2024 County Championship
| Dates | 5 April 2024 – 29 September 2024 |
|---|---|
| Administrator(s) | England and Wales Cricket Board |
| Cricket format | First-class cricket (4 days) |
| Tournament format(s) | League system |
| Participants | 18 |
| Matches | 126 |
The 2024 County Championship (referred to as the Vitality County Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the 124th County Championship cricket season in England and Wales.[1] As in 2023, Division One had ten teams and Division Two had eight teams. The season started on 5 April and is scheduled to finish on 29 September 2024.[2][3][4] Surrey are the defending champions, having repeated their success in securing the 2022 title.[5][6]
For the first time, the use of hybrid pitches is being permitted during the 2024 season, despite previous concerns that they do not deteriorate enough during a four-day match and are therefore suitable only for limited overs cricket.[7] The number of points for a draw has been increased from five to eight, as was the case from 2019 to 2022.[7][8]
Following a trial during the 2023 County Championship, when the traditional English Dukes ball was replaced for two rounds by the less bowler-friendly Australian Kookaburra, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided that four rounds of the 2024 season would be played with the latter. The motivation behind this was to develop bowlers with the skills to compete at an international level, give spinners more of a role at the beginning of the season, and encourage batters to score quickly.[9]
After the Kookaburra had been used during the first two rounds of the 2024 season, England men's team director Rob Key hailed the experiment a success. Spin bowlers contributed 37% (1035.4 overs) of deliveries in the opening two rounds, compared with 17% (767.3 overs) in 2023. In the second round, batters accumulated 10 scores of 150 or more, which was a record for a set of matches starting on the same day. However, all but one of the 19 games played in the opening two rounds ended in a draw.[10][11] In the second round, all matches were drawn for just the third time when all counties have played simultaneously,[12] and matches were criticised for being dull.[13] Key's comments themselves "caused something of a furore".[14]
Teams[edit]
The teams were split based on the finishing positions in the 2023 season, with 10 teams in Division One and 8 in Division Two.
Division One sides will play five teams both home and away, and four teams either home or away. All Division Two sides will play each other home and away.[15] Teams may field a maximum of two overseas players in a match.[16]
Division One teams[edit]
Team promoted from Division Two in 2023
Division Two teams[edit]
Team relegated from Division One in 2023
Division One results[edit]
April[edit]
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- No toss
- No play was possible on all 4 days due to rain and a wet outfield.
- Points: Durham 8, Hampshire 8.
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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- Somerset won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 1 due to rain and a wet outfield.
- Points: Kent 12, Somerset 15.
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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15/0 (8.3 overs)
Dom Sibley 6* (26) | ||
- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 1 and day 4 due to rain and a wet outfield. Only 3.3 overs of play were possible on day 3 due to safety concerns caused by high winds, rain and a wet outfield.
- Tom Aspinwall (Lancashire) made his first-class debut.
- Cameron Steel (Surrey) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[18]
- Points: Lancashire 8, Surrey 11.
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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80 (34.3 overs)
Joe Clarke 19 (41) Sam Cook 6/14 (14 overs) |
- Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Sam Cook (Essex) took a hat-trick in Nottinghamshire's first innings.[19]
- Points: Essex 20, Nottinghamshire 4.
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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- Warwickshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Michael Booth (Warwickshire) made his first-class debut.
- Kashif Ali (Worcestershire) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket, and a century in each innings for the first time.[20][21]
- Points: Worcestershire 14, Warwickshire 13.
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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- Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Only 49.1 overs were possible on day 4 due to rain.
- Points: Hampshire 12, Lancashire 13
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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- Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
- Calvin Harrison (Nottinghamshire) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[23]
- Points: Nottinghamshire 14, Worcestershire 13
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 69.4 overs were possible on day 4 due to rain.
- Points: Somerset 11, Surrey 14
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Essex won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 54 overs were possible on day 1 due to rain.
- Points: Essex 22, Lancashire 3
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Warwickshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Only 34 overs were possible on day 4 due to rain.
