Specsavers Championship
The story of the 2016 Championship season
April 10, Durham v Somerset: Keaton Jennings started his season as he meant to go on, scoring 116 on the first day at Chester-le-Street•PA Photos
April 11, Essex v Gloucestershire: Alastair Cook, still sporting his old-school helmet, much to the ECB's chagrin, eased into his season with a hundred at Chelmsford•Getty Images
April 17, Middlesex v Warwickshire: Nick Compton, under pressure for his Test place, made a first-ball duck against Warwickshire•Getty Images
April 19, Gloucestershire v Derbyshire: Liam Norwell made the most of being handed the nightwatchman duties, hitting his maiden first-class century at Bristol•Getty Images
May 2, Worcestershire v Essex: Tom Westley powered into England contention, in company with the Test captain himself, with a run-laden start to the season•Getty Images
May 9, Glamorgan v Worcestershire: Brett D'Oliveira enjoyed an astonishing run of allround form in all formats, including a double hundred at Cardiff•Getty Images
May 15, Surrey v Middlesex: Fewer people, however, had Gareth Batty in their thoughts when he fronted up against Middlesex in the London derby•Getty Images
July 2, Surrey v Warwickshire: Aaron Finch marked his Surrey first-class debut with a century at Guildford•PA Photos
August 4, Somerset v Durham: Mark Wood picked up three wickets in his first first-class spell of the summer•Getty Images
September 1, Essex v Worcestershire: Tom Westley set about finishing his season as he started it, passing 200 for the first time against Worcestershire•Getty Images
September 6, Yorkshire v Durham: Alex Lees made his tenth first-class hundred as Yorkshire stepped up their title defence against Durham•Getty Images
September 8, Somerset v Warwickshire: Somerset's 31-run win instilled their team with new belief for the title run-in•Getty Images
September 13, Yorkshire v Somerset: Gary Ballance lost his off stump as Yorkshire lost their momentum with a shock defeat on home soil to the fast-finishing Somerset•Getty Images
September 20: So, it all came down to the final round, with Brian the club cat among the spectators for Somerset's must-win match against Notts •Getty Images
September 22, Somerset v Nottinghamshire: Two days later, he had his second of the match and Somerset had pole position in the title race•Getty Images
September 23, Middlesex v Yorkshire: With both sides needing victory, Dawid Malan's century set up Middlesex's final-day declaration•Getty Images
April 11, Northamptonshire v Sussex: ... while Ben Duckett did likewise by bringing up his maiden double-century on the second day at Wantage Road•Getty Images
April 12, Hampshire v Warwickshire: Ian Bell, discarded by England, rejoined his former England team-mate Jonathan Trott on the county circuit, and launched his summer with 174•PA Photos
April 18, Sussex v Essex: Cook, now in his ECB-approved helmet, triggered a media frenzy by making 1 from five balls in his first innings under the new lid•Getty Images
April 26, Surrey v Somerset: Marcus Trescothick, on the other hand, brought up his 59th first-class hundred against Surrey at The Oval•Getty Images
May 2, Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire: Jake Ball did likewise, in front of Sky's cameras, reducing the champions Yorkshire to 24 for 3 at Trent Bridge•Getty Images
May 15, Northamptonshire v Kent: After a challenging few years, Monty Panesar made a long-awaited comeback for Northamptonshire•Getty Images
June 22, Lancashire v Warwickshire: Matt Parkinson made hearts soar around the shires by claiming five wickets on debut as a legspinner•Simon Pendrigh
July 6, Yorkshire v Middlesex: Yorkshire's title defence suffered a massive blow, and Middlesex's challenge took a huge leap forward, with their innings victory at Scarborough•Getty Images
August 15, Warwickshire v Surrey: Sam Curran, Surrey's 18-year-old starlet, claimed five first-innings wickets and made 62 in a fine all-round game at Edgbaston•Getty Images
September 2, Essex v Worcestershire: David Masters, who announced he would be retiring this season, claimed 7 for 52 in his penultimate home fixture at Chelmsford•Getty Images
September 6, Somerset v Warwickshire: Dominic Bess claimed figures of 6 for 28 on his Championship debut to keep Somerset's title hopes alive•Getty Images
September 8, Yorkshire v Durham: Ryan Sidebottom, back from injury, finished with 4 for 34 as Yorkshire crushed Durham to pile the pressure on leaders Middlesex•Getty Images
September 13, Lancashire v Middlesex: Jos Buttler, back in harness to help save Lancashire from relegation, made 16 in his first first-class innings since last October•Getty Images
September 20, Middlesex v Yorkshire: Nick Compton lost control of his bat as the leaders Middlesex began shakily at home to Yorkshire•Getty Images
September 22, Middlesex v Yorkshire: Tim Bresnan's brilliant century included a vital last-wicket stand with Ryan Sidebottom, as Yorkshire secured the bonus point that kept them alive in the title race•Getty Images
September 23, Middlesex v Yorkshire: Defending 240, Toby Roland-Jones claimed six wickets including a hat-trick to wrap up the title in style•Getty Images
April 17, Sussex v Essex: Chris Nash batted in Matthew Hobden's shirt, in memory of his team-mate, who died on New Year's Eve•Getty Images
April 18: Middlesex v Warwickshire, Steven Finn, back to fitness after an injury-plagued winter, struck with his first ball of the season•Getty Images
April 26, Surrey v Somerset: A flurry of snow interrupted Trescothick's progress•Getty Images
May 4, Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire: In a thrilling finale, Steven Patterson was ninth man out for Yorkshire with two balls of the match remaining•Getty Images
May 15, Durham v Lancashire: During his early-season purple patch, Scott Borthwick was being talked up as a potential England No.3•Getty Images
June 1, Yorkshire v Lancashire: Haseeb Hameed made 17 and 20 in his first Roses match of the summer, at Headingley. He followed that up with 117 and 100 not out at Old Trafford in August•Getty Images
July 18, Nottinghamshire v Somerset: Marcus Trescothick overtook Harold Gimblett as Somerset's most prolific century-maker with his 218 at Trent Bridge•Getty Images
August 25, Somerset v Hampshire: Craig Overton completed a maiden first-class hundred as Somerset picked up the pace in their title challenge•Getty Images
September 2: Warwickshire v Middlesex: Ollie Rayner continued a fine season for spin bowling with 5 for 49 in the first innings•Getty Images
September 8, Somerset v Warwickshire: Jack Leach took 6 for 42 as Somerset bounced back from 95 all out in their first innings to win a three-day thriller at Taunton•Getty Images
September 12: With Essex's sights on the second division title, Graham Napier ripped through Glamorgan's top order in his final home game before retirement•Getty Images
September 13, Lancashire v Middlesex: It was left to the teenager Rob Jones to shore up Lancashire's first innings with a gleefully celebrated maiden first-class hundred•Getty Images
September 20, Somerset v Nottinghamshire: ... whereas, down at Taunton, Chris Rogers racked up his 75th first-class hundred to settle Somerset's nerves•Getty Images
September 22, Somerset v Nottinghamshire: Marcus Trescothick took the applause in the Marcus Trescothick stand at Taunton, after Somerset's thumping 325-run victory•Getty Images
September 23, Middlesex v Yorkshire: James Franklin, the captain, leads the celebrations as Middlesex claim the County Championship for the first time in 23 years•Getty Images
Terms of Use|Privacy Policy|Your US State Privacy Rights|Children's Online Privacy Policy|Interest - Based Ads|Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information|Feedback
© 2024 ESPN Sports Media Ltd. All rights reserved