Just three victories resigned Derbyshire to an eighth-place finish in Division Two last season, a performance that they will be looking to improve on this summer. They have suffered a devastating blow by losing pace bowler, Mark Footitt, to Division Two champions Surrey, which will leave them short of quality and experienced bowlers. A strong overseas signing in the form of New Zealand batsman Hamish Rutherford is a signal of the Derbyshire's intent to achieve highly this season, although they will have to work with a largely young and homegrown squad, with the few veteran players, such as Wayne Madsen and Wes Durston, likely to be important to their chances of doing better than they did in 2015.
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| Mark Footitt took 76 Championship wickets last season but has moved to Surrey. |
One-to-watch: Tom Taylor is only 21 years old, but he has already made a huge impact at Derbyshire, enjoying a superb start to the previous campaign when he delivered a career-best performance of 6-61 against Lancashire at Southport. He finished the season with 28 wickets from nine matches, but with Footitt moving on to Surrey, Taylor is likely to be a regular in the Derbyshire bowling attack this summer.
Prediction: 8th, Division Two
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| Tom Taylor will attempt to fill the big shoes of Mark Footitt. |
Outs: Jonathan Clare (Released), Mark Footitt (Surrey)
Durham:
A ferocious seam bowling attack made Durham a handful for many an opposition last season, particularly on home soil, but they continued to underwhelm with the bat. Durham finished the campaign with 26 batting points, which was by far the lowest total in the first division, but they still managed to finish strongly in fourth place. A result game is always likely when Durham are involved, but they need to be on the right end of these results if they want to win the title. Seemingly satisfied with their current squad, no additions or removals have been made by Durham over the winter.
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| Durham finished fourth in Division One last summer. |
One-to-watch: Ryan Pringle took 20 wickets in nine championship appearances for Durham last season, adding 427 runs at an average of 26.68. The 23-year-old came agonisingly close to registering a maiden first-class century, scoring 99 against Hampshire and taking 5-63 in the same game to prove his all-round credentials. The talented young cricketer threatened to leave the club over the winter, with rumours that he was interested in moving to Derbyshire, but he has since decided to extend his contract at Durham.
Prediction: 5th, Division One
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| Chris Rushworth took 83 wickets in the Championship last season. |
Outs: None
Essex:
It was a case of close but no cigar once again for Essex, as they settled for a third-place finish in Division Two for the second season in a row. They have all of the ingredients necessary to achieve promotion, but have certainly lacked a certain conviction in previous seasons. Combining vast experience with exciting young talent, Essex could make it third time lucky this summer, bringing in spinner, Ashar Zaidi, from Sussex to unite their seam-heavy bowling attack. However, they have suffered the loss of England seamer, Reece Topley, who has moved to Hampshire to improve the development of his career with England.
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| Ashar Zaidi has moved from Sussex to Essex over the winter. |
One-to-watch: Seamer Jamie Porter is not unheard of on the county circuit by any means; he took 50 wickets at an average of 28.36 last summer, but there is certainly potential for this promising fast bowler to go on to greater things than second division cricket. Removing more opening batsman than any other bowler last summer, the 22-year-old was a vital cog in the Essex bowling attack, developing his skill set under the guidance of veterans David Masters and Graham Napier.
Prediction: 2nd, Division Two
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| Ravi Bopara's all-round experience could help Essex to achieve promotion. |
Ins: Aaron Beard (Youth), Matt Quinn, Matt Dixon (UK Passport), Ashar Zaidi (Sussex), Jesse Ryder (Overseas)
Outs: Reece Topley (Hampshire), Monty Panesar, Matt Salisbury, Saf Imtiaz (Released), Greg Smith (Retired), Mark Pettini (Leicestershire)
Glamorgan:
Championship success in 1997, two years before the divisional split in the county game, was the last time the Welsh outfit tasted victory in four-day cricket. Since the turn of the millennium, they have spent most of their time in the second division and it does not look like being a change in fortunes for Glamorgan this summer. Acquiring the services of talented all rounder, Craig Meschede, after his season-long loan last year, marks the peak of Glamorgan's efforts to better their chances this season, with South African batsman Jacques Rudolph returning with his overseas services for another campaign.
