Durham – Much will depend on the returning Graham Onions and Steve Harmison and whether they can remain match fit throughout the season. If so, the duo could destroy many a batting line up. A more likely scenario is that Onions struggles to find form after his career threatening injury and Harmison remains injury plagued. It will be interesting to see how Ben Stokes, a hard hitting middle order batsmen and Scott Borthwick, a leg spinning all-rounder continue to develop and Stokes may push for a place in a England odi squad if as expected they make changes.
Prediction – Probably won’t quite have the capability to win the championship unless Harmison and Onions put in a whole season, if they do, look out everyone else. 3rd
Hampshire - A quality squad with talent throughout should perform substantially better than last year and should challenge for the championship. The only weakness is the fast bowling attack, an archaic Dominic Cork, and the permanently injured pair of Simon Jones and Kabir Ali should on paper look a brilliant threesome, but although all are fit at this time it seems unlikely that they will remain so throughout the season. The backup fast bowlers are no better than adequate, but the talent in the rest of the squad is undoubted. Quality English openers in Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry, a strong middle order with the youth of James Vince backed up by the experience of Sean Ervine and Neil McKenzie and quality spinners in Imran Tahir and Danny Briggs. It will be a massive shame if Briggs who was so successful over the winter with the lions and the performance squad is pushed out of the team in favour of Tahir. A more likely scenario is that the wickets at the rose bowl are prepared to take spin which should negate their lack of fast bowling depth.
Prediction – Should have enough talent to easily avoid relegation this season, my outside picks for the championship. They may have to get lucky with injuries but a combination of Tahir and Briggs late in the season may bring them a late surge for the championship. 2nd
Nottinghamshire – Last year’s winners will do well to replicate that success this year. Ryan Sidebottom has rejoined Yorkshire, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann will most likely play less that last year and it’s hard to see Andre Adams and Paul Franks replicating the form of last season. Luke Fletcher and Andy Carter are both exciting fast bowling prospects and one may have to step up for Nottinghamshire to challenge this season. The batting looks potentially a little short of runs and much will rely on the shared overseas burden of Adam Voges(first half) and David Hussey(second half) to provide the weight of runs required. It will be interesting to see how Alex Hales continues at the top of the innings, and Samit Patel in the middle order. Both are potential England players of the future and with England looking to change things around in one day cricket the selectors will be watching.
Prediction: Still a strong squad but will do well to challenge for the title but should easily avoid relegation. Will be interesting to see how the youngsters develop. 5th
Lancashire – To a casual observe Lancashire’s squad looks weak. Glen Chapple their star performer last year is another year older at 37 and surely will begin to feel the burden of leading the bowling attack. The rest of the bowling is average by first division standards; the batting probably isn’t even that. There are no individual stars in the team, no players pushing for England selection. If they are going to have a good season it will be a team effort by and large. Even the overseas player, Farveez Maharoof, is far from a household international name but he should offer good contributions with both bat and ball and Lancashire should have the benefit of Maharoof been available for the whole season.
Prediction: Lack of quality catches up with them in a strong first division with relegation likely to add to the financial trouble they are already suffering. 8th
Somerset – Many people’s favourites and it’s obvious to see why. Already a strong squad they have strengthened the seam attack with Gemaal Hussain and Steve Kirby moving from rivals Gloucestershire. Weight of runs is never a problem with the prolific Marcus Trescothick and James Hildreth finally delivering on his talent. Murali Kartick is again the overseas player and should continue to take piles of wickets. There aren’t two more exciting young players in the county game than Jos Buttler and Craig Kieswetter, both wicketkeepers, both freescoring batsmen. It will be interesting to see how Buttler develops and whether Kieswetter can regain his place in the England odi team.
Prediction: A very strong squad should be right there at the death of the championship and is unlikely to be affected by international call ups. Maybe this is the time for last year’s bridesmaids to become brides.1st
Sussex – There has been a heavy changeover of players in the close season at Hove and at this point it will be hard to determine the makeup of the team. The triple signing announced on the same day of Naved Arif(29), Lou Vincent(32) and Kirk Wernars Naved Ul Hasan is a shrewd resigning as overseas pro for the first half of the season with Wayne Parnell taking over the second half of the season. Much will depend on these two in addition to Monty Panesar to provide the bulk of the wickets. The batting last year was disappointing and more will be expected of Ed Joyce to help ease the burden on Murray Goodwin.
Prediction: Have made a desperate attempt to retain division one status by recruiting from afar but will probably struggle. May stay up but a lot is dependent on the availability of Matt Prior, Luke Wright and Yardy. 7th
Warwickshire – Having just avoided relegation last year, they will be looking for an easier ride this season but with Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott probably missing all but a couple of games and Imran Tahir moving on it’s hard to see anything but another fight for Warwickshire this season. The one shining light is likely to be again Chris Woakes who continues to improve into a quality bowling allrounder. Younis Khan seems a strange choice as overseas player at this point. There is no doubting his talent but he has struggled in the English county game before and at 33 seems to be waning on the international stage.
Prediction: If Khan fires it will be a masterstroke, if he fails relegation is a near certainty. Woakes and Neil Carter will contribute with both bat and ball but any injuries to any of these three and it’s unlikely Warwickshire will be safe. 6th
Yorkshire – A young and talented squad, Yorkshire fans have plenty of reasons to be cheerful for the forthcoming season. Young English batsmen in Adam Lyth, Andrew Gale and Jonny Bairstow are a pleasure to watch. Adil Rashid will surely continue to take bags of wickets and make useful contributions with the ball and there is plenty of strength in depth with the bowling. A massive loss is Jacque Rudolph who was so prolific last year, a consolation is the return of Ryan Sidebottam who should add experience and variation to the attack .Yorkshire will hope the strength in depth and continual development of the youngsters will lead them to championship success.
Prediction: Likely to be close to winning the championship when the season ends, plenty of young talent to watch with an eye on England. Maybe dependent on how much Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan play and if Lyth and Gale can improve on last years batting to make up for the loss of Rudolph. 4th
Worcestershire - Returning to the first division after one year away Worcestershire look worse off than when they left. Big cuts were made one season ago and the squad remains threadbare. What this has allowed is for youth to develop and flourish, Moen Ali and Alexei Kervezee are two attractive young batsmen who will be looking forward to the challenge of first division cricket after success in 2010. Daryl Mitchell leads the team and they will need his rearguard actions with the bat if they have any chance of avoiding relegation. The bowling is steady rather than penetrative and relies heavily on Alan Richardson.
Prediction: Unlikely to have enough quality to stay up. If they do, a couple of their players are going to have breakout seasons. 9th
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