A Guide to the 2013 English Domestic Cricket Season
– County Championship.
Derbyshire:
Many people will feel that Derbyshire will
be out of their depth in the first division, but after their overwhelming
success last season, they could be the surprise package. The overseas signing
of Shiv Chanderpaul will undoubtedly boost a questionable batting line-up,
which will be vital, as the pressure to score runs is often the cause for
relegation to the second division. Even if they can score runs, the ability to take
the twenty wickets required to win matches will be an immense challenge for
Derbyshire. Given the mediocre quality of seam and spin available to them, it
is likely that they will struggle to do so against the formidable opposition in
the first division.
Key Player: Shiv Chanderpaul.
Prediction: 9th in Division 1.
Durham:
Despite finishing mid-table last season,
Durham were one of the divisions most formidable bowling outfits. This will
serve them well this season and will be essential in the opening fixtures, with
their impressive seam attack favoring the conditions. As a batting unit,
inconsistency is the issue facing Durham. There are enough players at the club
capable of scoring 1,000 runs in the Championship season, for example Dale
Benkenstein, Paul Collingwood and Ben Stokes. But last season, nobody took this
responsibility, which sadly minimized the efforts of the bowlers. Durham’s
success is dependent on the number of runs they score, as they are one of the
most reliable bowling teams in the division.
Key Player: Graham Onions.
Prediction: 7th in Division 1.
Essex:
On paper, Essex has one of the strongest
teams on the county circuit. Many of their players have represented the national
squad and the younger players coming through have all shown great potential.
However, Essex have lacked depth in their squad on an all-round basis, which
was proven last season by the strain of injuries and these international
duties. The absence of Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and of course Alistair Cook, means
that Essex are left with a very average team. There is still immense quality at
the club, especially behind the stumps, in James Foster, who will play a
pivotal role as both captain and a run-scorer. Filling the large gaps left by
emerging talent, is one of the hardest challenges for any county side and Essex
will struggle if they are not able to sign any high-quality players, who will
be available to them permanently.
Key Player: James Foster.
Prediction: 6th in Division 2.
Glamorgan:
For the only Welsh side in the county
system, the second division has always seemed a great challenge. They are often
tipped to finish bottom of the division and anything more than this is
considered a surprise. Last season however, they did manage 6th
place, as they were able to capitalize on results that might have gone either
way. They have also made a vast effort
to improve their squad and the signing of Jim Allenby is evidence
that this pays off. This winter Glamorgan were fortunate to sign the experienced
Murray Goodwin, which is sure to pay dividend. But hey are still struggling in
the bowling department and if they are unable to take wickets, they will end up
proving the critics right.
Key Player: Mark Wallace.
Prediction:
7th in Division 2.
Gloucestershire:
Last season saw
Gloucestershire finish bottom of the second division and this was due to a
number of reasons. Their dependency on New Zealand superstars, Rob Nicol and
Kane Williamson, meant that whenever these two failed to score runs, the team
suffered heavily. They still lack an established bowling attack, with Will
Gidman taking the most wickets last year (44). Essentially, Gloucester has a
very weak team in every aspect and they are depending heavily on a chosen few
to save them from replicating the poor display of last season. The introduction
of Australian batsmen Michael Klinger as the captain gives their batting some
depth, but hardly compensates for the overall lack of quality players. It is
hard to see Gloucestershire avoid finishing in last place, given the lack of
winter signings and overall quality.
Key Player: Will Gidman.
Prediction: 9th in Division 2.
Hampshire:
Many people were
shocked not to see Hampshire make an instant return to the first division last
season, as they stumbled to a fourth place finish. Given the presence of
quality in all areas of the game, Hampshire ought to be competing for promotion
this season, although it wont be easy. The impact of Jimmy Adams at the top of
the order is likely to play a large part in their chances of success, as will
the talent of Danny Briggs, whose success as a spinner has gained international
recognition. Hampshire do seem to be
lacking a quality pace bowler and top order batsmen, but they will certainly be
a tough outfit to breakdown this season.
Key Player: Jimmy Adams.
Prediction: 2nd in Division 2.
