Finally the domestic season in England starts with a shortened 4 day competition after numerous friendly fixtures which have preceded it.
The first round of matches take place on Saturday August 1st. Counties will be split into regional groups, North, Central, & South & will play five 4 Day fixtures, with the 2 group winners with the most points competing in a 5 day Final at Lords.
ECB has brought in a level of fast bowling restrictions, with limits on overs bowled dependent on age. They are acting on ICC recommendations which advise a minimum 8 week prep period to prevent injury.
The new ball will be delayed until the 90th over in a move to encourage spinners. day's play will be reduced from 96 to 90 overs. First innings will be capped at 120 overs & the follow-on target will move from 150 to 200 runs.
Points for a draw has also been increased from 5 to 8 in a measure to mitigate the impact of bad weather in a shortened competition.
Groups
North - Derbyshire, Durham, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire
Central - Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
South - Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Surrey
Fixtures
August 1 - 4 (11 am)
North Group
Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire , Trent Bridge
Durham v Yorkshire , Emirates Riverside
Leicestershire Lancashire , (TBC)
Central Group
Gloucestershire v Worcestershire , Bristol County Ground
Somerset v Glamorgan , Taunton (The Cooper Associates County Ground)
Warwickshire Northamptonshire , Edgbaston
South Group
Essex Kent , Chelmsford (The Coudfm County Ground)
Surrey Middlesex , Kia Oval
Sussex Hampshire , Hove (The 1st Central County Ground)
Phase 2 of the pilot scheme to test government guidance on crowds returning to sport will see 2,500 spectators at the Kia Oval where Surrey play Middlesex & at Edgbaston for the Warwickshire v Northamptonshire fixture.
^^ Spectators will no longer be allowed at the above fixtures, the chance came late in the day due to concerns over increase in coronavirus infection rates. This will remain in place for the next 2 weeks.
Day 1 of 4
North
Haseeb Hameed top score with 68 on his Notts debut , in a total of 324 against Derbyshire.
Durham were bowled out for 103 with Ben Coad taking 4-23.
Lancashire made 265-6 against Worcestershire, Vilas 90 & Croft 63 added 130 for the 5th wicket
Central
Glos 246-8 against Worc Dent 92 & van Buuran 60 put on 127 for the 2nd wicket
Somerset made 296 against Glamorgan Steven Davis 81 not out & Jack Brookes 72 added 107 runs in a 10th wicket stand.
Northants 142 all out Stone 4-39 Warks 130-4 Yates 63 not out
South
Kent 344-6 Kuhn 140 not out Robinson 78
Middlesex 264-4 against Surrey Gubbins 150 not out
Sussex 176 all out Salt 68 Garton 54 Dale3-20 Crane 3-23 Hampshire 77-4
Day 2 of 4
North
Notts 324 & 84-3 Derby 239 du Plooy 130
Durham 103 & 106-2 Lees 58 not out Yorkshire 199
Lancs 322 Leics 183-2 Azad 58 Slater 104 not out
Central
Glos 267 Morris 4-52 Worcs 223-2 Mitchell 80 not out Libby 77
Somerset 296 & 131-2 Glam 131 Craig Overton 5-38
Northants142 & 19-0 Warks 369-8 dec Yates 88 Bresnan 105
South
Kent 387 Porter 4-107 Essex 179-5 Browne 61
Middlesex 347-6 dec Gubbins 192 Surrey 189-3 Borthwick 73 not out
Sussex 176 & 155-6 Salt 80 Hampshire 153
Day 3 0f 4
North
Notts 324 & 279 Patel 80 Derby 239 & 129-1 Godleman 69 no Derby require a further 236 runs to win
Durham 103 & 266 Lees 106 Bedingham 77 Fisher 4-54 Yorkshire 199 & 103-3 Malan 50 no Yorkshire require a further 68 runs to win
Lancs 322 & 96-3 Davies 54 Leics 409-8 dec Slater 172 Ackerman 94 Lancs lead Leics by 9 runs
Central
Glos 267 & 135-3 Dent 67 Worc 428-5 (120 ov) D'Oliveira 91 Glos trail Worc by 26 runs
Som 296 290-8 dec Abell 119 Glam 131 & 126-5 Glam trail Som by 329 runs
Northants 142 & 317-6 Warks369-8 (120 ov) Narthants lead Som by 90 runs
South
Kent 387 & 112 Harmer 4-35 Essex 298 & 0-0 Essex require a further 181 runs to win
Middlesex 347-6 dec & 184-3 Gubbins 49 no Surrey 282 Smith 80 Murtagh 5-47 Middlesex lead Surrey by 249 runs
Sussex 176 & 221 Hampshire 153 & 150 Robinson 5-29 Sussex bt Hampshire by 94 runs
Day 4
North
Notts 324 & 279 Derby 239 & 365-7 Godleman 86 Hudson- Prentice 91 not out Derbyshire bt Notts by 7 wickets
Durham !03 & 266 Yorkshire 199 & 172 Malan 73 Brook 66 not out Yorkshire bt Durham by 6 wickets
Lancs 322 & 236 Croft 52 no Mike 4-39 Leics 409-8 dec & 150 Ackerman 73 on Leics bt Lancs by 7 wickets
Central
Glos 267 & 270g Hankins 69 Leach 4-72 Worc 428-5 (120 overs) &113-2 Worc bt Glos by 8 wickets
Som 296 & 290-8 dec Glam 131 & 166 Cooke 82 J Overton 5-48 Som bt Glam by 289 runs
Northants 142 & 507-6 Thurson 96 Rossington 135 no Procter 112 no Warks drew with Northants
South
Kent 387 & 112 Essex 298 & 202-8 Cook 66 Thomas 4-32 Essex bt Kent by 2 wickets
Middlesex 347-6 dec & 248-6 Gubbins 60 Moriarty 5-64 Surrey 282 & 123 Middlesex bt Surrey by 190 runs
Sussex 176 & 221 bt Hampshire 153 & 150 by 94 runs
Day 1 of 4
North
Chester-le- Street Durham 180 Lees 66 Gleeson 3-32 Lancs 33-0
Grace Road Leics 199 Dearden 70 Melton 4-22 Derby 101-1 Reece 50 no
Trent Bridge Yorkshire 264 Thompson 98 Brook 62 Nash 3-20 Notts 13-1
Central
Bristol Glos v Warks Glos 191-8 Charlesworth 51 Hannon-Dalby 4-24
Wantage Road Som 166 brooks 36 Sanderson 5-28 & 15-1 Northants 67 Curran35 C Overton 4-12
Worcestershire v Glam Worc 309-3 Libby 142 no D'Oliveira 123 no Hogan 3-43
South
Chelmsford Essex v Surrey Essex 253-7 Khushi 66 Wheater 52
Canterbury Kent v Sussex Sussex 320-9 Brown 90 Clark 65
Radlett Middlesex 252 Andersson 92 Steenson 4-71 Hampshire 27-2 Harris 2-8