Proteas spinner Simon Harmer for Essex during the 2025 County Championship.

The County Championship’s 2026 season has begun and this year (as always) sees several South Africans in the mix in England during the winter season.

Division One has 10 teams, and Division Two has eight, with two teams relegated and two promoted at the end of the season.

Nottinghamshire are the defending champions, with the first-class competition running from 3 April until 27 September.

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With most of the Proteas participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League and the Pakistan Super League, South Africa’s underrated domestic talents had greater opportunities to showcase their longer-format skills in the United Kingdom.

The County Championship gained greater attention at home last week when Lions all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel was charged by Cricket South Africa (CSA) and is now set to face two disciplinary hearings.

Swanepoel left the Lions in the lurch during CSA’s 1 Day Cup final at the Wanderers, departing after completing his 10-over spell with figures of 3 for 44, to fly to the United Kingdom after he signed for Worcestershire.

His exit reduced the Lions to 10 men, ultimately contributing to their narrow three-wicket defeat to the Titans, with just one ball remaining. Swanepoel left without his No-Objection Certificate signed by CSA and/or the Lions.

With Swanepoel’s Worcestershire deal in doubt, we looked at the list of the South Africans taking part in the 2026 County Championship:

Division One:

Essex - Simon Harmer, Wiaan Mulder, Dean Elgar

Glamorgan - Colin Ingram

Hampshire - Codi Yusuf, Kyle Abbott

Nottinghamshire - Kyle Verreynne

Somerset - Migael Pretorius

Division Two:

Durham - David Bedingham

Gloucestershire - Graeme van Buuren

Kent - Senuran Muthusamy, Glenton Stuurman, Keith Dudgeon, Michael Cohen

Middlesex - Leus du Plooy

Northamptonshire - Ricardo Vasconcelos

Worcestershire - Dan Lategan, Beyers Swanepoel (TBC)