With England successfully concluding their tour of Sri Lanka earlier this week, there is now a lull until the country’s elite head off the Caribbean in the New Year. However, that gap can partially be filled by fans looking forward to next year’s County Championship with the 2019 fixture list having been announced.
| POS | TEAM | PLD | W | D | L | BOWL | BAT | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surrey | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 38.0 | 41.0 | 254 |
| 2 | Somerset | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 35.0 | 33.0 | 208 |
| 3 | Essex | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 35.0 | 25.0 | 187 |
| 4 | Yorkshire | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 33.0 | 25.0 | 158 |
| 5 | Hampshire | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 39.0 | 16.0 | 144 |
| 6 | Nottinghamshire | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 38.0 | 21.0 | 133 |
| 7 | Lancashire | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 40.0 | 23.0 | 133 |
| 8 | Worcestershire | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 39.0 | 23.0 | 104 |
This will be the final year that the County Championship takes place in its current format. There will be a 10-team Division 1 from 2020 with three teams will promoted from Division 2 at the end of the 2019 season and only the bottom side from the top division, which currently only has eight teams, being relegated.
From the 2020 season, promotion and relegation will revert to two-up, two-down but there will be no change to the number of fixtures in both divisions, which will remain at 14 and could see First Division teams seeded in the future.
The runaway 2018 county champions Surrey will begin their 2019 campaign at home to 2017 champions Essex in April. Essex were the only side to beat Rory Burns’ men in the county championship in 2018 but will have already played against Hampshire before travelling to the Kia Oval for the second round of matches. The final round of matches in both divisions start on Monday, September 23.
Division 1 Opening Day Fixtures 2019
Hampshire v Essex
Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire
Somerset v Kent
The relegation battle proved more absorbing the title race last season with four teams still in danger going into the final round of matches. In the end, it was Lancashire who fell through the trap door alongside Worcestershire, who never looked capable of avoiding the wooden spoon.
Surrey are a general 9/4 to defend their title in 2019 with Essex a best 4/1 with Betway to regain their crown. They will be able to call upon former England captain Alistair Cook for the whole summer now he’s retired from Test cricket but Surrey could be without their captain if he’s included in the Ashes squad. Nottinghamshire are a general 7/1 the same odds as Yorkshire will again be hampered by the loss of key players to the England set-up. Last season’s Division 2 champions Warwickshire are also a best 7/1 with Somerset available at 9/1 with BetVictor.
County Championship Division 1 2019 Current Best Odds
Surrey 9/4
Essex 4/1
Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire 7/1
Somerset and Hampshire 9/1
Kent 14/1
