The 2016 Championship was divided into two divisions of nine teams each. Each county played every other team in their division twice with matches lasting four days - once at home and once away. At the end of the season one county was promoted from Division Two and two relegated from Division One in order to create a smaller Division One and a bigger Division Two in 2017.
Team promoted from Division Two
| Team | Primary home ground | Other grounds | Coach | Captain | Overseas player(s) | Refs |
| Durham | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | — | Jon Lewis | Paul Collingwood | — | |
| Hampshire | Rose Bowl, Southampton | — | Dale Benkenstein (Apr–Jul) Craig White (Jul–Sep) | James Vince | Ryan McLaren | |
| Lancashire | Old Trafford, Manchester | — | Ashley Giles | Steven Croft | Neil Wagner (May–Jul) | |
| Middlesex | Lord's, London | Merchant Taylors' School Ground, NorthwoodUxbridge Cricket Club Ground, Uxbridge | Richard Scott | Adam Voges (Apr–May) James Franklin (May–Sep) | Adam Voges (Apr–May) George Bailey (Jul–Aug) | |
| Nottinghamshire | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | — | Mick Newell | Chris Read | Jackson Bird (Apr–Jul) Imran Tahir (Jul–Sep) | |
| Somerset | County Ground, Taunton | — | Matthew Maynard | Chris Rogers | Chris Rogers | |
| Surrey | The Oval, London | Woodbridge Road, Guildford | Michael Di Venuto | Gareth Batty | Kumar Sangakkara Aaron Finch (Jul) | |
| Warwickshire | Edgbaston, Birmingham | — | Dougie Brown | Ian Bell | Jeetan Patel | |
| Yorkshire | Headingley, Leeds | North Marine Road Ground, Scarborough | Jason Gillespie | Andrew Gale | Kane Williamson (Jun–Jul) Travis Head (Aug) Jake Lehmann (Aug–Sep) |
| 10–13 April | (H) Durham | v | Somerset | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 256 (81.4 overs)KK Jennings 116 (228)L Gregory 4/58 (17.4 overs) | 179 (48.1 overs)PD Trego 45 (57)G Onions 4/62 (19 overs) | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-StreetUmpires: Rob Bailey and Nigel Cowley | |
| 223/4 (57 overs)KK Jennings 105* (168)L Gregory 2/54 (12 overs) | ||||
| No toss, Somerset elected to field , No play on Days 3 and 4 due to rain , Points: Durham 10, Somerset 8 |
| 10–13 April | (H) Hampshire | v | Warwickshire | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 202 (79.2 overs)R McLaren 85 (154)KHD Barker 5/53 (18 overs) | 360 (106.4 overs)IR Bell 174 (285)JA Tomlinson 3/79 (21.4 overs) | The Rose Bowl, SouthamptonUmpires: Steve O'Shaughnessy and Martin Saggers | |
| 185/5 (71.5 overs)LA Dawson 50* (120)KHD Barker 2/33 (15 overs) | ||||
| No toss, Warwickshire elected to field , No play on Day 2 due to rain , Points: Warwickshire 12, Hampshire 9 |
| 10–13 April | (H) Nottinghamshire | v | Surrey | Nottinghamshire won by 3 wickets |
| Scorecard | 446 (91.4 overs)SJ Mullaney 113 (114)R Rampaul 5/93 (16.4 overs) | 225 (67.1 overs)BT Foakes 38 (66)JM Bird 4/56 (17.1 overs) | Trent Bridge, NottinghamUmpires: David Millns and Tim Robinson | |
| 172/7 (42.4 overs)GP Smith 54 (103)TK Curran 4/58 (16 overs) | 389 (99.4 overs) (f/o)A Harinath 137 (270)JT Ball 5/98 (23 overs) | |||
| No toss, Surrey elected to field , Points: Nottinghamshire 24, Surrey 4 |
| 17–20 April | Nottinghamshire | v | Lancashire (H) | Lancashire won by 8 wickets |
| Scorecard | 242 (74.2 overs)CMW Read 52 (108)N Wagner 6/66 (20.2 overs) | 332 (121.1 overs)LS Livingstone 70 (124)JT Ball 4/63 (26 overs) | Old Trafford, ManchesterUmpires: Richard Illingworth and Neil Mallender | |
| 175 (84.5 overs)GP Smith 41 (131)N Wagner 5/45 (19 overs) | 88/2 (17 overs)LA Procter 35* (45)JT Ball 2/29 (6 overs) | |||
| Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bat , Points: Lancashire 22, Nottinghamshire 3Liam Livingstone (Lancashire) made his first-class debut. |
| 17–20 April | (H) Middlesex | v | Warwickshire | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 452 (131.5 overs)SD Robson 231 (345)JS Patel 4/80 (20.5 overs) | 468 (112.2 overs)IJL Trott 219* (289)TJ Murtagh 3/68 (22 overs) | Lord's, LondonUmpires: Peter Hartley and Richard Kettleborough | |
| 304/6d (104.5 overs)SD Robson 106 (195)KHD Barker 2/27 (13 overs) | ||||
| No toss, Warwickshire elected to field , Points: Middlesex 12, Warwickshire 11 |
| 17–20 April | (H) Yorkshire | v | Hampshire | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 593/9d (118 overs)JM Bairstow 246 (270)TP Alsop 2/59 (8 overs) | 453/9d (152.4 overs)SM Ervine 123 (259)RJ Sidebottom 4/80 (27.4 overs) | Headingley, LeedsUmpires: Stephen Gale and Nigel Llong | |
| 183/8d (68.3 overs)AW Gale 46 (97)JA Tomlinson 3/31 (16 overs) | ||||
| No toss, Hampshire elected to field , Points: Yorkshire 12, Hampshire 10 |
| 24–27 April | Middlesex | v | Durham (H) | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 389 (103.1 overs)DJ Malan 74 (112)BA Stokes 4/80 (25.1 overs) | 305/4 (86.3 overs)MD Stoneman 141* (223)ST Finn 3/64 (18 overs) | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-StreetUmpires: Ian Gould and Graham Lloyd | |
| Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat , No play on Day 3, and only 2.2 overs possible on Day 4 due to rain and snow , Points: Durham 11, Middlesex 10 |
| 24–27 April | (H) Surrey | v | Somerset | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 463 (109.5 overs)KC Sangakkara 171 (176)TD Groenewald 5/94 (23.5 overs) | 353 (98.3 overs)ME Trescothick 127 (213)R Rampaul 5/85 (24 overs) | The Oval, LondonUmpires: Paul Baldwin and Richard Illingworth | |
| 181/8d (53.3 overs)KC Sangakkara 71 (108)L Gregory 3/24 (10.3 overs) | 122/4 (35 overs)JC Hildreth 40* (64)ZS Ansari 3/43 (13 overs) | |||
| Surrey won the toss and elected to bat , Points: Surrey 13, Somerset 12 |
| 24–27 April | Yorkshire | v | Warwickshire (H) | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 379 (108 overs)GS Ballance 68 (161)CR Woakes 4/87 (28 overs) | 443/9d (117 overs)V Chopra 107 (182)AU Rashid 4/127 (31 overs) | Edgbaston, BirminghamUmpires: Nigel Cowley and Jeremy Lloyds | |
| 73/2d (22 overs)GS Ballance 21* (51)WB Rankin 1/18 (6 overs) | ||||
| Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat , Play reduced on Days 1, 2 and 3 due to rain and snow , Points: Warwickshire 13, Yorkshire 11 |
| 1–4 May | Hampshire (H) | v | Middlesex | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 336 (104 overs)MA Carberry 107 (211)TJ Murtagh 3/64 (27 overs) | 361 (104.5 overs)DJ Malan 121 (168)JA Tomlinson 4/74 (20.3 overs) | The Rose Bowl, SouthamptonUmpires: Nigel Cowley and Tim Robinson | |
| 290/5d (88 overs)JHK Adams 70 (164)TJ Murtagh 2/39 (16 overs) | 55/2 (15 overs)DJ Malan 24* (30)JA Tomlinson 1/13 (5 overs) | |||
| No toss, Middlesex elected to field , Only 41 overs possible on Day 2 due to rain , Points: Middlesex 12, Hampshire 11 |
| 1–4 May | Nottinghamshire (H) | v | Yorkshire | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 261 (69.2 overs)SJ Mullaney 78 (80)JA Brooks 4/74 (16 overs) | 290 (76.2 overs)AZ Lees 92 (134)JT Ball 4/57 (18 overs) | Trent Bridge, NottinghamUmpires: Michael Gough and Richard Kettleborough Player of the match: Alex Lees (Yorkshire) | |
| 348 (100.3 overs)CMW Read 101 (179)SA Patterson 4/57 (23.3 overs) | 257/9 (53 overs)AZ Lees 107 (123)HF Gurney 4/53 (16 overs) | |||
