County climax: Championship relegation

With seven weeks left in the season, BBC Sport looks at the major issues left to be resolved in county cricket.

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Down and out: Northants
In danger of the drop: Sussex, Lancashire, Surrey, Worcs

With three teams relegated each season, it is easy to slip from Championship contention to the drop zone with a couple of poor displays.

Only four teams look safe in Division One.

An England call-up for Batty could hurt Worcs

Northants have struggled to take wickets in their first season in the top tier, and missed the runs provided in the past by captain Mike Hussey.

In the season following their first ever Championship crown, Sussex have also struggled for run production, and have been hurt by spinner Mushtaq Ahmed's return to mediocre form after a 100-wicket campaign last term.

Surrey appeared destined for the drop after a woeful first month but may turn things around just in time with an injury crisis in the bowling corps abating and a young batting line-up settling down.

Amazingly the pre-season favourites Lancashire are also in danger, their failure to convert promising positions into victories leaving them with seven draws from 11 matches so far.

The team once tagged the "Manchester United of cricket" have two crucial matches against the other Old Trafford residents in the space of four weeks, with a place in Division Two for the losers.

Worcestershire will feel confident of survival but may have mixed feelings if joint-leading wicket-taker Gareth Batty plays in England's last two Tests against West Indies.

Key matches:
11-14 Aug: Surrey v Lancashire, Whitgift School
2-5 Sept: Lancashire v Surrey, Old Trafford
9-12 Sept: Worcs v Lancashire, Worcester