- Fletcha Middleton (Hampshire) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[26]
- Points: Warwickshire 13, Hampshire 10
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 39 overs were possible on day 1 due to rain.
- Points: Kent 2, Surrey 24
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Only 9 overs were possible on day 4 due to rain.
- Points: Somerset 15, Nottinghamshire 10
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Durham won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Worcestershire 3, Durham 19
26–29 April 2024 (Round 4)
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- Durham won the toss and elected to bat.
- There was no play on day 3 due to rain.
- Callum Parkinson took his maiden five-wicket haul for Durham.[27]
- Points: Durham 12, Essex 14
26–29 April 2024 (Round 4)
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- Surrey won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 32 overs were possible on day 3 due to rain.
- Points: Surrey 22, Hampshire 3
26–29 April 2024 (Round 4)
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- Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bat.
- Only 34.2 overs on day 2 and 35 overs on day 3 were possible due to rain.
- Points: Warwickshire 14, Nottinghamshire 15
26–29 April 2024 (Round 4)
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- Worcestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 29 overs were possible on day 2 due to rain.
- Points: Worcestershire 15, Somerset 12
May[edit]
3–6 May 2024 (Round 4)
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10–13 May 2024 (Round 5)
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10–13 May 2024 (Round 5)
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10–13 May 2024 (Round 5)
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17–20 May 2024 (Round 6)
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17–20 May 2024 (Round 6)
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17–20 May 2024 (Round 6)
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17–20 May 2024 (Round 6)
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24–27 May 2024 (Round 7)
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24–27 May 2024 (Round 7)
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June[edit]
23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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30 June–3 July 2024 (Round 9)
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30 June–3 July 2024 (Round 9)
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30 June–3 July 2024 (Round 9)
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August[edit]
22–25 August 2024 (Round 10)
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22–25 August 2024 (Round 10)
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22–25 August 2024 (Round 10)
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22–25 August 2024 (Round 10)
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29 August–1 September 2024 (Round 11)
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29 August–1 September 2024 (Round 11)
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29 August–1 September 2024 (Round 11)
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29 August–1 September 2024 (Round 11)
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September[edit]
9–12 September 2024 (Round 12)
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9–12 September 2024 (Round 12)
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9–12 September 2024 (Round 12)
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17–20 September 2024 (Round 13)
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17–20 September 2024 (Round 13)
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17–20 September 2024 (Round 13)
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17–20 September 2024 (Round 13)
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26–29 September 2024 (Round 14)
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26–29 September 2024 (Round 14)
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Division Two results[edit]
April[edit]
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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- No toss.
- No play was possible on all 4 days due to rain and wet outfield.
- Points: Derbyshire 8, Gloucestershire 8.
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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31/2 (16 overs)
Sam Northeast 14* (42) Ethan Bamber 1/8 (4 overs) |
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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- Sussex won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Sussex 15, Northamptonshire 13.
5–8 April 2024 (Round 1)
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- Yorkshire won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 3 due to rain.
- Points: Leicestershire 13, Yorkshire 12.
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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- Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Alex Thomson took 10 wickets in a match for the first time.[29]
- Points: Glamorgan 11, Derbyshire 11
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Zaman Akhter (Gloucestershire) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[30]
- Points: Yorkshire 13, Gloucestershire 12
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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- Sussex won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
- John Simpson (Sussex) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.
- Points: Leicestershire 12, Sussex 14
12–15 April 2024 (Round 2)
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- Middlesex won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
- Nathan Fernandes (Middlesex) and Raphael Weatherall (Northamptonshire) made their first-class debuts.
- Emilio Gay (Northamptonshire) and Max Holden (Middlesex) scored their maiden double centuries in first-class cricket.
- James Sales (Northamptonshire) and Nathan Fernandes (Middlesex) scored their maiden centuries in first-class cricket.
- Points: Northamptonshire 11, Middlesex 12
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 46 overs were possible on day 1 and there was no play on day 4 due to rain.
