Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire have the week off. But they are now 43 points clear and look almost certain to finish top.

That now look certain to be playing top-flight cricket again next summer, should the current two-tier structure be retained in 2023.

But that all now depends on what the counties vote for in the wake of the ECB's Andrew Strauss-led high-performance review of the county game - and when any changes would be implemented.

As to who fills the other 'promotion slot', this week's meeting at Lord's between Middlesex and Glamorgan will surely prove a big pointer.

Just seven points seperate second-placed Glammy from the Three Seaxes in fourth - and third-placed Derbyshire, who lie between them, are not in action this week.

Image source, BBC Sport

At the bottom of Division One, Gloucestershire still bring up the rear, now 30 points adrift and 37 points shy of safety - with only two games left to play.

They look destined to be relegated, although that is obviously dependant on what format the ECB opt to deploy for red-ball cricket next season.

But the battle is still on above the not so glorious Glosters to avoid finishing in the higher of the two 'relegation slots'.

Only 11 points separate seventh-placed Kent (115) from Warwickshire (104) in ninth.

Fifth-placed Yorkshire and sixth-placed Northants will still both be looking over their shoulders.

But the place to be at this week looks like being Edgbaston where reigning county champions Warwickshire, bolstered by two new Indian signings Jayant Yadav and Mohammed Siraj, host Somerset, who start the week just seven points above them - and have two new international signings of their own, Pakistan pair Imam ul-Haq and Sajid Khan.

It could make for a tense occasion as the Bears bid to avoid becoming the fifth side to be relegated the year after winning the title.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

This how we left it on Thursday, with Hampshire going ahead of Surrey at the top of Division One following their final-afternoon victory over Northamptonshire.

While Surrey were without a game last week, this week it's Hampshire's turn to sit it out.

Surrey themselves now take on Northants, looking to eat back into that eight-point deficit, while third-placed outsiders Lancashire are also without a game.

Fourth-placed Essex, fresh from their heavy Feroze Khushi/Sam Cook-inspired innings win over Kent, travel to Leeds to play Yorkshire.

But, even with three games left, making up their 59-point deficit on leaders Hampshire with a maximum 72 points left on the table would take an extraordinary combination of results.

Always take the weather . . .published at 10:11 British Summer Time 12 September 2022

10:11 BST 12 September 2022

Today's BBC weather forecast says "a band of cloud and spells of rain will sink south-eastwards across southern Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Wales. Sunny spells elsewhere, with just the odd shower."

As only one game is on in the north, in Leeds, that suggests the other five matches in today's progamme - in Birmingham, Leicester, Northampton, London and Hove - should remain largely unaffected.

But there are already concerns about not starting on time at Headingley.

All six counties staging Championship matches today have posted tributes to The Queen on Twitter . . .

Division One

Northamptonshire v Surrey (Wantage Road, Northampton)

Warwickshire v Somerset (Edgbaston)

Yorkshire v Essex (Leeds)

Division Two

Leicestershire v Durham (Leicester)

Middlesex v Glamorgan (Lord's)

Sussex v Worcestershire (Hove)

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning everyone.

A nation is still in mourning following the sad loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but the sporting world has resumed some sense of normality, for the next few days. Until the state funeral a week today.

After a weekend of cancelled football fixtures, and the respectful loss of many other sporting occasions too, cricket resumed on Saturday with the final England-South Africa Test, at the Kia Oval.

The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures were put back 24 hours until yesterday.

And today it is the turn of County Championship cricket, which goes ahead, as per schedule.