Nottinghamshire strengthen their case

Last year: 5th, CC Div 1; Quarter-finals, FLt20; 4th in Group B, CB40.

2012 in a nutshell: By Nottinghamshire's high standards, 2012 was something of a disappointment. They started well in the Championship, winning four of their first seven games, but failed to win a match after May. Andre Adams carried the bowling attack - not easy for a 37-year-old - and masked the deficiencies of some of his colleagues with a remarkable Championship strike rate of a wicket every 38 balls or so. He was also the only Nottinghamshire bowler to claim a five-wicket haul. Several of the top-order batsmen had periods of poor form but Michael Lumb proved a wise acquisition and such was the reliability of Chris Read down the order that Nottinghamshire always had a safety net. They fared well in the FLt20 until a final-ball loss against the eventual winners, Hampshire, in the quarter-finals, but becoming the only team to be beaten by Scotland, in a rain-ruined game, cost them dear in the CB40.

2013 prospects: Recognising they had a weakness in their seam bowling, Nottinghamshire were among those most keen to attract James Harris to Trent Bridge. They eventually had settle for Ajmal Shahzad, who may have greater potential to succeed than Harris but also has the propensity to fail, while Jake Ball looks as if he is ready to fight for a first-team place. Harry Gurney, who bowled with pace and skill on the pre-season tour of Barbados, also looks ready for greater opportunities and may push Luke Fletcher, who remains an odd shape for a professional sportsman, and Andy Carter for their places. Ed Cowan, for the first part of the season, and David Hussey should stiffen the batting, but Nottinghamshire look well stocked in that department: Lumb, Alex Hales, James Taylor, Samit Patel and Rikki Wessels really should be able to establish match-defining totals in all formats. Nottinghamshire have reached at least the quarter-finals of the T20 for the last three years and, with that batting line-up, could go even further this time. While spin bowling has been a bit of a weakness since the loss to England of Graeme Swann, the development of Sam Wood and Graeme White promises better for the future.

Key player: Taylor's star has waned a little since his move from Leicestershire. Struggling to adapt to some tricky pitches and the step up in quality to Division One, he only passed 50 twice in the Championship last season and saw others move ahead of him in the England pecking order. But he remains an outstanding, if unorthodox player in all formats and should score far more heavily this year.

Bright young thing: Nottinghamshire's reputation - a slightly unfair reputation - as a predator of other counties' talent has overshadowed their development of young players. Wood, a 19-year-old offspinning allrounder, looks a fine prospect, though. It will not be easy for him to force his way into the side, but Wood appears to have plenty to offer in all formats.

Captain/coach: Mick Newell remains as director of cricket, despite interest from Bangladesh, while Chris Read continues as captain.

ESPNcricinfo verdict: A strong team which should challenge in all formats, Notts may lack the bowling quality or depth to win the Championship but the age-range of the squad and the quality of emerging players bodes well for the future.