Minor Counties Championship Preview

THE Minor Counties Championship will not feature grade cricket in the 2000 season. The counties voted 13-7 not to continue with playing a third of the programme under grade rules (essentially one-innings matches over two days) after a two-year trial.

Instead the MCCA have set up a working party to investigate the possibility of introducing three-day matches into the Championship from 2001. They will also explore the prospect of promotion and relegation between the two divisions, which are currently split into two geographical sections, Eastern and Western.

The Championship programme commences on Sunday May 21, with reigning champions Cumberland starting their defence of the trophy with a home game against Hertfordshire at Barrow.

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY DETAILS FOR THE 2000 SEASON

BEDFORDSHIRE

Philip Hoare, captain of Bedfordshire when they reached the Championship play-off in 1997, has announced his decision to retire from Minor Counties cricket. Hoare's final appearance for the county was in last season's ECB 38-County Cup final win over Cumberland at Lord's.

BERKSHIRE

Former England Test spinner John Emburey is Berkshire's new player-coach. Emburey, 47, has declared himself "as fit as I've ever been" and will be available to play in all of Berkshire's matches. Skipper Gary Loveday is excited at having the services of a bowler with 64 Tests and 61 one-day international appearances under his belt. Loveday said: "John is very positive and can't wait to get started."

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Jeremy Batty, the former Yorkshire spinner, has joined Buckinghamshire to fill the void left by Andy Clarke's move to Norfolk, and Tim Scriven's retirement from the county scene. They have also signed the former Scotland opening batsman Alastair Storie, but have also lost wicket-keeper Neil Burns, their Director of Excellence, to Leicestershire,

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Noteworthy newcomers at Cambridgeshire for the 2000 season are Frank Griffiths, the former Derbyshire bowler, and Chris Walsh, a batsman previously on the Kent staff. Walsh will open the batting while Griffith is expected to shoulder a large slice of the bowling burden. Mark Mason, previously of Lincolnshire, has also joined Cambridgeshire.

CHESHIRE

The 2000 season is likely to be Ian Cockbain's last as captain of Cheshire. Cockbain, who has skippered the county to both the Western Division pennant and the MCC Trophy during his nine years in charge, has already relinquished his post as captain of the Minor Counties Representative side. Pace bowler Denton Brock has joined from Staffordshire.

CORNWALL

Neil Williams, the ex-Middlesex seamer who made one Test appearance for England against India in 1990, is Cornwall's new professional. Gavin Edwards is expected to keep wicket following Carl Gazzard's move to Somerset.

CUMBERLAND

The 1999 champions expect to use the same squad of players who were so successful last season. Skipper Simon Dutton, starting his ninth season at the helm, said: "We have some outstanding individuals but our success is just as much about team spirit. This season is going to be even harder than last year, but we are up for the challenge."

DEVON

Peter Roebuck, arguably the most successful Minor Counties captain of all-time, has stood down after eight years, and seven trophies. Nick Folland, who briefly held the reins before Roebuck took over in 1992, replaces the former Somerset allrounder but says: "It's not going to be easy following him. But leadership is a difficult and complex matter and there are many ways of going about it."

DORSET

Dorset aim for a hat-trick of Western Division pennants in 2000, and will also be bidding to go one better than in the last two years after twice being beaten in the Championship play-off. Stuart Rintoul once again captains the side, and two newcomers are Glyn Treagus, who was previously on Hampshire's books, and MCC Young Cricketer Andrew Neal.

HEREFORDSHIRE

Ismail Dawood (from Glamorgan) and James Brinkley (from Worcestershire) are new faces in the Herefordshire squad. John Shaw, a highly-rated batsman on the Nottinghamshire club scene, has also been signed. Jamie Sylvester, who left Herefordshire to rejoin Wales as captain in 1999, is back in the fold after only one season away.

HERTFORDSHIRE

Martin James, brother of Hampshire's Kevan, is the new captain of Hertfordshire. He succeeds Nick Gilbert, who has stepped down after three years in charge. James will be hoping to emulate Gilbert's feat of guiding Hertfordshire into third place in the Eastern Division last season, their highest finish for seven years.

LINCOLNSHIRE

Gordon Parsons won't be returning from South Africa, so Lincolnshire have signed Bobby Chapman (ex-Worcestershire) and taken on John Thrower from the Sheffield United club. Steve Plumb, now in his fifth year with Lincolnshire, starts the season on 11,735 runs, less than 1,000 behind Mike Nurton's Championship record of 12,713.

NORFOLK

Andy Clarke, the prolific Buckinghamshire leg-spinner, has agreed to join Norfolk for the 2000 season. Clarke, whose record for Buckinghamshire Nigel Llong, released by Kent, will play in Norfolk's one-day matches. David Thomas, a loyal servant for 17 years, has been relieved of his coaching duties and won't play.

NORTHUMBERLAND

Steve Foster, the highly-rated captain of the ECB XI (the England Amateur side) is one of Northumberland's new recruits. Foster, courted by Lincolnshire during the 1990s, is expected to make a big impact on the Minor Counties scene. Bradley Parker, formerly of Yorkshire, should also strengthen their batting.

OXFORDSHIRE

Craig Haupt, a South African who turned out for Oxfordshire in the NatWest Trophy last year as an overseas player, can now play in all their matches after qualifying as an 'Englishman.' Keith Arnold, their veteran paceman, begins his 21st season in the Minor Counties game.

SHROPSHIRE

Kevin Evans, the former Nottinghamshire stalwart, has joined Asif Din as one of Shropshire's two professionals. Evans, who had a testimonial at Trent Bridge in 1999, is one of two newcomers in the Shropshire ranks alongside Abdul Hafeez, formerly of Worcestershire. Opening batsman Tony Parton, who last played three years ago, is also back in the fold after returning from Scotland.

STAFFORDSHIRE

Three of their first-class graduates - Graeme Archer (Nottinghamshire), Tim Tweats (Derbyshire) and David Follett (Middlesex & Northamptonshire) return to their roots to rejoin Staffordshire. Laurie Potter has been retained as a professional, and Archer will also play on a match-to-match contract.

SUFFOLK

Derek Randall, the former England and Nottinghamshire batsman, returns to Suffolk for a seventh season. Randall, now 49 and coach of Cambridge University, should be available for the majority of Suffolk's games.

WILTSHIRE

Brett Crosdale, an Australian who is now qualified as an Englishman, and Jason Searle, previously of Durham, are Wiltshire's new faces for the new millennium. Crosdale and Searle are team-mates at the Chippenham club. Steve Perrin, who has been playing in goal for Conference club Forest Green Rovers this season, will captain the side for the fourth year.

WALES

Wales have appointed Colin Metson, the former Glamorgan wicket-keeper, as their fifth captain in five seasons. He follows in the footsteps of Barry Lloyd (1996), Phil North (1997), Roger Clitheroe (1998) and Jamie Sylvester (1999).