Club-by-club Guide To The 2026 County Championship

2025 season: Ninth successful Division One (relegated)

Martin Emmerson - BBC Radio Newcastle

Durham find themselves successful Division Two erstwhile again, conscionable a mates of years aft going up.

The past clip they were relegated – owed to mediocre shape – they won only 2 Championship games. That was successful nan summertime of 2000.

After beating (eventual title winners) Notts successful May past year, they appeared to beryllium heading successful nan correct direction, but arsenic it turned out, that was it. They did not triumph different lucifer and were relegated aft a disastrous last day successful Leeds.

Knowing Hampshire had already mislaid to Surrey, Durham only had to bat retired nan time to survive. Yorkshire were already safe. The visitors did not moreover make tea.

Coach Ryan Campbell signed a caller two-year statement a fewer weeks earlier. It seems relegation came arsenic a daze and he said he had tons of sleepless nights aft it.

For me, it had been coming for months. The inability to triumph games was evident by July arsenic draws started to move into defeats. It was yet different play wherever they struggled to support bowlers fresh and excessively galore batters struggled.

In 2024, David Bedingham was nan starring batter successful nan country, but a toed wounded early successful 2025 saw him sidelined for weeks. He was past connected world work and erstwhile he did return to Durham, he had small shape to speak of. Bedingham is backmost for a seventh play this twelvemonth and I dream he tin re-discover his spark.

We saw small of Sam Conners, pinch nan bowler injured erstwhile nan run began, while chap caller signing Will Rhodes struggled pinch nan bat.

As for this season, West Indian bowler Kemar Roach has signed for nan first portion of nan campaign.

He has won 3 region titles. He is now 37 and I americium keeping my fingers crossed he does not suffer nan curse of nan overseas bowler successful Chester-le-Street. It strikes frequently.

Kasey Aldridge agreed a three-year woody past summer, pursuing a successful spell connected indebtedness from Somerset successful nan T20 Blast. No uncertainty erstwhile he signed he would person been expecting to play Division One cricket this year.

Durham besides signed 20-year-old speedy Archie Bailey from Gloucestershire. I person heard bully reports astir him but he has only played 5 first-class matches to date.

After relegation successful his first play arsenic skipper, Alex Lees remains successful nan domiciled which has amazed a fewer people.

He has surely sewage his activity trim retired if Durham are to go a winning squad again. Of their 2 wins past season, 1 was against chap relegation broadside Worcestershire.

I stay sceptical astir Durham's chances of promotion. I would beryllium much than happy to spot them spell up.

But, while immoderate fans expect a speedy return to Division One, location are others who constituent to nan experiences of Kent and Lancashire past play instead.

It will beryllium absorbing to spot really it each pans out.