- Points: Derbyshire 9, Leicestershire 16
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Middlesex won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 55.4 overs were possible on day 1 due to rain.
- Points: Middlesex 19, Yorkshire 3
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 56.1 overs were possible on day 1 and there was no play on day 4 due to rain.
- Points: Northamptonshire 15, Glamorgan 10
19–22 April 2024 (Round 3)
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- Sussex won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Sussex 22, Gloucestershire 6
26–29 April 2024 (Round 4)
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- Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 50.4 overs were possible on day 2 due to rain.
- Points: Gloucestershire 13, Middlesex 11
26–29 April 2024 (Round 4)
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- Leicestershire won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 27.1 overs were possible on day 2 due to rain, and there was no play on day 3 due to a wet outfield.
- Points: Leicestershire 15, Northamptonshire 15
26–29 April 2024 (Round 4)
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- Derbyshire won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 59 overs were possible on day 1 due to rain and bad light, and there was no play on day 3 due to rain.
- Points: Yorkshire 16, Derbyshire 13
May[edit]
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3–6 May 2024 (Round 5)
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10–13 May 2024 (Round 5)
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17–20 May 2024 (Round 6)
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17–20 May 2024 (Round 6)
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24–27 May 2024 (Round 7)
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24–27 May 2024 (Round 7)
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24–27 May 2024 (Round 7)
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June[edit]
23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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23–26 June 2024 (Round 8)
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30 June–3 July 2024 (Round 9)
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30 June–3 July 2024 (Round 9)
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30 June–3 July 2024 (Round 9)
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30 June–3 July 2024 (Round 9)
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August[edit]
22–25 August 2024 (Round 10)
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22–25 August 2024 (Round 10)
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22–25 August 2024 (Round 10)
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29 August–1 September 2024 (Round 11)
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29 August–1 September 2024 (Round 11)
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29 August–1 September 2024 (Round 11)
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September[edit]
9–12 September 2024 (Round 12)
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9–12 September 2024 (Round 12)
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9–12 September 2024 (Round 12)
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17–20 September 2024 (Round 13)
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17–20 September 2024 (Round 13)
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17–20 September 2024 (Round 13)
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26–29 September 2024 (Round 14)
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26–29 September 2024 (Round 14)
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26–29 September 2024 (Round 14)
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Standings[edit]
Teams in both divisions play a total of 14 games, with seven home matches and seven away matches. There is a two-up, two-down promotion and relegation system.
Teams receive 16 points for a win, and 8 for a draw (or tie).[31] 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.
| Runs scored | Wickets taken | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 250–299 | 3–5 | 1 |
| 300–349 | 6–8 | 2 |
| 350–399 | 9–10 | 3 |
| 400–449 | 4 | |
| 450 or more | 5 |
Division One table[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | D | A | Bat | Bowl | Ded | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surrey | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 71 | |
| 2 | Essex | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 71 | |
| 3 | Warwickshire | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 55 | |
| 4 | Somerset | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 53 | |
| 5 | Durham | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 50 | |
| 6 | Worcestershire | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 45 | |
| 7 | Nottinghamshire | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 43 | |
| 8 | Hampshire | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 33 | |
| 9 | Kent | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 26 | Relegation to Division 2 |
| 10 | Lancashire | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 24 |
Division Two table[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | D | A | Bat | Bowl | Ded | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicestershire | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 56 | Promotion to Division 1 |
| 2 | Northamptonshire | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 54 | |
| 3 | Middlesex | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 53 | |
| 4 | Sussex | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 51 | |
| 5 | Yorkshire | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 44 | |
| 6 | Derbyshire | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 41 | |
| 7 | Gloucestershire | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 39 | |
| 8 | Glamorgan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 34 |
Notes[edit]
- ^ Wisden distinguishes rounds by date, so that there are 15 rounds even though teams in each division play only 14 matches.[1] Here rounds are numbered according to how many matches have been played.
- ^ Derbyshire will have played one more game than Sussex prior to this match.
