Tight contest for promotion
For the nine teams in Division Two there are two promotion slots and this season the fight for them appears especially tight
For the nine teams in Division Two there are two promotion slots and this season the fight for them appears especially tight. The two relegated teams - Nottinghamshire and Middlesex - will target an immediate return, but it won't be that simple. Cricinfo's writers check the prospects of each team. Click here for Division One.
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They will still be scratching their heads around Trent Bridge as to how they find themselves in Division Two. But two years after winning the Championship they now have to battle back into the top flight. The revolving door has been busy over the winter, Mick Newell actually started recruiting before they were relegated by acquiring the talented Will Jefferson from Essex. He is one of three significant signings with the bat - alongside Mark Wagh and the returning Bilal Shafayat - which should more than cover for the loss of Darren Bicknell, Will Smith and Russell Warren. If the seam attack can stay fit, led by the exciting Charlie Shreck, promotion will be well within their grasp come September, so long as they aren't still haunted by the events which sent them down. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Mark Footitt - Has struggled with injury and form since being touted as an England prospect two years and played just one match in 2006. Time is still on his side but needs to rebuild confidence.
Wise old head Mark Ealham - Still just about going strong, and even though his medium-pace becomes more military by the year still picks up wickets. With the bat he continues to hit as far and hard as anyone.
Captain Ed Smith Coach Richard Pybus Overseas Murali Kartik (India) and Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)
On the plus side, it is almost impossible for 2007 to be as bad as 2006, which was the county's worst season by some way. They were relegated - finishing bottom - in both the Championship and Pro40, and so bad had things become that even the usually placid membership started to grumble. The batting wasn't too bad - four players topped 1000 runs - but the bowling was dire. The winter has seen changes, perhaps the most significant being the appointment of Richard Pybus as coach, an acknowledgement that John Emburey's all-compassing director of cricket role did not work. On the field Ed Smith replaces Ben Hutton as captain, so expect no room for slackers, but despite the signing of Murali Kartik and Chaminda Vaas, the bowling still appears to lack bite. The arrival of Kartik signals the end of a long line of home-grown spinners, while the re-signing of Richard Johnson is mystifying - in the last two seasons at Taunton he managed 42 wickets at 42. The squad, while much younger than of late, is as big as many in the Premiership, but that will not guarantee success. Martin Williamson
Bright young thing Nick Compton - Started last summer on the fringes but finished with 1315 runs at 46.96. Confident and good to watch, he is one for the future and will thrive in the lower divisions.
Wise old head Chris Silverwood - The county's best bowler in 2006 by a country mile, and in Division Two of the Championship he will be even more effective.
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For the last three seasons now, Essex have been bridesmaids in the battle for Championship promotion. Last year was their closest effort yet, but Worcestershire caught the bouquet ahead of them, taking the second promotion spot on the final day of the season. Hopes again rest on the potency of the seam attack but Darren Gough's departure, World Cup commitments and injury problems leave a threadbare appearance early on. One-day prospects look much brighter - they are the reigning Pro40 champions - with a powerful batting line-up augmented by a quintet of spinners all capable of putting the squeeze on during the middle of an innings. The spin quins are Danish Kaneria, James Middlebrook, Tim Phillips and Grant Flower. Jenny Thompson
Bright young thing Maurice Chambers - Has made encouraging strides over the close season, with some impressive figures during England's under-19 tour to Malaysia in January and February. He kept the seasoned professionals on their toes during pre-season nets at Chelmsford and will be pushing strongly for selection for the opening Championship match at home against Derbyshire.
Wise old head Alex Tudor - Was the only available experienced quickie at the time of writing. He proved his fitness in 2006 by appearing in the last 10 Championship matches in a row and has impressed during pre-season. Still harbours pretensions to be a genuine allrounder, even in his 30th year. Captain Jeremy Snape Coach Tim Boon Overseas players RP Singh (India), Mansoor Amjad (Pakistan)
Leicestershire's promotion chances may be let down by their batting department, with no new players and Darren Maddy having left to go to Warwickshire. HD Ackerman will be leaned on. And they could be shorn of Stuart Broad and Paul Nixon for most of the season if the duo are required for England duty. Mansoor Amjad and RP Singh, at least, add balance to a bowling attack. Their mastery of the short game remains, though, as reigning Twenty20 champions. Jenny Thompson
Bright young thing Stuart Broad - At 6 ft 8 and still growing and with a sparky temperament to boot, I'd hesitate to call Broad a 'thing'. He's certainly bright and young. He started life as a batsman, but it's his pace that has carried him to England's one-day set-up.
Wise old head Jeremy Snape - The captain is wise indeed, with a masters in sports psychology he put to good use trying to get into England's heads in the Caribbean. He knows his team pretty thoroughly, too.
