Another tight title race on the cards

Nottinghamshire clinched the County Championship on a thrilling final day last September but it will be tough work to defend the title. Somerset have recruited well, Durham will hope for better luck with injury and Yorkshire have a talented squad.

Durham

A hat-trick of Championship challenges was too much to ask, especially when injuries took a severe toll coupled with uncertainty over the captaincy situation when Will Smith stepped down mid-season. Phil Mustard took charge and has the reigns again, which is a tough workload for the keeper. However, the well-run structure that brought trophies to the North East remains in place and the club will feel they can't have such bad luck with injuries for another summer. Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett and a potentially fit-again Graham Onions remains the most potent pace attack in the country. They will also have Paul Collingwood available for much more of the season to boost the batting line-up, while Ben Stokes is hugely talented. Andrew McGlashan

Player to watch Graham Onions: shows the depth of English pace bowling that the national team haven't missed him. Is a high quality performer if he can fit who'll want to remind the selectors what he can do.

Prospects If their fitness woes are behind them they'll be in the Championship race but will need runs on the board. Should also push for one-day honours.

Hampshire

An ambitious county, whose maiden Test will take place against Sri Lanka in mid-June, Hampshire are desperate for more silverware to add to the t20 Trophy they lifted at the Rose Bowl last season. They haven't had their mitts on the Championship since 1973, despite boasting such luminaries as Marshall, Smith and Greenidge down the years, so whether the new captain Dominic Cork can outdo those greats is a moot point. Nevertheless, his team's blend of youth and experience is as promising as that of any county, and when Imran Tahir recovers from his broken thumb, they will once again possess one of the prime sources of wickets in the whole of the county circuit. Andrew Miller

Player to watch Michael Carberry: one of the forgotten men of English cricket, having toured Bangladesh in March 2010 and made his one and only Test appearance at Chittagong. His open-faced style is arguably a liability at the highest level, but he is good for another four-figured Championship season.

Prospects It is the 50th anniversary year of their maiden Championship title in 1961, so what better way to commemorate it? It could be that a retention of the t20 crown is a better bet, however, especially with Johann Myburgh and Shahid Afridi on their books for that competition.

Lancashire

A vital, and potentially club-saving, boost appeared to come a month before the season started when Lancashire won their latest legal battle against Derwent Holdings who were trying to block the White City development plans that incorporate the regeneration of Old Trafford. However, further legal challenges threaten to derail the project and this remains a nervous time for the club as they aim to secure a 2013 Ashes Test. Due to the rising legal costs around the rebuilding plans Peter Moores and Mike Watkinson have had little money to spend so there has been no recruitment over the winter. Farveez Maharoof was late acquisition but it will be down to some of the club's younger players to develop quickly. Andrew McGlashan

Player to watch Simon Kerrigan: a left-arm spinner who impressed with 30 Championship wickets in first full season. Forms a strong spin attack alongside Gary Keedy.

Prospects Batting looks too weak to mount a Championship challenge and the bowlers will need to fire to avoid a relegation fight. Twenty20 offers a more likely path to silverware.

Nottinghamshire

After finishing second in the previous two seasons, Nottinghamshire secured the Championship pennant in the dying moments of campaign when they claimed three Lancashire wickets to deny Somerset. A repeat performance will depend largely on how they replace Ryan Sidebottom and how dry the summer is. If the pitches turn, their lack of a frontline spinner (with Graeme Swann away with England) could be a problem. In their favour they have two consistent overseas players, could see more of Stuart Broad early season than expected, and have a solid core of players build around Chris Read. Mick Newell, the coach, is highly regarded and was handed the England Lions role in the winter. Andrew McGlashan

Player to watch Samit Patel: too unfit for England and seemingly unable to change, but the county - whether rightly, or wrongly - is more forgiving. Can win matches in all formats.

Prospects If they can back early-season victories when the seamers dominant they can push to retain the title. Otherwise, a one-day trophy may need to be the route to success.