| No toss, Yorkshire elected to field , Play reduced on Day 1 due to bad light and on Day 2 due to rain , Points: Nottinghamshire 10, Yorkshire 10 |
| 1–4 May | Lancashire | v | Somerset (H) | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 493/9d (151 overs)LS Livingstone 108* (152)RE van der Merwe 3/87 (23 overs) | 313 (98.2 overs)JC Hildreth 130 (204)SC Kerrigan 3/63 (34 overs) | County Ground, TauntonUmpires: Jeff Evans and Alex Wharf | |
| 229/2d (86 overs) (f/o)ME Trescothick 129* (254)KM Jarvis 1/26 (11 overs) | ||||
| Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat , Play reduced on Day 1 due to bad light and on Day 2 due to rain , Points: Lancashire 11, Somerset 9 |
| 1–4 May | Surrey (H) | v | Durham | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 457 (119.4 overs)A Harinath 96 (188)BA Stokes 4/117 (33.4 overs) | 607/7d (153 overs)JTA Burnham 135 (215)TK Curran 2/105 (30 overs) | The Oval, LondonUmpires: Steve O'Shaughnessy and Billy Taylor | |
| 244/6 (75 overs)TK Curran 54 (94)BA Stokes 3/69 (21 overs) | ||||
| Surrey won the toss and elected to bat , Points: Durham 12, Surrey 11 |
| 8–11 May | Hampshire | v | Lancashire (H) | Lancashire won by an innings and 94 runs |
| Scorecard | 109 (48.3 overs)AJA Wheater 32 (64)LA Procter 3/14 (8.3 overs) | 456 (124.2 overs)LA Procter 137 (305)TL Best 5/90 (20 overs) | Old Trafford, ManchesterUmpires: Michael Gough and Nigel Llong | |
| 253 (120 overs)AJA Wheater 47 (116)SC Kerrigan 5/59 (36 overs) | ||||
| Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat. , Points: Lancashire 23, Hampshire 1 |
| 8–11 May | Nottinghamshire | v | Middlesex (H) | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 354 (100 overs)SR Patel 86 (138)TS Roland-Jones 5/61 (22 overs) | 203/3 (62.2 overs)SD Robson 114* (206)BA Hutton 2/47 (14 overs) | Lord's, LondonUmpires: Rob Bailey and Billy Taylor | |
| Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to bat. , No play on Days 3 and 4 due to rain , Points: Nottinghamshire 10, Middlesex 9 |
| 8–11 May | Somerset | v | Warwickshire (H) | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 295 (86.3 overs)TB Abell 104 (180)KHD Barker 3/54 (19 overs) | 152 (49.4 overs)V Chopra 56 (117)J Overton 3/24 (8 overs) | Edgbaston, BirminghamUmpires: Ian Gould and Neil Mallender | |
| 178 (46.5 overs)PD Trego 51 (58)WB Rankin 3/33 (8 overs) | 4/0 (2 overs)IJ Westwood 4* (6) | |||
| Somerset won the toss and elected to bat. , No play on Days 3 and 4 due to rain , Points: Somerset 10, Warwickshire 8 |
| 8–11 May | Surrey | v | Yorkshire (H) | Yorkshire won by an innings and 20 runs |
| Scorecard | 330 (91.4 overs)SM Davies 117 (163)DJ Willey 3/55 (20 overs) | 557/6d (111.2 overs)JE Root 213 (242)R Rampaul 4/153 (32.2 overs) | Headingley, LeedsUmpires: Steve Garratt and Alex Wharf | |
| 207 (73.1 overs)KC Sangakkara 61 (90)SA Patterson 3/15 (9 overs) | ||||
| Surrey won the toss and elected to bat. , Only 13.2 overs possible on Day 3 due to rain , Points: Yorkshire 24, Surrey 5 |
| 15–18 May | (H) Durham | v | Lancashire | Durham won by 73 runs |
| Scorecard | 411 (117 overs)SG Borthwick 134 (221)TE Bailey 5/110 (31 overs) | 326 (106.4 overs)H Hameed 74 (181)BJ McCarthy 5/70 (22 overs) | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-StreetUmpires: Stephen Gale and Richard Kettleborough | |
| 239/4d (60 overs)SG Borthwick 103* (165)KM Jarvis 1/47 (14 overs) | 251 (67 overs)LS Livingstone 60* (105)BA Carse 3/38 (15 overs) | |||
| Durham won the toss and elected to bat. , Points: Durham 23, Lancashire 6 |
| 15–18 May | Warwickshire | v | Nottinghamshire (H) | Warwickshire won by 53 runs |
