Worcestershire have formally confirmed that Australian batsman Phil Hughes will be joining them as overseas player for the entire 2012 season. The 23 year-old had originally been expected to join the Royals for the start of their Friends Life t20 campaign and continue through to the end of the season, but, since being dropped from the Australian Test side, Hughes made clear his wish to play a full season of county cricket.
We round up all of the latest county news from the last few days in our latest County Cricket Round-Up.
With many of England's county cricketers now heading home from their off-season destinations in time for Christmas, we take our monthly look at how they have been performing for their franchises or states so far in the 2011-12 season.
Somerset have tentatively announced that they have secured the services of South African all-rounder Vernon Philander as their overseas player for the first two months of the 2012 season. Philander's availability is dependent on him not being selected to play in the Indian Premier League.
Worcestershire have signed struggling Australian Test opener Phil Hughes as their overseas player for the second half of the 2012 season. The deal is expected to begin after the conclusion of the group stage of the Friends Life t20.
The 23 year-old was recently recalled to Australia's Test side as part of a new-look opening partnership but has since struggled against South Africa and New Zealand as his fondness for the cut shot has led him into trouble on numerous occasions.
The county season will get underway earlier than ever in 2012, with the traditional Champion County curtain-raiser scheduled to begin on 27th March in Abu Dhabi, and the first of the university fixtures set to kick off on 31st March.
A round up of all the latest county news.
Former ECB chairman David Morgan handed his long-awaited report on the "business of domestic cricket" to the ECB at its board meeting at Lord's today. Morgan was tasked with conducting an extensive review of the county game earlier this year and has canvassed for opinions widely over the summer.
Former England and Worcestershire all-rounder Basil D'Oliveira has died aged 80, Cricket South Africa (CSA) have confirmed.
Born in South Africa in 1931, he first represented England in 1966 having emigrated in 1960, frustrated with a lack of opportunities for non-white players.
News from Warwickshire, Kent, Surrey and more in today's County Cricket Round-Up.
Warwickshire have secured the services of New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel as their overseas player for the duration of the 2012 season subject to visa clearance from the Home Office.
News of contracts for Shahid Afridi, David Murphy, Rob Newton and Simon Jones in today's County Cricket Round-Up.
News of contracts for Laurie Evans and Steffan Piolet in today's County Cricket Round-Up.
News from Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and more in our latest County Cricket Round-Up.
Following the high-profile defection of Joe Denly to Middlesex and Leicestershire's predicted loss of James Taylor to either Nottinghamshire or Warwickshire, we examine whether more needs to be done to reward counties who produce talented young players.
Kent have been busy on the contract front over the past few days. We round up that and the rest of the county news in today's County Cricket Round-Up.
Former England, Kent and Worcestershire fast bowler Graham Dilley has died aged 52 following a short illness.
Dilley played 41 Test matches and 36 One-Day Internationals and was part of England's Ashes winning teams in 1981 and 1987.
News of a contract extension for Monty Panesar and more in today's County Round-Up.
We take a look at the latest county cricket news in our regular County Cricket Round-Up feature.
In spite of the 2011 season being barely finished and far from forgotten, the ECB have announced the draw for the 2012 Clydesdale Bank 40 competition.
The Netherlands, Scotland and Unicorns are allocated to group A, B and C respectively with the rest of the places decided by a free draw.
Lancashire won their first Championship title in 77 years by beating Somerset in the final session at Taunton. Somerset were bowled out for 310 in their second innings, meaning that Lancashire needed just 211 to win, which they knocked off for the loss of only two wickets.
Warwickshire's hopes had ended just after tea on the final day of their match against a relegated Hampshire at The Rose Bowl after they could only take four Royals wickets all day thanks to centuries from Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie.
On the penultimate day of action in the LV= County Championship, Surrey cemented their promotion to Division One at the expense of Hampshire; Northamptonshire completed victory over Gloucestershire; and Middlesex went a step closer to being crowned Division Two champions following an excellent day against Leicestershire.
Of the title challengers, Durham were eliminated from the race by events at The Rose Bowl; while Warwickshire emerged as slight favourites in what is now a two-way battle with Lancashire. We round up the day's events below.
All three of the title challengers kept themselves in the hunt for the trophy with solid days against Hampshire, Somerset and Worcestershire. Elsewhere, Northamptonshire look set for victory over Gloucestershire and Surrey are well poised to confirm their promotion with a win over Derbyshire. We round up all the day's action below.
The title race was no closer to being decided after the opening day of matches in the final round of the LV= County Championship, as title challengers Warwickshire, Lancashire and Durham all enjoyed reasonably good days, without doing anything spectacular, in their fixtures.
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.
