Battle of the spinners
While the World Cup inches towards its conclusion the County Championship, still the biggest prize in English domestic cricket, begins on Wednesday. Division One will again be a closely fought race and this year it's shaping to be a battle of the world's top spinners. Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mushtaq Ahmed will all twirl away. Cricinfo's writers assess the prospects of each team. Click here for Division Two.
 |
|
Sussex
Captain Chris Adams Coach Mark Robinson Overseas Mushtaq Ahmed and Naved-ul-Hasan (Pakistan)
They were the team to beat last season and there is no reason to why that should change. Having managed to keep hold of Chris Adams stability is the key word around Hove. All the main players from their Championship-C&G double remain and they know how to win titles. If Saqlain Mushtaq's arrival on the south coast has the same effect as Mushtaq Ahmed's move did they could be unstoppable. After his fairytale finish to last summer, James Kirtley will be motivated by the outside chance of reviving his England career following an A-team call-up to Bangladesh. The club could well lose Matt Prior as the national team's wicket-keeping merry-go-round continues and Michael Yardy's untimely injury will test the depth of a small squad. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Luke Wright - Showed signs of developing with bat and ball last season, now is the time to prove he can push on and add to Sussex's list of match-winners.
Wise old head Richard Montgomerie - Doesn't grab the glory of his middle-order colleagues, but his work at the top of the order shouldn't be underestimated.
Lancashire
Captain Mark Chilton Coach Mike Watkinson Overseas Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) and Brad Hodge (Australia)
Twice the bridesmaids in 2006; it's becoming a familiar feeling around Old Trafford. But once again a season begins full of hope and expectation. When Brad Hodge and Muttiah Muralitharan become available post World Cup the squad will ooze match-winners - can they make it count this time? James Anderson and Sajid Mahmood will spend time away with England, but Tom Smith, Kyle Hogg and Oliver Newby are maturing into fine support bowlers. Runs on the board shouldn't be an issue, although it's about time the captain pulled his weight, and the commendable use of youth will help fill the gaps. It would aid their cause if the pitches at Old Trafford didn't remain roads for four days, but really it's down to the players to end the club's barren run. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Gareth Cross - reserve keeper but has the ability to push for a frontline batting slot even when Luke Sutton is in the team.
Wise old head Stuart Law - No trophies in five years at Lancashire and time is running out. Unlikely to play all one-day cricket, but even though he's now an Englishman that Australian drive to win still burns strongly.
|
|
|
Hampshire
Captain Shane Warne Coach Paul Terry Overseas players Warne, Stuart Clark (Australia)
A strong side, passionately led by a born captain and winner, Hampshire have realistic title ambitions. The addition of Stuart Clark - Middlesex's anonymous overseas player in 2004 - is an excellent signing, adding class and potency to a trundling attack. With Michael Lumb joining the club from Yorkshire, their middle-order suddenly looks even stronger and more balanced, especially if Nic Pothas - explosive in recent seasons - can start the season well. Expect them to match their third place spot of 2006 and probably better it. Will Luke
Bright young thing Chris Benham - A free-flowing, exhuberant middle-order batsman with class and youth on his side. A brutal 158 promoted Hampshire to Division One of the Pro40 last year, and higher honours beckon.
Wise old head John Crawley - Consistently excellent last season, with 1737 runs in the Championship, he remains Hampshire's second-most important player (behind you-know-who), but their most experienced and reliable run-getter.
Warwickshire
Captain Heath Streak Coach Mark Greatbach Overseas players Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Dale Steyn (until June), Paul Harris (South Africa)
With Nick Knight swapping the bat for the microphone, he leaves a large gap in Warwickshire's top-order. The other two losses of Mark Wagh and Moeen Ali - who has defected to Worcestershire to join his cousin Kabir - don't help their cause, either, but they do have one bright prospect, and arguably the world's finest allround wicketkeeper, in Kumar Sangakarra, Sri Lanka's cheerleader and tour de force. From one of the world's best, to a forgotten name: Ashley Giles. After losing his Test place in the winter, he has much to prove and with his ever reliable runs down the order, could be the stabilising influence Warwickshire need if he can overcome his latest injury scare. Will Luke
Bright young thing Naqqash Tahir - Injuries have affected his progress but not affected his promising status. A bustling, lively seamer, now is the year to show Warwickshire's ageing seamers the benefit of youth.
Wise old head Darren Maddy - A shrewd and excellent signing, his experience (and prowess in one-dayers, particularly in Twenty20) will bolster a wobbling middle-order following the midwinter losses of Knight and Wagh.
|
|
|
Kent
Captain Robert Key Coach Graham Ford Overseas Andrew Hall (South Africa) and Yasir Arafat (Pakistan)
Suffered a major pre-season blow when Amjad Khan was ruled for the duration of the summer with a knee injury. That removes a large chunk of Kent's wicket-taking potential, leaving the pressure on Martin Saggers, Andrew Hall and Yasir Arafat to carry the extra burden. The top order is strong with Robert Key needing a prolific season to keep his name in the selectors' minds and there is depth to the side with Geraint Jones and Hall in the middle order. Ryan McLaren, a highly rated South African allrounder, has joined on a Kolpak and the word from his homeland is that he could develop into something special. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Sam Northeast - Has scored runs for fun at youth level and spent the winter with England Under-19.