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| Glamorgan have not made many strides over the winter to improve their squad. |
One-to-watch: 23-year-old batsman David Lloyd made a huge impact last season despite his tender age, enjoying his first successful stint in Glamorgan's first team. Lloyd made 547 runs in 12 appearances, narrowly missing out on a maiden first-class century, when he was dismissed for 92 against Northamptonshire.
Prediction: 7th, Division Two
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| Wagg is a dangerman for Glamorgan with bat and ball. |
Outs: Ben Wright (Retired)
Glory at Lord's in the one-day cup last summer restored a degree of pride for this wounded county. For a decade now, Gloucestershire have been a mainstay of the second division, producing talented cricketers who often fail to deliver on their promise. However, that could all be about to change this season. They have two quality opening batsmen in Chris Dent and Will Tavare and a number of promising young seamers to make them a well-rounded side in four-day cricket. They may have proven themselves to be a dangerous team in white-ball cricket last season, but this summer could see the Bristol boys make a vast improvement on their sixth-place finish in Division Two last season.
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| Gloucestershire have a number of promising young cricketers at their disposal. |
Key Player: Once regarded as a talented batsman for the future, Chris Dent must now consider himself as an experienced part of the Gloucestershire establishment and move to the next level with his role as opener to elevate his reputation on the county circuit. A return of 1,062 runs at an average of 44.25 made him the most profitable batsmen at Bristol last season in red-ball cricket, but he will need support from his teammates, with Gloucester regularly underachieving with the bat last season.
One-to-watch: 2015 was a superb season for Craig Miles, partially because he played a key hand in Gloucestershire's progression to one-day glory, but mainly because he recorded a breakthrough season in four-day cricket. Taking 46 wickets at an average of 25 was a tremendous effort for the 21-year-old seamer, who looks set to be a key player for Gloucester this season, alongside seam partner, Liam Norwell, who claimed 61 wickets in the Championship last season.
Prediction: 5th, Division Two
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| Chris Dent is a dependable opening batsman for Gloucestershire. |
Outs: Geraint Jones (Retired), James Fuller (Middlesex), Cameron Herring, Robbie Montgomery (Released)
Hampshire:
Narrowly avoiding relegation last summer by two points at the expense of Sussex left sweat on the foreheads of the Hampshire faithful. A late resurgence, which saw the club win three of their last five Championship matches, allowed Hampshire to survive the drop by the skin of their teeth, but with Surrey and Lancashire for company in Division One, they look like relegation candidates this year. Reece Topley appears to be a handy signing in limited-overs cricket, but no further additions have been made. Ryan McLaren, who played in the final four matches last year, has returned as an overseas player for the entire season, while spinner Danny Briggs has made the switch to Sussex, leaving them short of experience in that area.
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| Danny Briggs has moved to Sussex after seven seasons at the Ageas Bowl. |
Key Player: Despite his exile from England's future, Michael Carberry continues to deliver in all three formats for Hampshire. Renowned for his talent as a one-day batsman, Carberry finished the Championship campaign with 1,129 runs, which was comfortably the best return by anybody at the Ageas Bowl last summer. Hampshire were unconvincing with the bat last season and so it will be up to the experienced opening batsman to set an example for the rest of the team.
One-to-watch: All of the media is raving about Mason Crane and it is clear to see why. In an era of dormant spin talent in England, his wristy leg spin is catching the attention of international selectors, who have labelled Crane as one for the future. The England Under-19 spin bowler featured in only three Championship matches last season, but is likely to be heavily involved this year to enhance his progression.
