The 2026 County Championship season will get underway in just over a month's time.
The early months of the year are English cricket's own silly season, when last-minute deals are signed for the spring start to the summer. While the most notable signings in this part of the year are usually reserved for overseas players as their stocks rise during their own domestic and international seasons, this year there have been some notable cross-county transfers.
Shoaib Bashir – Somerset to Derbyshire
The subject of Shoaib Bashir's next county has been an open debate almost since Bashir first pulled on an England shirt, becoming his country's No.1 while fighting for game time at his club. But, his contract at Somerset ending at the same time as the winter Ashes series meant that this off-season was always going to be the crunch-point of his future.
Despite all the noise, the brief for Bashir's new home was actually pretty clear. Somewhere which would allow him regular first XI appearances, with enough support and experienced figures to guide him through the next stage of his career. While Bashir would have been a high-profile get for any county, he comes with significant risks. His far from satisfactory Championship record and previous loan spells would have counted against him, as would the prospect of holding back other club-grown spinners through Bashir's arrival.
Nevertheless, eventual victors in the battle for Bashir, Derbyshire, look like as perfect a fit as there could be. The bouncy surfaces at Derby will favour Bashir's height and release point, and their release of Alex Thomson at the end of last season means they've got room. Mickey Arthur is the biggest draw, as one of the most senior coaches on the county circuit, who took the club close to promotion last season.
Bashir will be among the most watched players in the opening rounds of the Championship, assuming he plays in early April. How he gets on will be seen as a microcosm of several current tensions within English cricket rolled into one: The development of young spinners, England's Test spin question, and early April Championship cricket.
Moeen Ali – Warwickshire to Yorkshire (via Dubai)
Moeen Ali was a retired county cricketer for all of four months – barely enough time for the first pension cheque to clear. The end of Moeen's contracted county career was so definite that he pulled out of the Hundred last year, and relocated his family to Dubai to better suit the freelance franchise circuit.
However, early in the New Year a press release came through announcing that Moeen was now a Yorkshire player. He will play for the club in the T20 Blast, a competition which he led Worcestershire to victory in in 2018. The move will also see him reunite with former England teammate Adil Rashid, when the latter's international commitments allow.
The Moeen move is interesting on multiple fronts, most notably as part of Yorkshire's wider squad-building efforts. With senior players like Dawid Malan and Jordan Thompson moving on at the end of last summer, Yorkshire have signed a host of new names for 2026, including marquee overseas names. Bringing in Moeen means they theoretically have the possibility to field three 2019 World Cup winners during the T20 Blast this summer.
Jhye Richardson – Ashes to Yorkshire
One of the overseas signings Yorkshire have secured is that of Australia pacer Jhye Richardson. Richardson played in the Boxing Day Test of the winter Ashes series, returning to Australia's Test side after a year out with a shoulder injury. He will be available for the first six rounds of Yorkshire's Championship campaign, although it's unlikely he will play all of those with Cricket Australia bearing responsibility for his workload management.
Richardson's signing reveals a tension which has been bubbling over this winter, over Australia players featuring for counties as preparation for landmark series. Ben Stokes said earlier in the winter that he "never understood" why Australia players were able to play county cricket in close proximity to Ashes series while England players don't play in the Sheffield Shield. While there's a scheduling element to the reverse, last month the ECB were reportedly ready to explore ways to prevent Australia Test players preparing for Ashes series with Championship stints.
At this stage, Richardson is likely in line for a place in Australia's 2027 Ashes squad, but his experience in England is limited to an ODI series eight years ago. He is also part of an influx of Australians at Yorkshire, with Sam Whiteman and Andrew Tye having signed as a domestic players.
Danny Briggs – Warwickshire to Sussex
This isn't an off-season signing – Danny Briggs' return to Sussex for the 2026 was confirmed in June last year. However, it is one that's been made all the more important by off-season events.
The turbulent financial landscape at Sussex, and their subsequent bail out by the ECB means they will be subject to significant restrictions on their salary budget. Interested parties are reportedly already circling around players who are out of contract at the end of the season.
As one of England's most prolific T20 wicket-takers of all time, Briggs will provide a senior hand to a young spin attack at the club. He will also be part of the coaching set-up at the club, working with their young spinners. Amid an uncertain financial landscape, securing Briggs on a three-year deal is an important banker for a club facing a tricky time.
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