At Derby. Est 1877. Matches 190, Yorkshire won 98, Derbyshire won 17. Last year's game at Sheffield resulted in a draw; Dean Jones hit an unbeaten 214 and Michael Bevan made 136. Peter Hartley produced career-best figures of 9-41 when Yorkshire beat Derbyshire in 1995. Yorkshire have not, however, won at Derby since 1928, a matchin which Maurice Leyland scored 149.
In form: C E W Silverwood 15 wickets in last two matches.
Essex v Middlesex
At Chelmsford. Est 1895. Matches 152, Middlesex won 52, Essex won 32. Essex won by an innings and 51 runs at Lord's in 1996, a match in which Ashley Cowan took eight wickets. In recent years Graham Gooch has been the outstanding batsmen in this fixture, having scored hundreds in 1990 (twice), 1991 (twice) and 1994. Essex last beat Middlesex at Chelmsford in 1991. In form: J H Kallis 362 runs and 14 wkts in last three matches.
Gloucs v Lancs
At Bristol. Est 1878. Matches 173, Lancs won 79, Gloucs won 27. Rain caused the 1996 match to be drawn. The games of 1995, 1994 and 1993 all produced victory for Gloucestershire. Lancashire's last win in the series was at Old Trafford as far back as 1990 and their last success at Bristol came in 1985. In form: G Keedy 14 wickets in his last two matches for Lancashire.
Hants v Worcs
At Southampton. Est 1899, matches 135, Hants won 45, Worcs won 34. Hundreds came from Hick, Spiring, Moody and Aymes in last season's drawn game. Mark Nicholas hit 138 not out when Hants won at Southampton in 1995. Worcs' last win there was in 1982 by one wicket, when Steve Perryman hit the penultimate ball for six. In form: W P C Weston 259 runs in his last two matches.
__________________________________________________________
Kent v Surrey
At Canterbury. Est 1846, matches 252, Surrey won 96, Kent won 58, two ties. Martin McCague, with 63 not out and four for 33, nearly forced a Kent win last year. Games in 1995, 1994 and 1993 were also drawn. Kent won at Guildford in 1992, Carl Hooper hitting 131. Surrey last won at Canterbury in 1989, Graham Thorpe hitting 85 not out. In form: T R Ward 304 runs in last five innings.
__________________________________________________________
Leics v Durham
At Leicester. Est 1992, matches 6, Leics won 6, Durham won 0. Leicestershire's last four wins have been by more than an innings. In 1996 Phil Simmons hit 171 and took six for 14. Leics were the opponents in Durham's first match in 1992. In form: none.
__________________________________________________________
Somerset v Glamorgan
At Taunton. Est 1921, matches 138, Somerset won 31, Glamorgan won 40. Tony Cottey (112) and Steve James (110) were the successful batsmen in Glamorgan's 1996 win at Swansea. Robert Croft hit a personal best 143 in Glamorgan's 1995 win. Somerset last beat Glamorgan at Taunton in 1993. In form: S L Watkin 18 wickets in last three matches.
__________________________________________________________
Sussex v Notts
At Hove. Est 1835, matches 189, Notts won 79, Sussex won 38. Rain caused the 1996 game to be drawn. Notts won by 10 wickets at Arundel in 1995, Chris Cairns taking 15 for 83. Sussex have not beaten Notts since 1977 and not at Hove since 1970, when Tony Greig took seven for 74. In form: none.
__________________________________________________________
Warwicks v Northants
At Edgbaston. Est 1905, matches 146, Warwicks won 52, Northants won 24. Warwicks won the 1996 game by nine wickets; Andy Moles hit 164. The 1995 match at Edgbaston brought Northants a win by seven runs - this close finish by sides, at the time, first and second in the table, was one of the best championship games staged. In form: N V Knight 347 runs in last five innings.