

Div 2 Spinners

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
	2026-2026	3*	5	701	116.5	26	283	9	4/55	31.44	2.42	77.88	1	0
	2026-2026	2	4	372	62.0	10	182	6	4/76	30.33	2.93	62.00	1	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	417	69.3	16	148	5	3/47	29.60	2.12	83.40	0	0
	2026-2026	1	1	102	17.0	6	25	3	3/25	8.33	1.47	34.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	246	41.0	2	147	3	1/22	49.00	3.58	82.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	2	12	2.0	0	10	2	2/2	5.00	5.00	6.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	114	19.0	1	82	2	2/40	41.00	4.31	57.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	1	138	23.0	1	98	2	2/98	49.00	4.26	69.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	2	30	5.0	1	6	1	1/5	6.00	1.20	30.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	30	5.0	1	12	1	1/2	12.00	2.40	30.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	162	27.0	10	45	1	1/10	45.00	1.66	162.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	3	324	54.0	11	129	1	1/33	129.00	2.38	324.00	0	0

I would go for Ahmed for the New Zealand test, but knowing England they will probably pick Jacks who is currently spending his time carrying the drinks in the IPL.

 

[Struts]

Surely just a matter of time now before James Rew considered for the England side based on his form.

Only problem is where does he fit in the middle order with the players we have in them positions and Smith also batting well and will be 7.

If not in the side has to be a shoe in for it should any injuries occur

Read somewhere he has more FC centuries at the age he's at now than Ponting & Tendulkar

 

[Turner the Cat]

Who might England go for out of these spin options. (I've included the overseas for comparison)

Div 1 Spinners

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	416	69.2	5	293	10	5/55	29.30	4.22	41.60	0	1
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	389	64.5	8	240	9	4/175	26.66	3.70	43.22	1	0
You must be logged on to see external links	2026-2026	2	4	434	72.2	12	219	8	4/87	27.37	3.02	54.25	1	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	72	12.0	1	37	6	5/9	6.16	3.08	12.00	0	1
	2026-2026	2	4	338	56.2	4	230	6	3/61	38.33	4.08	56.33	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	5	316	52.4	15	158	5	3/49	31.60	3.00	63.20	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	487	81.1	12	223	5	2/37	44.60	2.74	97.40	0	0
	2026-2026	1	2	240	40.0	2	174	4	3/92	43.50	4.35	60.00	0	0
	2026-2026	1	1	123	20.3	1	80	3	3/80	26.66	3.90	41.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	3	168	28.0	4	113	3	2/58	37.66	4.03	56.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	5	330	55.0	11	159	3	2/26	53.00	2.89	110.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2*	2	61	10.1	4	23	2	2/5	11.50	2.26	30.50	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	1	24	4.0	1	13	1	1/13	13.00	3.25	24.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	24	4.0	0	19	1	1/12	19.00	4.75	24.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	144	24.0	2	62	1	1/31	62.00	2.58	144.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	174	29.0	1	131	1	1/89	131.00	4.51	174.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	4	306	51.0	4	177	1	1/93	177.00	3.47	306.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	2	283	47.1	1	220	1	1/89	220.00	4.66	283.00	0	0

Div 2 Spinners

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
	2026-2026	3*	5	701	116.5	26	283	9	4/55	31.44	2.42	77.88	1	0
	2026-2026	2	4	372	62.0	10	182	6	4/76	30.33	2.93	62.00	1	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	417	69.3	16	148	5	3/47	29.60	2.12	83.40	0	0
	2026-2026	1	1	102	17.0	6	25	3	3/25	8.33	1.47	34.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	246	41.0	2	147	3	1/22	49.00	3.58	82.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	2	12	2.0	0	10	2	2/2	5.00	5.00	6.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	114	19.0	1	82	2	2/40	41.00	4.31	57.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	1	138	23.0	1	98	2	2/98	49.00	4.26	69.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	2	30	5.0	1	6	1	1/5	6.00	1.20	30.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	3	30	5.0	1	12	1	1/2	12.00	2.40	30.00	0	0
	2026-2026	3*	4	162	27.0	10	45	1	1/10	45.00	1.66	162.00	0	0
	2026-2026	2	3	324	54.0	11	129	1	1/33	129.00	2.38	324.00	0	0

Its nice to see spin playing an important role early in the season. Bashir getting some games and doing well too. And there are some talented up and coming spinners we'll hopefully see more of this season too - Barnard, Rehan's brother and T Ali.

 

[Inside Forward]

Not been the most exciting round of fixtures this weekend has it?

 

[Turner the Cat]

Not been the most exciting round of fixtures this weekend has it?

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Gloucestershire might break their season record total and score more than 216 in an innings. Its a big ask though.

 

[Aidan11]

Sky showing a live CC game on Friday. Surrey v Essex.

 

[Raymondo]

Ajeet Singh Dale has picked up in an injury mid match for Lancashire and has been substituted, so will therefore miss the game against us

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Kent’s overseas SA bowler out for season

Luke Wells will also miss the game against us, he’s dislocated a shoulder and been replaced by Harry Singh.

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Gloucestershire might break their season record total and score more than 216 in an innings. Its a big ask though.

Looking possible now

 

[Fleagle]

I would guess the Riverside is probably the county ground with the lowest population surrounding it, mind that's just guesswork based on most grounds being located pretty centrally and within walking distance to much larger towns and cities.

There’s probably fewer live within walking distance of the Rose Bowl.

 

[chopsfc007]

Rew in the runs again

 

[Dexter]

I’m thinking England might try and shoehorn Rew, Smith and Bethell into the same team. The first two are clearly the best batters in England at the minute and Bethell is their golden boy who won’t be dropped even if he’s sitting on the bench at the IPL for two months.

Not sure who goes where if we do that though. Smith opens and Rew has the gloves at 7 maybe?

 

[Voice of fair play]

I’m thinking England might try and shoehorn Rew, Smith and Bethell into the same team. The first two are clearly the best batters in England at the minute and Bethell is their golden boy who won’t be dropped even if he’s sitting on the bench at the IPL for two months.

Not sure who goes where if we do that though. Smith opens and Rew has the gloves at 7 maybe?

Bethell scored 154 in the last test we played, so golden boy or not should not be dropped and rightly soo