Kent:
Financial restraints have meant that Kent are unable to bring in any
major signings as of yet and as such, they will be heavily dependent on the
veterans who are already at the club. Rob Key has stepped down as captain, but
will still be important at the top of the order. His successor, James Tredwell,
is likely to share a great deal of the responsibility for success, especially
in taking wickets, as he has recently been recognized by England’s one-day side
for his spinning capabilities. However, the great deal of Kent’s side,
comprises of up and coming talent, that is yet to fully establish itself on the
English domestic scene. If players, such as Sam Northeast and Matt Coles, are
able to make their mark this year, Kent may have a chance at promotion, but
this very young side still needs some time to grow.
Key Player: Darren Stevens.
Prediction: 4th in Division 2.
Lancashire:
After winning the Championship title in
2011, Lancashire looked like one of the strongest outfits in the first
division. But they were deservedly relegated last season after managing to win
just one of sixteen matches. Wayne White promises to be a fantastic signing in
all three formats, but he promises to add depth to Lancashire’s fast bowling
for the Championship campaign. Simon Katich is also certain to strengthen the
batting department, which was certainly Lancashire’s problem last season. Batting power must come more from openers,
Paul Horton and Stephen Moore, and less so from the middle order. The bowling
department has suffered slightly with Gary Keedy’s departure, but Simon
Kerrigan has proven his potential as Lancashire’s primary spinner. They are no
strangers to the fluctuation between the two divisions and certainly have the
quality required for promotion, either automatically or as champions.
Key Player: Glen Chapple.
Prediction: 1st in Division 2.
Leicestershire:
The continuing problem for Leicestershire is
that they seem to lose any of the outstandingly talented players they are able
to produce and this has severely limited their chances of returning to the
first division. In recent seasons they have lost Stuart Broad, James Taylor and
Luke Wright to bigger counties and this winter they have repeated this by
losing Wayne White to Lancashire. However, Josh Cobb is emerging as one of the
greatest batsmen in the country and the presence of West-Indian international
batsmen, Ramnaresh
Sarwan, as the captain for the upcoming season will bode will for them. They do
however have an incredibly small squad that is susceptible to injuries and
sustaining fitness levels over the course of a long and ever demanding season.
Key Player: Ramnaresh
Sarwan.
Prediction: 5th in Division 2.
Middlesex:
Since gaining promotion to the first
division in 2011, Middlesex have flourished at the highest level, achieving
third place last season. Unlike other championship sides, they are consistent
performers with the bat and are able to back themselves equally in their effort
as a bowling side. The signing of James Harris from Glamorgan promises to
strengthen the bowling line-up, but if Middlesex are unsuccessful this season,
it will probably be because they fail to take wickets. It is highly doubtful
that any side with Joe Denly, Neil Dexter and Chris Rogers, will fail to score
runs and a strong middle order reinforces this fact.
Key Player: Chris Rogers.
Prediction: 4th in Division 1.
Northamptonshire:
Northants have
struggled in the longest format of the game for a long-time now, finishing
second-bottom last season. They lack any form of outstanding talent in any
area, and at best, they should realistically expect another mediocre season.
The introduction of Stephen Crook and Matt Spriegel promise to give Northants a
greater chance this season, but these signings seem fitting of a team that is
settling for less. The loss of Niall O’Brien will leave a massive gap both
behind the stumps and in the middle order. Australian signing Trent Copeland will
have to lead the fast bowling duties and James Middlebrook’s spinning
contribution will be as important as ever.
Key Player:
Andrew Hall.
Prediction: 8th in Division 2.
Nottinghamshire:
Given the
unbelievable level of talent at Nottinghamshire, it is hard to understand why
they finished fifth last season. They have outstanding quality in all aspects
and should be setting the standard this season, alongside Warwickshire. They
have, undoubtedly, the best batsmen in the country, with Alex Hales, Michael
Lumb and Samit Patel all representing England in the winter months. Their
bowling attack is similarly strong and the presence of the deadly Andre Adams
is always a crucial part of their success. They have also added to their bowling outfit by signing Ajmal
Shahzad, who has also represented England internationally. It does however seem
that their inability to compete last season, came from the poor weather and
being on the wrong end of the few result matches available, with captain and
wicket keeper Chris Read being notorious for trying to obtain results from
matches. If the weather is not the mercy of every county this season, as it
certainly was for 2012, then Nottinghamshire should challenge for the title.
Key Player: Andre Adams.
