There seems to be an increasing inequality between the two
divisions in 4 day cricket. Young England hopefuls are wary that they need to
be playing in the first division and are leaving their home counties to strong
first division counties (see Harris, Taylor) whilst experienced pro’s are
tempted by the higher wages first division clubs pay(see Solanki, Keedy).
This will continue to happen in the future with the second
division likely becoming no more than a feeder league for young players and a
few senior players who are past it or never likely to make it. The strengths of
the squads and in particular the fast bowlers is the most obvious difference
between the two divisions at present.
Somerset and Surrey have a mixture of very good experienced
bowlers (Tremlett, Meaker, Dernbach, Lewis, Linley, Keedy, Batty; Thomas,
Kirby, Trego) and exciting young bowlers(Dunn, Edwards, Ansari, Van den Bergh;
J + C Overton, Meschede, Dibble, Gregory, Dockrell). Middlesex can afford to
leave international cricketers of the calibre of Collymore in the 2nd
even with Steven Finn unavailable for selections. In the 2nd
division counties are forced to select rejects from other clubs and youngster
who probably shouldn’t be playing county cricket. Gloucestershire are one such
county who have been forced into bringing through youth players through necessity
rather than a batch of outstanding bowlers (see Somerset). Players like Matt
Taylor and Norwell were and probably still are nowhere near a good domestic standard.
Gloucestershire and Leicestershire are already struggling with injuries to fast
bowlers this season. Leicestershire will be forced into playing such luminaries
as Freckingham and Wyatt for their first match of the season.
This diluting of the quality does nobody any favours.
Quality players both old and young are left on the sidelines in the first
division whereas in the second division at times it appears like anybody who is
available to play can get a game.
For this reason I’m would like to see a more dynamic and
fluid transfer and loan system put into place by the ECB. Players like Matt
Dunn and George Edwards need first class cricket yet are behind a long list of
fast bowlers at Surrey (as the season moves on of course these players will be
used as Tremlett, Meaker, Dernbach accept international calls) and are better
than many of the bowlers in the second division – and most importantly have
realistic future prospects of playing for England. Sussex has a promising
chinaman bowler in Michael Rippon but he is behind Panesar in first class
cricket and behind Beer and Yardy in the shorter formats. There are clubs like
Gloucestershire and Worcestershire crying out for an attacking spinner and yet
there is little movement in the loan system. There needs to be more incentive
for short and long term loans. The ECB and the counties no.1 priority should be
to make a strong county championship in both divisions as this will allow more
players to stick with their counties in the second division whilst still
playing at a good enough standard to push for international honours.
Essex is a second division county but unlike the majority of
the rest they have a strong squad with a number of good young and old players
in reserve. It is continually baffling how badly they perform. It seems they
are a club with real troubles – hopefully they are in the process of getting
over them. Whether it was the Merv Westfield/Danish Kaneria spot fixing case; losing
underperforming players who turn around and become county champions (Wright,
Chopra), or bad transfers(Shah, Mahmood) there really has been some massive
mismanagement within the team. Owais Shah was a terrible transfer. They already
knew Ten Doeschate was an IPL player and yet they go out and sign another
player who is going to miss the first couple of months of the season. They
continue to produce good cricketers though and there is definite reason for
optimism though in the form of the young players coming through. Foakes, Mills,
Topley, Westley and Craddock are all extremely exciting players with potentially
big futures. Essex will be without Cook, Shah and Ten Doeschate for their first
championship match but they will be able to leave players like Mahmood and
Topley in the seconds. It is a strong squad which should be doing better.
Something has been wrong; hopefully they are on the way to amending the
problem.
I’ve already mentioned 6 of the bowlers I’m looking forward
most to seeing this season. Mills and Topley at Essex, Dunn and Edwards at
Surrey and J and C Overton at Somerset. None will likely play a full season but
they could all make a big impact at some stage. Mills has displaced Topley at
the start of this season and could be a real long shot to make a full England tour
this winter if he has a good season.
Left arm fast bowlers are a real find especially in limited
overs cricket and since Sidebottom’s retirement England have been left with no
left arm seamers. There are a few decent left armers just starting to come through
on the county circuit. Mills, fast and skiddy, and Topley, tall and capable of swing
are both massive prospects although both are number 11 bats. David Willey and
Chris Wood are slightly older, slightly slower but better batsmen and have more
control over their bowling. Wood is rare in that he has been trusted with
bowling at the death for Hampshire in the shorter formats for some time. He has
added pace in the last year but he will probably have to push up further if he
seriously wants to push his England claims. Willey performed steadfastly last
year bowling a lot of overs and is an aggressive batsman. Both Wood and Willey should
be looking at the number 8 spot for England in ODI cricket and looking to
develop their lower order power batting as well as the bowling skills needed
for ODI cricket. Keith Barker is another good left armer and is a bigger wicket
taking threat than both as he swings the ball prodigiously with the red ball.
Like Willey and Wood again though he needs to increase his pace to cause teams
trouble away from England.
Personally I see Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire as the
strongest two counties and the teams most likely to compete for the
championship. Warwickshire have impressive bowling depth and bat really deep
with players like Clarke, Woakes and
Barker batting 7-9; their top order batting is suspect and if Chopra gets an England call up
or goes through a lean spell they may not score the runs they need to retain
the title. Nottinghamshire’s batting is strong and bowling looks strong on
paper but doesn’t quite have the wicket taking ability of the Warwickshire attack.
They also will be affected by England callups which could devastate the
batting.
Surrey has impressive bowling depth but Smith and Ponting
would have to score masses to really push them to championship success as the
rest of the batting is somewhat flaky. Somerset’s young bowling whilst
impressive is still relatively unproven and they’re unlikely to be consistent
enough to really push a championship challenge.
At the other end of the table I can see 3 teams scrapping
against relegation with Derbyshire strong favourites with the bookies to go
down. On paper they are the weakest of the counties but they shouldn’t be
underestimated. Their seamers are tidy and much may depend on how long Shiv
Chanderpaul can stay at the crease. Durham and Yorkshire are the other two
counties who should be worried. Durham is an ageing side, short on preseason
practice and people have started to question the fitness and attitude of some
of the players. Yorkshire on paper are strong but may be weakened by international
call ups. Brooks and Plunkett have been brought in to strengthen the weak seam
bowling unit but both are a gamble.
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