Wise old head Martin Saggers - The last Englishmen to top the wicket-takers list in 2002 he'll have plenty of hard work ahead of him.
Yorkshire
Captain Darren Gough Coach Martyn Moxon Overseas Younis Khan (Pakistan) and Jason Gillespie (Australia)
At around Christmas time the club appeared to be falling to pieces; no captain, no coach and a disgruntled senior batsman. The turnaround has been dramatic and a few rabbits have been pulled out of the hat. Darren Gough's return has brought cheers and laughter in equal amounts from those who believe he can bring the belief back and those who think it's a fanciful idea. Just as important, though, is Anthony McGrath's decision to stay and work with his good friend, while the Kolpak signing of Jacques Rudolph - regardless of the rights or wrongs - and availability of Younis Khan should give the bowlers something to work with. There will be plenty of focus on Adil Rashid and Mark Lawson, but hopefully the young legspinners will be given the time and sympathetic coaching they need to develop. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Adil Rashid - Became the centre of attention after bursting onto the scene late season and is being talked up in many quarters. But his winter stress fracture of the back is any early warning not to overburden him.
Wise old head Martyn Moxon - A shrewd move to bring back the former captain as coach. Has done wonders at Durham and now we'll see whether he can rejuvenate as well as invent a cohesive team.
|
|
|
Durham
Captain Dale Benkenstein Coach Geoff Cook Overseas Michael Di Venuto (Australia)
Durham's growth into a mature county side continued in 2006 as they managed to cling onto first division status during the final match. This season promises to be another challenge after losing Martyn Moxon, the coach who played a pivotel role in shaping a young team. How smooth the transition is to Geoff Cook will have a huge influence on the club's success or failure. However, in Dale Benkenstein they retain an experienced captain and Michael Di Venuto will provide stability to the top order on still-lively Chester-le-Street pitches. Of Durham's England stars Paul Collingwood and Liam Plunkett will miss the start but Steve Harmison should be eager to put his winter blues behind him. Throw in Graham Onions and it's a tasty attack. The problem comes if all are successful and get England calls; then the next generation of raw talent will have to step up. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Ben Harmison - Showed glimpses of his potential and now is the season to kick on. Appears a much more relaxed version of his more famous brother and should be pushing to fill the hole left when Collingwood is with England.
Wise old head Ottis Gibson - Easy to forget he played Tests and ODIs for West Indies, now he plays a vital role in nurturing Durham's young, raw pacemen, a role which no doubt had a bearing in him get a position at the ECB Academy.
Surrey
Captain Mark Butcher Coach Alan Butcher Overseas players Azhar Mahmood (Pakistan), Matthew Nicholson (Australia), Steve Magoffin (Australia)
A shocked Surrey bounced straight back from Championship relegation to where they believe they belong. A strong and big-hitting top-order, including the prolific Mark Ramprakash, helped, but they will need to be at their best against stiffer competition if they are to push for the ultimate prize. Their rockets failed to fire in the shorter games, but they are always a threat - and will be contenders again. Jenny Thompson
Bright young thing Chris Jordan - A 16-year-old West Indian who wants to play for England. And, thanks to his English grandmother, he can. If this top-five batter, who plays straight and correctly and already bowls in the late 80s, can keep improving, his wish may be fulfilled. Nadeem Shahid, Surrey's assistant coach, is "excited", after watching Jordan play for Dulwich College, where Bill Athey hand-picked him for a cricket scholarship.
Wise old head Joint award here, for Butcher & son - Since Alan and Mark have come together, Surrey have become a more cohesive unit, evidenced by their promotion success. Expect more from Butcher junior who was in prolific form last year and looked every inch the England player with his stylish strokes.
|
|
|
Worcestershire
Captain Vikram Solanki Coach Steve Rhodes Overseas players Phil Jaques, Doug Bollinger (Australia)
Often, signings of a relatively anonymous Australian overseas player eventually turn out to be shrewd, brilliant decision but it is unlikely Bollinger will recreate the prolific form of Zaheer Khan (78 wickets) at New Road this year. Jaques, the other Australian, will be as dependable as ever - and Moeen Ali, Kabir's cousin, is prolificly talented, not to mention boisterously confident. All eyes will once again be on the 20-year-old Steven Davies, one of many apparent heirs to the England wicketkeeping throne, whose excellent form and promising glove-work of 2006 even had his name pencilled in as a potential tourist to Australia. If Steve Rhodes, Davies's mentor and the county's director of cricket, continues to improve his work behind the stumps, a winter call-up might well be in the reckoning. Will Luke
Bright young thing Moeen Ali - Captain of England Under-19 for last year's youth World Cup and an explosive, gifted left-hander bursting with ambition. One to watch.
Wise old head Graeme Hick - 40 years old, with 500 first-class matches under his belt and more runs than most of his team-mates combined, this might well be his last season after 24 years of pummelling county attacks. Not the force he once was, he's still better than most.
©
ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Comments