County cricket

The Guardian has published its 2026 County Championship awards, recognising the best performers of the English domestic cricket season while also highlighting disappointments and controversies under the banner of 'the good, the bad and the best man'. The end-of-season roundup names standout players and less successful stories from across the counties.

Leicestershire have been handed a partial reprieve on a points deduction, but the county cricket club remains in a state of uncertainty over its ongoing situation. The decision offers some relief for the club, though the broader question of its standing has yet to be fully resolved, leaving Leicestershire still awaiting clarity on how the matter will ultimately be settled.

With the county cricket season wrapped up, a new edition of County Cricket Matters has been released, giving fans something to read as the domestic campaign closes. The update is being shared among cricket followers looking for off-season discussion and analysis of the county game.

Ali Martin argues in the Guardian that the Hundred was overshadowed this English summer, relegated to an undercard role while county cricket's fortunes and the ongoing turmoil around the England setup dominated attention. The piece frames the competition's struggles for prominence against a backdrop of domestic pride and international disorder in the sport.