yerotsluap
15th April 2008, 19:56
A quick preview for the season
Derbyshire
A couple of shrewd signings could lead to Derbyshire avoiding the constant struggle they have endured over the last few years. The additions of Rikki Clarke and Nayan Doshi from Surrey add much needed experience. Derbyshire could be dark horses for a good run in the 20/20 with Clarke and Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene likely to go well. Chris Rogers, the Aussie opener who will be overseas player for the rest of the season should also go well.
Durham
Durham will be looking to build on the successes of last season. The brilliant West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be the overseas player for much of the season, with early season cover from South African Neil McKenzie. Durham’s good performance in last years county championship was largely down to impressive bowling early in the season and with the likes of Harmison, Plunkett and Onions likely to be around for much of the season they should go well again although they will undoubtedly miss the experience of Ottis Gibson
Essex
Essex have gone close to promotion in the county championship the last couple of years but Andre Nel and new signing Jason Gallian will need to be in top form all season for them to go up. After being made captain last season Mark Pettini couldn’t buy a run and his struggles have continued into the pre-season warm up games.
Glamorgan
Glamorgan have lost Simon Jones to Worcestershire, but as he’s only played about 4 games in the last three years it isn’t much of a loss and Glamorgan’s new overseas star, Jason Gillespie, is a more than capable replacement. Teenage pace bowler James Harris is one to look out for but their batting lineup could well hold up any progress the bowling attack makes.
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire have been boosted by the ECB's late decision to allow former New Zealand batsman Hamish Marshall to play as a non-overseas player. The overseas role goes to Aussie batsman Marcus North, back for the whole season. They have some very useful players in the squad - such as captain Jon Lewis and batsman Craig Spearman - but I don’t know whether they have enough to mount a promotion push in the Championship.
Hampshire
Having challenged unsuccessfully for the Championship for the last few seasons, Hampshire's fans may be in for a relegation battle this year. With Shane Warne and Shaun Udal now departed they lack an experienced spinner and whilst it is still a strong looking batting line up they could well struggle to bowl sides out twice.
Kent
Kent will hope the veteran Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood can have a big impact on the team's performances. Having been refused permission to sign Justin Kemp they will look to defend their Twenty20 crown and challenge for the Championship title, no doubt Robert key and Geraint Jones will be big players whilst looking to show the England selectors they are not past it.
Lancashire
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff continues his early season rehabilitation from ankle surgery with the county, and with James Anderson cleared to return until mid-May, Lancashire's bowling attack will be at its strongest. With Australia's Brad Hodge - a batsman with a consistently excellent run-scoring record in county cricket - returning to Old Trafford, Lancashire's prospects look in excellent shape. Add all this to the experience of Law, Loye, Cork and Chapple and Lancashire must be one of the favourites for the county championship weather permitting!!
Leicestershire
Leicestershire face a tall order to improve on last season's poor effort in Division Two of the Championship. The departures of Stuart Broad and David Masters have left a massive void in the pace bowling ranks. The squad appears to lack genuine quality and there’s only so far they can go on the enthusiasm and dedication of Paul Nixon.
Middlesex
Middlesex's struggles to bring big-name signings to Lord's continue unabated, Vernon Philander, Shaun Udal and Dirk Nannes the new names this time. None of their 2007 seamers took 50 Championship wickets so Nannes, 31, an Australian with no first-class experience, has a job to do. Middlesex could struggle for runs if Owais Shah is involved with England throughout the summer.
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire have a new skipper in Nicky Boje and he has very little by way of firepower. Andrew Hall and Johann van der Wath's registrations were blocked by the England and Wales Cricket Board. David Sales will be expected to score big runs for Northants especially with the departure of Uzman Afzaal to Surrey.
Nottinghamshire
Notts made a high profile capture at the end of last season. They added Stuart Broad to their squad but they seem unlikely to see much of him or Ryan Sidebottom for much of the season. Out with those two the bowling attack isn’t that hot and much of their hopes will depend on key batsmen Mark Wagh and David Hussey, as well as new captain Chris Read.