Prediction: 2nd in Division 1.
Somerset:
Famous for coming
bitterly close but never winning, Somerset would like to change their label of
‘bridesmaids’ and perhaps shock a few people this season. A great deal of their
strength comes from their batsmen, most notably Marcus Trescothick and Nick
Compton. The former plays a key role with the bat, but even more so as the
skipper. As an all-round unit, Somerset are very strong and figures like Peter
Trego are proving that Somerset can compete in more than just one day cricket.
Bowling wise, a great deal of faith is put into Alfonso Thomas, whose form is
consistent and high in all three formats of the game. If Somerset fail to win
the championship, it will probably be due to the fact that they lack a quality spinner
and depth in their seam bowling line-up, but they could be serious contenders
this year.
Key Player: Nick Compton.
Prediction: 3rd in Division 1.
Surrey:
There is no
denying the immense talent at Surrey at the present time, but for to long now they
have been centralized around their performance with the bat and this has led to
many matches ending in high scoring draws. The Oval is arguably the best wicket
to bat on in the country and as such encourages success for Surrey in this
field. However, it also allows other sides to compete and so half of their
matches are likely to end in draws. As a competitive unit they are still very
strong and winter signings have extended this threat. Graeme Smith and Ricky
Ponting have been added to the 2013 roster and this explosive batting power
will certainly give them an edge. They have also added to their bowlers by
signing Gary Keedy from Lancashire, which will help strengthen this apparent
weakness in their game.
Key Player: Graeme Smith.
Prediction: 5th in Division 1.
Sussex:
There was a time
when Sussex dominated the first division of the county game, winning the
championship in 2003, 2006 and 2007. But since then they have continued to
finish in the middle of the table, which seems to be far below their potential.
The re-signing of Rory Hamilton-Brown will help strengthen their batting, but
Sussex can already boast some of the best batsmen in the country. Key figures
in this area will include Chris Nash, Ed Joyce and of course Matt Prior, should
he feature on a regular basis. As a bowling side they are comparably weaker,
but still have great potential. Monty Panesar has developed his game greatly
over the last two seasons as a spinner, but they do seem to be lacking a
quality pace bowler.
Key Player: Chris Nash.
Prediction: 6th in Division 1.
Warwickshire:
Last
season saw Warwickshire win the County Championship and nobody can argue that
they deserved to win. Varun Chopra was a vital part of their success scoring
1,028 runs last year, but the reason why they were so successful with the bat
was due to the fact that several players chipped in on a consistent basis,
allowing Warwickshire to pose threatening scores and collect a healthy number
of bonus points. Likewise, three of their bowlers took 50 wickets or more,
which reflected the collective contribution with the bat. The end product was a
consistently strong opposition that was able to put the poor weather behind
them and seize the title. They started the season well and when the rain hit
this gave them a great advantage over other teams. If they play in the same
way, then it is hard to argue against them retaining the title.
Key
Player: Varun Chopra.
Prediction:
1st in Division 1.
Worcestershire:
Having finished bottom of division one last
season, Worcestershire will want to make this season count. They are certainly
one of the strongest outfits in the second division and will be competing for
promotion. The overseas signing of Thilan Samaraweera is very
promising, bringing a great deal of experience to a young side. On the flip
side, the older players in the current squad are set to give them their best
chance for promotion and such players include Daryl Mitchell and Alan
Richardson. The consistence of Gareth Andrew with bat and ball will also be vital.
As a bowling unit they have also got a lot of potential and Richardson is
likely to compete for the top wicket taker in the division.
Key Player: Alan Richardson.
Prediction: 3rd in Division 2.
Yorkshire:
Having narrowly missed out on being crowned
champions of division two, Yorkshire will be keen to compete this season and
certainly finish above Derbyshire, who beat Yorkshire having won more games
over the course of the season. Captain Andrew Gale is certain to be crucial in
the scoring of runs and supporting the rest of the squad as captain. Yorkshire have emerging talent that has come into light
over the last year and Joe Root and Jonathan Bairstow will be likely to support
the skipper as they bid to survive the cut. Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan
will give them hope of taking wickets, which must be achieved to stay in the
first division. Adil Rashid’s spin bowling will also be of great significance
over the course of the season.
Key Player: Andrew Gale.
Prediction: 8th in Division 1.
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