| Scorecard | 373 (98 overs)CR Woakes 121 (187)LJ Fletcher 3/70 (20 overs) | 383 (109 overs)MJ Lumb 108 (193)R Clarke 4/72 (24 overs) | Trent Bridge, NottinghamUmpires: Russell Evans and David Millns | |
| 236 (67 overs)V Chopra 82 (115)LJ Fletcher 4/25 (16 overs) | 173 (36.4 overs)SR Patel 124 (82)KHD Barker 4/38 (11 overs) | |||
| Warwickshire won the toss and elected to bat. , Play reduced on Day 4 due to rain , Points: Warwickshire 23, Nottinghamshire 7 |
| 15–18 May | (H) Somerset | v | Yorkshire | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 562/7d (138.2 overs)JC Hildreth 166 (237)AU Rashid 4/160 (34 overs) | 311 (113.1 overs)A Lyth 106 (180)TD Groenewald 3/54 (20 overs) | County Ground, TauntonUmpires: Steve O'Shaughnessy and Billy Taylor | |
| 141/6 (71.4 overs) (f/o)JA Leaning 29* (74)J Overton 3/26 (17 overs) | ||||
| No toss, Yorkshire elected to field. , 55 overs lost on Days 3 and 4 due to rain , Points: Somerset 12, Yorkshire 9 |
| 15–18 May | Middlesex | v | Surrey (H) | Match drawn |
| Scorecard | 395 (125.3 overs)NRT Gubbins 91 (122)TK Curran 4/113 (35 overs) | 242 (114.3 overs)BT Foakes 59* (235)OP Rayner 6/79 (36.3 overs) | The Oval, LondonUmpires: Paul Baldwin and Nigel Llong | |
| 98/0 (45 overs) (f/o)RJ Burns 57* (144) | ||||
| Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat. , No play on Day 4 due to rain , Points: Middlesex 10, Surrey 9 |
| 22–25 May | (H) Hampshire | v | Nottinghamshire | Hampshire won by 69 runs |
| Scorecard | 270 (104.2 overs)TP Alsop 72 (148)HF Gurney 4/61 (26 overs) | 189 (72.5 overs)MH Wessels 72 (156)MS Crane 3/19 (10 overs) | The Rose Bowl, SouthamptonUmpires: Nick Cook and Graham Lloyd | |
| 223/9d (75 overs)WR Smith 61 (159)HF Gurney 5/75 (24 overs) | 235 (63.3 overs)BR Taylor 71 (99)TL Best 4/47 (14 overs) | |||
| No toss, Nottinghamshire elected to field. , Only 57 overs possible on Day 1 due to rain , Points: Hampshire 21, Nottinghamshire 3 |
Team relegated from Division One
| Team | Primary home ground | Other grounds | Coach | Captain | Overseas player(s) | Refs |
| Derbyshire | County Ground, Derby | Queen's Park, Chesterfield | Graeme Welch (Apr–Jun) | Billy Godleman | Hamish Rutherford | |
| Essex | County Ground, Chelmsford | Castle Park Cricket Ground, Colchester | Chris Silverwood | Ryan ten Doeschate | Jesse Ryder | |
| Glamorgan | SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff | Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-SeaSt Helen's, Swansea | Robert Croft | Jacques Rudolph | Jacques Rudolph | |
| Gloucestershire | County Ground, Bristol | College Ground, Cheltenham | Richard Dawson | Gareth Roderick | Cameron Bancroft (Apr–May) Michael Klinger (May–Sep) | |
| Kent | St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | Kent County Cricket Ground, BeckenhamNevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells | Jimmy Adams | Sam Northeast | Tom Latham Kagiso Rabada (Jul) | |
| Leicestershire | Grace Road, Leicester | — | Andrew McDonald | Mark Cosgrove | Clint McKay | |
| Northamptonshire | County Ground, Northampton | — | David Ripley | Alex Wakely | Rory Kleinveldt Seekkuge Prasanna (May–Jul) | |
| Sussex | County Ground, Hove | Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground, Arundel | Mark Davis | Luke Wright | Ross Taylor | |
| Worcestershire | New Road, Worcester | — | Steve Rhodes | Daryl Mitchell | Matt Henry (Apr–Jun) Kyle Abbott (Jul–Sep) |
Teams receive 16 points for a win, 8 for a tie and 5 for a draw. Bonus points (a maximum of 5 batting points and 3 bowling points) may be scored during the first 110 overs of each team's first innings.
The fixture list for the 2016 season was announced in December 2015.
Source: Wikipedia