Somerset

The best team of 2010 ended cruelly empty-handed as they finished second to Nottinghamshire on the last day of the Championship season, lost out on a tie to Somerset in the t20 and lost under lights in the CB40 final. The winter has been spent making sure nothing goes amiss this time around. Ajantha Mendis will be dangerous in the FPt20 (never mind Kieron Pollard as well) while Steve Kirby has been signed to bolster the pace attack. They are again the best team in the country, led superbly by Marcus Trescothick, surely this time they'll reap the rewards? Sahil Dutta

Player to watch James Hildreth: in the lead-up to every new county season his name crops up as one to keep an eye on. Finally, last year, he converted his undeniable talent into runs. Serious runs: 1440 at 65.45 in the Championship, 627 at 69.66 in the CB40 and 459 at 32.72 in the FPt20. If he can match that again the England selectors will come calling.

Prospects Anything less than a Championship title will be a disappointment. No reason why at least one of the limited-overs crowds couldn't be theirs as well.

Sussex

Another county that has been busy with redevelopment work during the winter, with the construction of a new 1700-seater stand on the South-West corner of the ground. On the field, the signing of Amjad Khan from Kent will reinforce a seam attack that will miss the steadying influence of Corey Collymore, now of Middlesex, with Wayne Parnell and Rana Naved set to share the overseas duties. International calls will limit the availability of Matt Prior and Luke Wright, while the progress of their captain, Michael Yardy, will be closely monitored following his depression during the World Cup. Andrew Miller

Player to watch Monty Panesar: had big boots to fill when he moved from Northants last season to replace the legendary Mushtaq Ahmed, but a winter in Mushtaq's company during the Ashes means that numerous tips for thriving at Hove will have been passed across.

Prospects The serial Championship winners of the 2000s may struggle to launch the 2010s in a similar manner, but they are a stronger side than the one that was relegated two seasons ago.

Warwickshire

Warwickshire hovered precariously over the trap door in Division One last year before a late surge took them safe and they then delivered a spirit-raising CB40 title. The off-season has brought a new captain in Jim Troughton and the good signing of William Porterfield from Gloucestershire. He will have a key role in shoring up a top-order that is flimsy without its England stars, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott. Chris Woakes leads a sparky pace line-up alongside Boyd Rankin, which could be a potent mix. Sahil Dutta

Player to watch Chris Woakes: took 50 wickets last year and impressed with a calm temperament in his brief international outings over the winter.

Prospects The Championship title looks beyond reach but a decent challenge is a must. The CB40 is more realistic though they will desperately miss Imran Tahir who back at Hampshire.

Worcestershire (FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group A)
Captain Daryl Mitchell Coach Steve Rhodes OverseasSaeed Ajmal (Pak), Damien Wright (Aus), Shakib Al Hasan (Bang)

Confounded expectations by being promoted back to Division One on the last day of the season last year. Avoiding an immediate drop back down would be even more surprising as the county battles dwindling financial resources and a thread-bare pace attack. There is plenty of experience in Alan Richardson, Matt Mason and Damien Wright but not the quality to prise out Division One batsmen on the better Division One pitches. The batting will rely heavily on Vikram Solanki but Shakib Al Hasan will hope to offer runs as well as wickets. Sahil Dutta

Player to watch Moeen Ali: passed 1000 runs last season and his flashing wrists and style was an icon of a promising season. Will enjoy the better pitches but can he survive the better bowlers a division higher?

Prospects Anything but relegation will be a major success in the Championship. A tilt at one-day success is more possible but the lack of an outright wicket-taker makes silverware unlikely.

Yorkshire

They exceeded expectations last year by making a push for the Championship title until the final round of matches, plus a consistent CB40 campaign. Andrew Gale, a very impressive captain, and Martyn Moxon have formed a cohesive squad with a strong balance of youth and experience. They need to cover likely England-based absences for Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad plus maybe Adil Rashid, so the return of Ryan Sidebottom is a significant boost in that regard. Gale and Adam Lyth have both represented England Lions this winter and will lead the batting alongside an evergreen Anthony McGrath. Andrew McGlashan

Player to watch Adil Rashid: had a terrific all-round 2010 after being sent back to the county game. England will come calling again, but until then he's a matchwinner for Yorkshire

Prospects If Sidebottom fires they'll be competitive but they appear a quality batsman short after Jacques Rudolph's departure.