Somerset
Fresh from a double promotion last year, Somerset will be raring to go in Division One of the Championship. They have a genuine top class top order including the likes of Trescothick and Langer, and if Andy Caddick can continue to take wickets they could be a big threat in the first division.
Surrey
Surrey will be looking forward to another bumper season from Mark Ramprakash in his benefit year. Rikki Clarke, Ian Salisbury and Mohammed Akram have left the club with Pedro Collins, Uzman Afzaal and Matt Nicholson coming in. Surrey undoubtedly have a strong batting line up but the quality of bowling does not match up.
Sussex
Sussex are looking to win their 4th title in 7 years and their 3rd in a row, but they could be a bit too old. Richard Montgomerie has retired and his 1000 runs in 2007 will need to be replaced. Adams, Goodwin, Kirtley, Lewry, Mushtaq and Martin-Jenkins are all now over 30. Sussex must think themselves exceptionally lucky that they have Mushtaq available after his spell in the ICL when others have not been allowed to play.
Warwickshire
After double relegation last season the Bears will be looking to bounce back. New coach, Ashley Giles will no doubt get some improvements from a team who were wretched at times last season but will his part time role as England selector interfere with his county role. Monde Zondeki will be a lively addition with the ball and slow bowling options will be provided by the new duo of Ian Salisbury and Ant Botha.
Worcestershire
After a summer where New Road was mostly underwater, Worcestershire must be looking forward to getting back into things at home. Simon Jones could prove an inspired signing if he can remain fit. Fidel Edwards should provide some excitement when he arrives in July. Scoring runs on a pitch that may not have fully recovered from the floods of 2007 may prove to be too much of a challenge unless Hick and Solanki get solid consistent support.
Yorkshire
Providing Rana Naved can recover from the bad injury he suffered for Sussex last season he should add to an already impressive bowling line up. Rashid will hopefully continue to flourish and give England a genuine leg spinning option. The batting is more of a worry and with Michael Vaughan likely to be away for long periods much will be expected of youngsters like Andrew Gale and Joe Sayers to stick around and support Jacques Rudolph.
Derbyshire
A couple of shrewd signings could lead to Derbyshire avoiding the constant struggle they have endured over the last few years. The additions of Rikki Clarke and Nayan Doshi from Surrey add much needed experience. Derbyshire could be dark horses for a good run in the 20/20 with Clarke and Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene likely to go well. Chris Rogers, the Aussie opener who will be overseas player for the rest of the season should also go well.
Durham
Durham will be looking to build on the successes of last season. The brilliant West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be the overseas player for much of the season, with early season cover from South African Neil McKenzie. Durham’s good performance in last years county championship was largely down to impressive bowling early in the season and with the likes of Harmison, Plunkett and Onions likely to be around for much of the season they should go well again although they will undoubtedly miss the experience of Ottis Gibson
Essex
Essex have gone close to promotion in the county championship the last couple of years but Andre Nel and new signing Jason Gallian will need to be in top form all season for them to go up. After being made captain last season Mark Pettini couldn’t buy a run and his struggles have continued into the pre-season warm up games.
Glamorgan
Glamorgan have lost Simon Jones to Worcestershire, but as he’s only played about 4 games in the last three years it isn’t much of a loss and Glamorgan’s new overseas star, Jason Gillespie, is a more than capable replacement. Teenage pace bowler James Harris is one to look out for but their batting lineup could well hold up any progress the bowling attack makes.
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire have been boosted by the ECB's late decision to allow former New Zealand batsman Hamish Marshall to play as a non-overseas player. The overseas role goes to Aussie batsman Marcus North, back for the whole season. They have some very useful players in the squad - such as captain Jon Lewis and batsman Craig Spearman - but I don’t know whether they have enough to mount a promotion push in the Championship.
Hampshire
Having challenged unsuccessfully for the Championship for the last few seasons, Hampshire's fans may be in for a relegation battle this year. With Shane Warne and Shaun Udal now departed they lack an experienced spinner and whilst it is still a strong looking batting line up they could well struggle to bowl sides out twice.
