Durham have won the County Championship three times, in 2008, 2009, and 2013. But after a painful final-day relegation in 2025, they now compete in Division Two.
The club knows what it takes to climb back, though. They did it in 2023, and they will look to do it again in 2026. With seasoned performers like Alex Lees, David Bedingham, and Matthew Potts in the ranks, Durham have the quality to bounce back fast. The 2026 season starts in April and runs through September.
Durham County Cricket Club Batters 2026
Durham’s top order carries a strong mix of experience and consistency. These players set the foundation in every format and hold the team together in tough conditions across the county circuit.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Alex Lees | Captain / Opener |
| David Bedingham | Top-order batter |
| Emilio Gay | Opening batter |
| Graham Clark | Middle-order batter |
| Ben McKinney | Middle-order batter |
| Will Rhodes | Top-order batter |
| Ollie Robinson | Wicket-keeper batter |
| Haydon Mustard | Wicket-keeper batter |
| George Drissell | Batter |
Durham County Cricket Club All-Rounders 2026
Durham’s all-rounders give the team real balance. They can shift a game with the bat and take key wickets with the ball, which makes them vital in both red-ball and white-ball cricket.
| Player | Role | Batting Style | Bowling Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Ackermann | All-rounder | Right-hand bat | Right-arm off-spin |
| Ben Raine | All-rounder | Left-hand bat | Right-arm medium-fast |
| Paul Coughlin | All-rounder | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium-fast |
| Bas de Leede | All-rounder | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium-fast |
| Nathan Sowter | Bowling all-rounder | Right-hand bat | Right-arm leg-spin |
| Luke Robinson | All-rounder | Right-hand bat | Right-arm medium |
Durham County Cricket Club Bowlers 2026
Durham’s bowling attack has real pace and variety. Carse and Potts have both represented England at the Test level, which shows just how strong the top of this attack is when fully available.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Brydon Carse | Pace bowler |
| Matthew Potts | Pace bowler |
| Sam Conners | Seam bowler |
| Brendan Doggett | Pace bowler |
| Daniel Hogg | Pace bowler |
| James Hinto | Pace Bowler |
| Callum Parkinson | Spinner |
| Jack Blatherwick | Pace Bowler |
| Jake Ball | Pace Bowler |
Durham County Cricket Club Upcoming Matches 2026
Durham kicks off the 2026 season at home in April. They face a busy summer across three competitions: the Rothesay County Championship Division Two, the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, and the Vitality T20 Blast.
| Date | Match No. | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, April 3 | 4th | Durham vs Kent | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Friday, April 10 | 6th | Gloucestershire vs Durham | County Ground, Brol | 3:30 PM |
| Friday, April 24 | 12th | Durham vs Lancashire | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Friday, May 1 | 16th | Middlesex vs Durham | Lord’s, London | 3:30 PM |
| Friday, May 8 | 19th | Worcestershire vs Durham | New Road, Worcester | 3:30 PM |
| Friday, May 15 | 21st | Kent vs Durham | Kent County Ground, Beckenham | 3:30 PM |
| Friday, June 12 | 28th | Durham vs Derbyshire | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Friday, June 19 | 32nd | Durham vs Northamptonshire | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Thursday, August 20 | 34th | Derbyshire vs Durham | County Ground, Derby | 3:30 PM |
| Thursday, August 27 | 40th | Durham vs Gloucestershire | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Wednesday, September 2 | 43rd | Northamptonshire vs Durham | County Ground, Northampton | 3:30 PM |
| Tuesday, September 8 | 47th | Durham vs Middlesex | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 49th | Durham vs Worcestershire | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 3:30 PM |
| Thursday, September 24 | 56th | Lancashire vs Durham | Old Trafford, Manchester | 3:30 PM |
Durham’s home base is Banks Homes Riverside in Chester-le-Street, one of England’s most respected county grounds and a former Test match venue.
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Conclusion: Durham County Cricket Club Has a Balanced Squad for 2026
Durham is a club with real pedigree and real hunger heading into 2026. Relegation in 2025 stung, but this squad has the experience and the England-level talent to push for immediate promotion.
Lees leads from the front, Potts and Carse bring genuine pace, and the middle order has the depth to build big totals. If the top performers stay fit and available, Durham can make Division Two look far too small for them this summer.
