County Championship Returns with Title Defense

Nottinghamshire, led by captain Haseeb Hameed and coach Peter Moores, will look to defend their County Championship title after a successful season that included ending Surrey's dominance. The defending champions have retained most of their key players, with the return of Australian Fergus O'Neill and Ben Duckett's availability being significant boosts.

Leicestershire and Glamorgan join Division One after Leicestershire's Division Two success, while Durham and Worcestershire aim to bounce back from relegation. Sussex's title hopes have been dented by a points deduction. England hopefuls have opportunities to press their case after the Ashes tour, with Rob Key encouraging players to impress in the opening weeks.