Kent
Kent will hope the veteran Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood can have a big impact on the team's performances. Having been refused permission to sign Justin Kemp they will look to defend their Twenty20 crown and challenge for the Championship title, no doubt Robert key and Geraint Jones will be big players whilst looking to show the England selectors they are not past it.
Lancashire
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff continues his early season rehabilitation from ankle surgery with the county, and with James Anderson cleared to return until mid-May, Lancashire's bowling attack will be at its strongest. With Australia's Brad Hodge - a batsman with a consistently excellent run-scoring record in county cricket - returning to Old Trafford, Lancashire's prospects look in excellent shape. Add all this to the experience of Law, Loye, Cork and Chapple and Lancashire must be one of the favourites for the county championship weather permitting!!
Leicestershire
Leicestershire face a tall order to improve on last season's poor effort in Division Two of the Championship. The departures of Stuart Broad and David Masters have left a massive void in the pace bowling ranks. The squad appears to lack genuine quality and there’s only so far they can go on the enthusiasm and dedication of Paul Nixon.
Middlesex
Middlesex's struggles to bring big-name signings to Lord's continue unabated, Vernon Philander, Shaun Udal and Dirk Nannes the new names this time. None of their 2007 seamers took 50 Championship wickets so Nannes, 31, an Australian with no first-class experience, has a job to do. Middlesex could struggle for runs if Owais Shah is involved with England throughout the summer.
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire have a new skipper in Nicky Boje and he has very little by way of firepower. Andrew Hall and Johann van der Wath's registrations were blocked by the England and Wales Cricket Board. David Sales will be expected to score big runs for Northants especially with the departure of Uzman Afzaal to Surrey.
Nottinghamshire
Notts made a high profile capture at the end of last season. They added Stuart Broad to their squad but they seem unlikely to see much of him or Ryan Sidebottom for much of the season. Out with those two the bowling attack isn’t that hot and much of their hopes will depend on key batsmen Mark Wagh and David Hussey, as well as new captain Chris Read.
Somerset
Fresh from a double promotion last year, Somerset will be raring to go in Division One of the Championship. They have a genuine top class top order including the likes of Trescothick and Langer, and if Andy Caddick can continue to take wickets they could be a big threat in the first division.
Surrey
Surrey will be looking forward to another bumper season from Mark Ramprakash in his benefit year. Rikki Clarke, Ian Salisbury and Mohammed Akram have left the club with Pedro Collins, Uzman Afzaal and Matt Nicholson coming in. Surrey undoubtedly have a strong batting line up but the quality of bowling does not match up.
Sussex
Sussex are looking to win their 4th title in 7 years and their 3rd in a row, but they could be a bit too old. Richard Montgomerie has retired and his 1000 runs in 2007 will need to be replaced. Adams, Goodwin, Kirtley, Lewry, Mushtaq and Martin-Jenkins are all now over 30. Sussex must think themselves exceptionally lucky that they have Mushtaq available after his spell in the ICL when others have not been allowed to play.
Warwickshire
After double relegation last season the Bears will be looking to bounce back. New coach, Ashley Giles will no doubt get some improvements from a team who were wretched at times last season but will his part time role as England selector interfere with his county role. Monde Zondeki will be a lively addition with the ball and slow bowling options will be provided by the new duo of Ian Salisbury and Ant Botha.
Worcestershire
After a summer where New Road was mostly underwater, Worcestershire must be looking forward to getting back into things at home. Simon Jones could prove an inspired signing if he can remain fit. Fidel Edwards should provide some excitement when he arrives in July. Scoring runs on a pitch that may not have fully recovered from the floods of 2007 may prove to be too much of a challenge unless Hick and Solanki get solid consistent support.
Yorkshire
Providing Rana Naved can recover from the bad injury he suffered for Sussex last season he should add to an already impressive bowling line up. Rashid will hopefully continue to flourish and give England a genuine leg spinning option. The batting is more of a worry and with Michael Vaughan likely to be away for long periods much will be expected of youngsters like Andrew Gale and Joe Sayers to stick around and support Jacques Rudolph.