County Cricket News / Updates relating to the 2017 season will be posted on this Thread - please feel free to comment / update
Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft will rejoin Gloucestershire for the whole 2017 campaign to play in all three formats of the game. The 23-year-old, who also keeps wicket, spent two months in Bristol last season, scoring 192 Championship runs
Leicestershire have signed former South Africa Under-19 batsman Colin Ackermann on a two-year contract. The 25-year-old, who is joining for the start of the 2017 season, has scored 3,917 first-class runs at an average of 39.17, including seven centuries.
Northamptonshire have signed seam bowler Nathan Buck on a three-year deal after he agreed an early release from his contract with Lancashire. The 25-year-old moved to the Red Rose from Leicestershire in September 2014 and played 19 games in two seasons. He was restricted by injury in his first campaign, but took a T20 career-best 4-26 against Birmingham this term.
Derbyshire have signed Luis Reece from Lancashire on a two-year contract. The all-rounder, 26, spent four years at Lancashire, making 30 appearances across all three formats and scoring 1,235 runs at an average of 31
Worcestershire's Daryl Mitchell has been relieved of his position as county captain after six years in the role. He is replaced as skipper by former Shropshire all-rounder Joe Leach, 25, who steps up from vice-captain. Mitchell, 32, said on Twitter losing the captaincy was "devastating news".
Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown has left Edgbaston after 27 years' service to the club, as both player and coach.
Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman Steven Davies will join Somerset on an three-year deal from next season after he rejected a new contract at The Oval. The England international, 30, joined Surrey from Worcestershire in 2009.
Derbyshire have signed wicketkeeper-batsman Gary Wilson from Division One side Surrey on a three-year deal.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has signed a new one-year contract with Surrey. The 38-year-old batsman scored 1,039 runs at an average of 49.47 in the County Championship this season.
Batsman Chris Nash has been awarded a testimonial year by Sussex in 2017. The 33-year-old joined the club aged eight, made his debut in 2002 and has scored over 10,000 first-class runs. Nash said: "To be awarded a testimonial year with Sussex is a huge privilege. It was always my dream to play first-team cricket here. "To have played over 400 games, won trophies and have a lot of personal success is something my family and I are very proud of" Well deserved!!
Gloucestershire have signed Durham wicketkeeper-batsman Phil Mustard on a two-year deal following a loan spell. The 33-year-old, who played 12 limited-overs games for England in 2007-08, joined Gloucestershire on loan in July.
Essex have signed South Africa all-rounder Simon Harmer on a Kolpak deal for the 2017 season. The 27-year-old off-break bowler has made five Test appearances for South Africa and is available to play in all formats for newly-promoted Essex. Harmer has taken 290 first-class career wickets at an average of 32.57, as well as scoring 2,476 first-class runs.
Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph says he wants to remain in the post for 2017 despite his struggle for batting form. "It does add a bit of pressure, but it's an honour and a privilege to captain Glamorgan. It is a challenge I would still like to accept,"
Lancashire have signed South Africa international all-rounder Ryan McLaren as their overseas player for 2017. The 33-year-old former Kent man took 32 wickets and made 832 runs for Hampshire last season. He has played two Tests, 12 T20s and 54 one-day internationals for his country, but has not played for them since 2014
Kent have signed Will Gidman from Nottinghamshire following a successful loan spell at Canterbury last season. The 31-year-old all-rounder scored 362 runs at an average of 120.66 in five County Championship games
South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir will join Derbyshire as an overseas player for all formats from June 2017. The 37-year-old, ranked as the world's number one Twenty20 international bowler, will join the Division Two side following the ICC Champions Trophy. Tahir has played 111 times for South Africa in all formats since his 2011 debut, and for five other counties, most recently Nottinghamshire.
Sir Ian Botham has been unveiled as the new chairman of Durham, a beleaguered county that can only benefit from his roistering attitude to public life
England fast bowler Mark Wood has signed a new three-year contract with Durham, despite their demotion to County Championship Division Two. I have to say that their seam bowling attack is going to be very potent in Div 2
Derbyshire have signed Sri Lanka all-rounder Jeevan Mendis for the first half of next summer. The 33-year-old will fill the county's overseas player role from April until the arrival of South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir in June