2017 County Championship matches. Following a series of financial "bailout" payments made by the England and Wales Cricket Board to Durham during the 2016 season, the county, which had finished fourth in Division One at the end of the season, were relegated to Division Two in place of the eighth place team, Hampshire. Durham were also placed under a salary cap administered by the ECB until 2020 and started the 2017 Championship season with a deduction of 48 points. Ahead of the season, each team played a first-class match against a MCC University team. The 2017 Championship was divided into two divisions, Division
2018 County Championship 2018 County Championship The 2018 County Championship, known for sponsorship reason as the 2018 Specsavers County Championship, is the 119th cricket County Championship season. As in 2017, Division One has eight teams and Division Two has ten teams, with two teams relegated and two promoted at the end of the season. The first round of matches began on 13 April and the final round of matches is scheduled to end on 27 September. Most of the matches of the Championship will be played as day matches, although each team will play one day-night match at some point during the season.