A statistical look around the grounds ahead of the third week of fixtures in the Specsavers County Championship, courtesy of Opta.
DIVISION ONE
Durham v Middlesex
Middlesex are undefeated in their last three away games against Durham (D2 W1).
The last three times these counties have faced each other, it has been the side batting first that has gone on to win.
Middlesex have only tasted defeat once in their last 10 matches (W4 D5) whilst Durham have managed just one win in their last nine games (D2 L6).
Sam Robson comes into this game on the back of recording the highest ever first-class match aggregate for Middlesex (337, v Warwickshire).
Graham Onions has recorded the two best first-class innings bowling figures by a Durham player against Middlesex (7/62, 2013 & 7/68, 2015).
Surrey v Somerset
Somerset are unbeaten in seven meetings with Surrey (W2 D5).
Surrey are without a home win over Somerset in five attempts (D4 L1).
Surrey have mustered only one victory their last 18 matches in the top division (D10 L7).
Ravi Rampaul recorded innings figures of 5/93 during Surrey’s 2016 opener against Nottinghamshire; it was only his second five-for in first-class cricket since April 2009.
Steve Davies needs 37 more runs to reach 10,000 in first class cricket.
Warwickshire v Yorkshire
Yorkshire have only lost one of their last 15 matches against Warwickshire (W8 D6).
Warwickshire have gone seven home games without a win over Yorkshire (D3 L4); losing the last three in succession.
Yorkshire have lost only one of the last 30 matches they have been involved in (W18 D11).
Warwickshire were bowled out for 69 in their first innings the last time these sides met; six of their batsmen recording ducks.
Ian Westwood (Warwickshire) posted his highest ever first-class score (196) when he faced Yorkshire last season.
DIVISION TWO
Derbyshire v Glamorgan
Derbyshire have gone three games without a win against Glamorgan (D2 L1).
Glamorgan have failed to claim victory in their last eight attempts away at Derbyshire (D4 L4).
The Welsh side have gone nine matches without a win (D4 L5); having gone eight games unbeaten immediately before that run (W4 D4).
Hamish Rutherford’s first County Championship ton came when these sides last met (July 2015).
Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen has scored 15 runs from reverse sweeps so far this season; seven more than anyone else.
Essex v Northamptonshire
Five of the last six meetings between Essex and Northants have ended as draws.
Essex are currently unbeaten in 12 home games against Northamptonshire (W7 D5).
Both Essex (W3 D3) and Northants (W1 D5) are currently on six-game unbeaten streaks.
Alastair Cook has recorded tons in both of Essex’s matches this term; he’s posted four first-class centuries in six matches against Northants, twice as many as he’s managed against any other county.
Ben Duckett (282* v Sussex) comes into this game having recorded the highest first class innings score for Northamptonshire since 2006 (Chris Rogers, 319).
Gloucestershire v Worcestershire
The last five encounters between Gloucestershire and Worcestershire have all been won by the side to bowl first.
Worcestershire have only lost once in their last 12 visits to Gloucestershire (W8 D3).
Gloucestershire are unbeaten in five home games (W2 D3).
Chris Dent (Gloucestershire) has scored 268 & 180 in successive County Championship innings in Bristol.
Gloucestershire’s Jack Taylor has recorded 20 runs from slogs so far this campaign; no batsman has registered more.
Leicestershire v Kent
Kent are unbeaten in 12 matches versus Leicestershire (W5 D7).
Leicestershire (W2 D3) have only lost once in their last six matches; having managed only one win in 43 games immediately before this run (D16 L26).
Kent have not tasted defeat in their last six visits to Leicestershire (W3 D3).
Matt Coles (Kent) recorded his best ever match figures when these sides last met (10/98, July 2015); he’s taken 14 more wickets against Leicestershire than any other opponent in first-class cricket (45).
Clint McKay took innings figures of 6/73 in Leicestershire’s most recent game (Glamorgan); he’s only ever managed better twice before in first-class cricket, with one of these performances coming against Kent in 2015 (6/54).