- ^ Yorkshire will have played one more game than Glamorgan prior to this match.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "County cricket schedule 2024: Full County Championship fixtures list, dates & venues". Wisden. London. 2 April 2024. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "County Championship 2024 Champions Surrey to start season against Lancashire". BBC Sport. London. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "LV= County Championship 2024 fixtures". Sky Sports. London. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Miller, Andrew (23 November 2023). "ECB defends 'Super September' as 2024 County fixtures put season climax in spotlight". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Scott, Ged (28 September 2023). "County Championship: Surrey secure title for second successive year". BBC Sport. London. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ Aldred, Tanya (28 September 2023). "Surrey's dominance of unhip County Championship rewards their passion". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ a b Aldred, Tanya (23 November 2023). "Hybrid pitches to be used for first time in 2024 County Championship season". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "County Championship points system tweaked to encourage aggressive batting". ESPNcricinfo. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Rob Key: English cricket would be better off if we used the Kookaburra all the time". Wisden. London. 17 April 2024. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Martin, Ali (19 April 2024) [16 April 2024]. "England's Rob Key backs Kookaburra ball for full-time use in county cricket". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ Howells, Kevin (host) (18 April 2024). "County Cricket: Should Kookaburra be here to stay?". Test Match Special (Podcast). London: BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Ehantharajah, Vithushan & Roller, Matt (16 April 2024). "English cricket's Kookaburra experiment: 'Fantastic' or 'worst decision ever'?". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Ammon, Elizabeth (18 April 2024). "More spin but 'dreadfully dull' – backlash against Kookaburra experiment". The Times. London. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ James, Steve (30 April 2024). "Down with dibbly-dobblers – county bowlers need real pace to make step up". The Times. London. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "2024 First Class County Competition Regulations" (PDF). London: England and Wales Cricket Board. 28 March 2024. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b "County Championship 2024: All you need to know". The Cricketer. London. 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d Aldred, Tanya (1 April 2024). "County Championship 2024: team-by-team guide to the new season". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Ehantharajah, Vithushan (25 April 2024). "Team man Cameron Steel now out on his own". ESPNcricinfo. London. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "County Championship: Sam Cook takes hat-trick for Essex at Nottinghamshire". BBC Sport. London. ECB Reporters' Network. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Kashif Ali's maiden century buoys Worcestershire on Division One return". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ "Kashif Ali hits second century as Worcestershire dominate at Edgbaston". The Independent. London. Press Association. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "County Championship: Uncle and nephew team up as Joe and Jadyn Denly earn Kent draw with Essex". Sky Sports. London. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Harrison takes five before Notts build lead despite momentum swing on day three". Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. 14 April 2024. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "County Championship: Warwickshire make their second-highest first-class score". BBC Sport. London. ECB Reporters' Network. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "County Championship: Matthew Potts ton earns Durham draw at Edgbaston". BBC Sport. London. ECB Reporters' Network. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "County Championship: Fletcha Middleton century bats Hampshire towards Warwickshire draw". BBC Sport. London. ECB Reporters' Network. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Browne breaks century drought in style as Essex draw with Durham". ESPNcricinfo. ECB Reporters' Network. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Webb, Nick (6 April 2024). "Glamorgan's Northeast hits Lord's record 335 not out". BBC Sport. London. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ Mansfield, Mark (13 April 2024). "Alex Thomson celebrates 10-wicket haul as Derbyshire keep Glamorgan in check". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Friend, Nick (12 April 2024). "Wickets of Joe Root and Harry Brook give Zaman Akhter five-fer to cherish after endless quest for opportunity". The Cricketer. London. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Champions Surrey start 2024 season at Lancashire". BBC Sport. London. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Division 1 Standings at ESPNcricinfo
- ^ Division 1 Standings at England and Wales Cricket Board
- ^ "LV= County Championship - Division One Table - Cricket - BBC Sport". BBC News.
- ^ Division 2 Standings at ESPNcricinfo
- ^ Division 2 Standings at England and Wales Cricket Board
- ^ "LV= County Championship - Division Two Table - Cricket - BBC Sport". BBC News.