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There isn't yet an end-of-season prize to award the county which has improved most but, if there had been, Derbyshire would have taken it last year. Can they continue their revitalisation? With their crop of new winter signings, their squad has a solid and dependable feel to it. Ian Harvey (now a British resident) adds sparkle; Simon Katich brings experience and class to their batting, and Phil Weston's defection from Gloucestershire further bolsters the top order. The bowling is less sure of itself, though the addition of Boyd Rankin, Ireland's 6ft 8in fast bowler might be a master stroke. It remains to be seen how his frame will withstand the rigours of county cricket's treadmill but, pleasingly, Derbyshire are for the first time in years a side worth keeping an eye on. Will Luke
Bright young thing Wayne White - Chalky, as he is predictably nicknamed, is highly thought of at Derbyshire. An aspiring allrounder, he was sidelined for much of 2006 with a stress fracture - but returned at the season end to take four wickets against Surrey.
Wise old head Graeme Welch - Consistently reliable seamer and bolsters the lower-order. Experienced and vital to Derbyshire's one-day cause. Captain David Sales Coach David Capel Overseas Chris Rogers (Australia) and Johann van der Wath (South Africa)
Considering they lost their coach, Kepler Wessels, midway through last season the club did remarkably well to hold it together. David Capel now has control of the side for a full season, and a few new faces to work with. Four batsmen passed 1000 runs in 2006 and the prolific Chris Rogers - tipped to replace Justin Langer in the Australian Test team - returns and Johann van der Wath, the South African allrounder unlucky to miss out on the World Cup, is the second overseas. van der Wath alongside Lance Klusener means one-day cricket should be the strongest suit, while Richard Dawson's arrival from Yorkshire should, in part, cover for the loss of Monty Panesar. It'll be the bowling that is likely to once again prevent promotion with not much fire power in the seam department. One interesting selection poser will be the choice between Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien and Riki Wessels. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Graeme White - a raw left-arm spinner with England U-19 experience who could earn chances when the pitches start to turn.
Wise old head David Sales - A reliable presence in the middle order and a maturing captain who works well with Capel.
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The midwinter clear out leaves Gloucestershire a little short in experience, and still significantly bereft of star names. Expect Lewis to bowl as per the conditions: lethal during May; tidy and consistent thereafter, so long as he's not carrying the drinks for England. Phil Weston and Martin Ball will both be missed heavily though, but the harshest blow is the unavailability of Umar Gul, who has been refused permission to play by the PCB. Alex Gidman's terrific season last year (named the club's Player of the Year with 1244 Championship runs) will hopefully not be a one-off. Will Luke
Bright young thing Vikram Banerjee - Bradford born; Cambridge educated and now Bristol bounce. A tidy young left-armer who was part of the ECB's "emerging players" squad, he showed great promise for the combined universities side last year. Could be thrown into the deep end.
Wise old head Jon Lewis - As long as England don't poach him, which is anyone's guess, Lewis is the most dependable swinger on the circuit if not the most scything of strike bowlers. Captain David Hemp Coach Adrian Shaw Overseas player Jimmy Maher, Matthew Elliott (Australia)
David Hemp must have thought the start of his captaincy couldn't get trickier when Glamorgan's redevelopment of Sofia Gardens threatened to come at a heavy cost - no overseas player. Happily, a benefactor put their money where their heart is to pay for the Australian opener Jimmy Maher. More good news: Simon Jones' recovery is coming along well, although he may be off on England duty. There's a new coach, too, Adrian Shaw replaces John Derrick as the club search to put an end to a few disappointing years. Jenny Thompson
Bright young thing Ben Wright - Has the right stuff in him to make it. He blasted 72 for Glamorgan on debut and tucked two fine half-centuries under his belt in pre-season. Simon Jones revealed: "Ben's a confident kid. He has certainly tried to smash me all over the place."
Wise old head David Hemp - Goes into his 17th year on the county circuit fit and enthusiastic as ever. He brings back some World Cup experience from the Caribbean, having represented Bermuda and top-scored with 76 not out against India.
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The only way is up after a depressing 2006 where they propped up the second division and as with every new season comes refreshed hope. Whether that his blind hope remains to be seen, but there is the core of a strong side at Taunton. Ian Blackwell's form and fitness, the latter restricting him to two matches last summer, is key as he brings balance to the team with his destructive batting and tight left-arm spin. Opposition bowlers won't enjoy trips to the South West, faced with an opening partnership of Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick; one a left-hander ready to enjoy the twilight of his career, the other trying to rebuild his. Add Cameron White and runs won't be in short supply, but a major question mark surrounds the bowling which will rely heavily on Andrew Caddick, who probably still thinks he is worth an England place. Andrew McGlashan
Bright young thing Mike Munday - 22-year-old legspinner who is rated highly by Terry Jenner and has spent a season in Australia. Now needs to be tested during the rigous of a county season.
Wise old head Andrew Caddick - Keeps charging in year in, year out on Taunton featherbeds which would have broken many a bowler.
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