County news

Grayson questions umpires on Ajmal

Oct 3, 2014: Paul Grayson, the Essex head coach, said English umpires should have called Saeed Ajmal for chucking this season

County Cricket 2014

The route of all good in the English game

Sep 30, 2014: Though derided and sometimes ridiculed, county cricket still holds the key for the future of the game in England and if all involved believed in it just a little more, it could produce an even greater harvest

County cricket 2014

'Angry Jack' Shantry and relay catch madness

Sep 29, 2014: Alfonso Thomas's four in four, carelessness from Gloucestershire and a forgetful Graeme Smith all feature in our alternative review of the 2014 county season

Kent v Gloucestershire, Canterbury, 4th day

Gloucestershire finish with a flourish

Sep 26, 2014: Gloucestershire finished their County Championship season on a high and denied Kent the chance of a potential fourth-placed Division Two

Kent v Gloucestershire, Canterbury, 3rd day

Alex Gidman signs off with hundred

Sep 25, 2014: Kent face an uphill battle to prevent their sixth defeat of the four-day campaign after Gloucestershire dictated terms on day three in Canterbury

Derbyshire v Leicestershire, Derby, 3rd day

Leicestershire crumble for a final time

Sep 25, 2014: A final curtain of gloom descended on Leicestershire's miserable season when they crumbled to 112 all out to lose by 408 runs against Derbyshire.

Glamorgan v Hampshire, Cardiff, 3rd day

Tomlinson puts Hampshire up as champions

Sep 25, 2014: Hampshire won Division Two with an emphatic 291-run win. They return to Division One after three years away, with each of those years starting with them dubbed favourites

Essex v Worcestershire, Chelmsford, 3rd day

Essex left to rue another near miss

Sep 25, 2014: As on the first morning, Essex's bowlers tore through Worcestershire, finishing the job they had started two days ago

Derbyshire v Leicestershire, Derby, 2nd day

Cotton takes limelight from Footitt

Sep 24, 2014: Derbyshire's young seamer Ben Cotton took the bowling honours away from Mark Footitt at Derby as Leicestershire's batting folded again to leave them facing the prospect of another defeat.

Glamorgan v Hampshire, Cardiff, 2nd day

Hampshire finally have the feel of champions

Sep 24, 2014: On an edgy first day, Hampshire players were closely monitoring the situation at Chelmsford. On the second, they had the feeling of champions

Kent v Gloucestershire, Canterbury, 2nd day

Tavare ton cements Gloucestershire's control

Sep 24, 2014: Gloucestershire opener Will Tavare hit an unbeaten century to bat his side into a strong position at the mid-point of their final game in Canterbury

Essex v Worcestershire, Chelmsford, 2nd day

Grayson lauds 'gifted' Ryder

Sep 24, 2014: Essex may not be able to celebrate promotion at the end of this match but Chelmsford basked in another Jesse Ryder masterclass

Derbyshire v Leicestershire, Derby, 1st day

Slater maiden ton props up Derbys

Sep 23, 2014: Leicestershire's hopes of ending a two-year wait for a Championship victory were frustrated by a maiden first-class century from Derbyshire opener Ben Slater on a controversial day that saw India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara given out for handling the b

Kent v Gloucestershire, Canterbury, 1st day

Claydon five skittles Gloucestershire

Sep 23, 2014: Mitchell Claydon bagged his third five-wicket haul of the season as Kent dismissed Gloucestershire for 179 on the opening day at Canterbury. Responding after tea, Kent fared badly in reaching 83 for 4

Glamorgan v Hampshire, Cardiff, 1st day

Vince, Ervine lead Hampshire through the mist

Sep 23, 2014: James Vince and Sean Ervine were the heroes of this particular piece. With centuries to their name, Vince's fourth and Ervine's second of the season, they put on 225 and saved their side from 53 for 5

Essex v Worcestershire, Chelmsford, 1st day

Rejuvenated Ryder maintains Essex push

Sep 23, 2014: While the "Chelmsfort" of T20 fame can be a lairy cauldron of noise and attitude, the Championship crowd tends to be a more pleasant bunch

County news

Davidson stands for Leicestershire return

Sep 22, 2014: Neil Davidson, the former Leicestershire chairman, could be on the brink of an unlikely return to cricket administration at the club where his tenure ended in revolt.

Hampshire v Kent, Ageas Bowl, 4th day

Smith resists as Hampshire stumble to draw

Sep 18, 2014: Hampshire are safely over the penultimate fence but dragged their hind legs through it

Hampshire v Kent, Ageas Bowl, 3rd day

Ervine ton revives hope of precious draw

Sep 17, 2014: Sean Ervine has been a cornerstone of Hampshire's success for the past decade and he played a special innings on the third day against Kent

Surrey v Derbyshire, The Oval, 3rd day

Godleman, Pujara seal Derbyshire victory

Sep 17, 2014: India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara hammered 90 not out and Billy Godleman weighed in with an unbeaten hundred as Derbyshire swept to a comfortable eight-wicket Championship Division Two victory against Surrey