LV= County Championship Final Round Preview

LV= County Championship Final Round Preview

Chris Woakes will be hoping to bowl Warwickshire to Championship glory.

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As the LV= County Championship enters its final furlong, three teams are still in the hunt for the title. Warwickshire are the team with their destiny solely in their own hands as they know that securing 22 or more points against Hampshire will see the championship pennant fluttering at Edgbaston in 2012. Meanwhile, Lancashire must do as well as possible at Taunton and hope for the best (or worst depending on your allegiance) at The Rose Bowl, while Durham need to win and hope that the aforementioned two either lose or draw if they are to have a chance at a third title in four years. 

The relegation battle is equally tense with Worcestershire needing only one point to condemn Yorkshire to Division Two cricket in 2012 but needing a further seven to secure their own safety. Hampshire could yet complete their very own Great Escape if the Pears fail to do this and the Royals win against Warwickshire.

Division Two has four teams battling for promotion with Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Surrey and Gloucestershire all needing to win to guarantee their return to top flight cricket. Current leaders Middlesex and Northamptonshire know that 11 and 24 points respectively will be enough for them to go up, while Surrey and Gloucestershire have to win and hope for slip ups from the leading duo.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures (1030 BST start unless otherwise stated)
Day One, LV=CCD1, Durham v Worcestershire at Chester-le-Street
The home side have named a strong 13-man squad that includes Scott Borthwick, Gareth Breese, Gordon Muchall and Graham Onions.
Day One, LV=CCD1, Hampshire v Warwickshire at The Rose Bowl
Hampshire are unchanged and have named the same eleven as that lost to Lancashire yesterday.
Day One, LV=CCD1, Nottinghamshire v Sussex at Trent Bridge
Charlie Shreck has replaced Darren Pattinson for his farewell appearance with the Outlaws, while Karl Turner is playing for his future at the top of the order.
Day One, LV=CCD1, Somerset v Lancashire at Taunton
The home side are expected to once again omit Charl Willoughby, while Nick Compton could make his return from a side injury.
Day One, LV=CCD2, Kent v Glamorgan at Canterbury (1400)
James Harris and Jim Allenby are both set to miss the first ever floodlit Championship match with injuries, with the Dragons naming Ben Wright, Mike O’Shea and Aneurin Norman as their replacements.
Day One, LV=CCD2, Leicestershire v Middlesex at Grace Road
The visitors have added Toby Roland-Jones and Tom Smith to the eleven that drew with Glamorgan yesterday.
Day One, LV=CCD2, Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire at Wantage Road
Day One, LV=CCD2, Surrey v Derbyshire at The Oval
Surrey have named an unchanged 13-man squad, with George Edwards and Zafar Ansari again set to miss out in the starting eleven. Tom Poynton and Tom Knight are vying for the final place in Derbyshire’s eleven as Tony Palladino misses out.

© Cricket World 2011