Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the LV= Insurance County Championship...
Fixture: Warwickshire v Durham
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Dates: Sunday, July 4, 2021 - Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Two teams separated by nine points and three places: Warwickshire are top of the pile, while Durham sit fourth. Both can have been well pleased with how they began their red-ball campaign.
Under the stewardship of Mark Robinson, Warwickshire are a team in transition, learning to live without the experience of Ian Bell, Jeetan Patel and Tim Ambrose. The early signs are good: a terrific win against reigning champions Essex perhaps displayed their confidence best, with a hundred for homegrown left-hander Rob Yates. Few would have tipped the Edgbaston county to sit top of the tree at this stage, so their new challenge is in staying there.
For Durham, this is the third season in a five-year plan as the county continues to rebuild after the financial difficulties of previous era. Under James Franklin and Marcus North, that recovery has been a gradual process, but they have impressed this year. A place in the top two is in sight, especially with Ben Stokes included in a 13-man squad for this one.
Who's in form?
Chris Rushworth has been typically dominant with the Dukes - nobody has more than his 40 wickets at 16.57, while he has been well supported by Brydon Carse and Ben Raine, who have shared 60 scalps between them.
With the bat, David Bedingham has emerged as the man to beat: 787 runs at 71.54, including three centuries and two fifties. A fabulous start to the campaign for the South African overseas player, about whom many county cricket observers knew little until the start of this summer.
Warwickshire have been equally indebted to their seam attack: Olly Hannon-Dalby and Liam Norwell have both exploited helpful conditions to pick up 24 wickets each, while captain Will Rhodes and Craig Miles have both taken 18. Danny Briggs, better known these days for his white-ball exploits, has claimed 20 victims at an average of 22.15 - a very creditable effort from the left-armer.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Warwickshire: WWDDL
Durham: WLDWW
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 33
Warwickshire wins: 12
Durham wins: 12
Draws: 9
Abandoned: 0
What's the team news?
The hosts are heavily boosted by the return of Dom Sibley to their matchday side. The England international has recovered from a broken finger and is set to the open the batting. Ryan Sidebottom links up with the team again, but Chris Woakes is still out with his country.
Warwickshire: Will Rhodes, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Matt Lamb, Pieter Malan, Craig Miles, Liam Norwell, Dom Sibley, Ryan Sidebottom, Rob Yates
Ben Stokes is included in the Durham County Championship side once again. The all-rounder played in the T20 Blast instead of being called up to international duty as he was eased back into post-IPL cricket, and is set to make his first start in domestic first-class cricket since 2019.
A consistent T20 campaign has earned Sean Dickson his first call-up to the first team.
Durham: Scott Borthwick, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Chris Rushworth, David Bedingham, Michael Jones, Ned Eckersley, Jack Burnham, Ben Stokes, Sean Dickson, Matt Salisbury, Ben Raine. Cameron Bancroft
Latest Warwickshire news: Click here
Latest Durham news: Click here
Who's said what?
After two years of playing with the second XI, followed by an impressive summer with the bat in the T20 Blast, Sean Dickson will be relishing the opportunity to impress if he gets the nod to start.
"The four day game has come at a good time for us after a busy few weeks with T20s", he said. With eight games in the last 23 days for Durham, the four-day game will be a handy opportunity for the team to change their pace.
"I am in the squad for Warwickshire this week, whether I play or not is a different matter but I have been itching to play, my injury came at a bad time and the guys took their opportunity, which shows a good squad of players which is good signs for Durham. If I get my opportunity hopefully I will take it and we can go from there.", Dickson added.
What's the weather forecast?
Rain will likely play a big part in the outcome of this match with wet spells forecast on all four days.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Edgbaston: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Warwickshire will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All LV= County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every LV= County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets
To visit the Edgbaston ticket office, click here.
Travel
Address: Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Rd, Birmingham, B5 7QU
Parking: There will be no parking available to purchase in advance or on the day for this fixture.
Parking will be available on-site for annual car park pass holders only. A small number of disabled parking spaces will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Public car parking may also be available on a pay and display basis in Cannon Hill Park and/or the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Centre. These car parks are not operated by Edgbaston.
By bus: There are regular local buses to the ground from south west Birmingham and the city centre. National Express buses 45 and 47 have services between the city centre and Pershore Road which is a two-minute walk to the ground.
More information on local buses can be found by clicking here.
By train: Birmingham New Street Station is the main rail hub for the city with connections from all over the country.
Prediction?
Too tight to call, but much will depend on which of two excellent bowling attacks can come out on top. The inclusion in Durham's squad of Ben Stokes might just give the visitors an edge.
OTHER ROUND 10 MATCH PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Gloucestershire v Middlesex
Group 3
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