Prediction: 9th, Division One
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| Michael Carberry scored 1,129 runs last season. |
Ins: Reece Topley (Essex), Ryan McLaren (Overseas)
Outs: Joe Gatting, Sean Terry, Basil Akram, Tom Barber (Released), Danny Briggs (Sussex)
Kent:
One county likely to go under the radar this summer, in all formats for that matter, is Kent. They have quietly gone about their business over the last few seasons, developing good cricketers in all areas of the game and they could very well make a bid for promotion this season. Talented young players, such as Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings, are evidence of Kent's efforts to produce exemplary cricketers and the recruitment of New Zealand batsman, Tom Latham, consolidates the strength of their batting. Veteran all rounder Darren Stevens will likely be eyeing 50 wickets again this summer, while Adam Riley will hope for a better campaign with his spin bowling after having a terrific season in 2014.
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| Veteran Darren Stevens enters his 19th season of first-class cricket in 2016. |
One-to-watch: The true test of any cricketer is to go up against the old enemy, Australia. Matt Hunn did just that last summer and took five wickets in an impressive display of bowling. The rest of the season was spent drafting in and out of the side depending on when he was needed, meaning he only made seven appearances in the Championship. He will be hoping for more opportunities this season to demonstrate what he is capable of.
Prediction: 4th, Division Two
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| Sam Northeast was a force to be reckoned with in all formats last season for Kent. |
Ins: Tom Latham, Kagiso Rabada (Overseas), Zak Crawley (Youth), Adam Rouse (Gloucestershire)
Outs: Ryan Davies (Somerset), Ben Harmison (Released)
Lancashire:
Promotion came relatively comfortably for the Red Rose last season, but the real test will be to see if they can stay in Division One with a largely homegrown squad, something that their Director of Cricket, Ashley Giles, is keen to instil in the future of the club. The departure of Ashwell Prince and Paul Horton respectively could leave a void in the batting department, while Steven Croft has taken over as captain to allow Tom Smith to focus on returning to full fitness. Lancashire have recruited New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner for the four-day campaign, which will improve their chances of taking 20 wickets at home, something which may prove difficult against quality batting sides this summer.
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| Lancashire achieved promotion from Division Two but missed out on the title to Surrey. |
Key Player: With Prince and Horton both leaving Lancashire, Alviro Petersen will be expected to utilise his vast batting experience to assist a number of young cricketers at Old Trafford, or at least players who have not played a great deal of first division cricket before. Petersen's mammoth 286 at Colwyn Bay last summer marked the eighth highest score by a Lancashire player, with the South African batsman scoring three centuries on his way to 861 runs last season. He has been in tremendous form over the winter playing in South Africa and his experience will be needed to survive the stern test of Division One.
One-to-watch: Vastly improving all-rounder Arron Lilley has developed the ability to contribute in all three formats of the game, having emerged as a Twenty20 specialist, with 2016 set to be his biggest season to date. Lilley is developing his tidy off-spin from the shorter formats to make him a dangerous second spin option behind Simon Kerrigan in the Championship, but he can also be a destructive lower-order batsman, as well as, arguably, one of the best fielders in the team. He took 26 wickets in seven Championship appearances last season, taking 5/23 against Derbyshire at Southport.
Prediction: 7th, Division One
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| Alviro Petersen's experience could be crucial for Lancashire in 2016. |
Ins: Danny Lamb (Youth), Neil Wagner (Overseas)
Outs: Paul Horton (Leicestershire), Ashwell Prince (Retired)
Leicestershire:
Widely regarded as the perennial wooden spoon holders of county cricket, Leicestershire have had a brilliant winter, making strong signings to boost their chances of avoiding another season of being rooted to the bottom of the Division Two table. Paul Horton, Mark Pettini and Neil Dexter have all made the switch to Grace Road, with Australian paceman Clint McKay returning with his overseas services for Leicestershire.
Key Player: Australian fast bowler Clint McKay has the experience necessary to lead Leicestershire's bowling attack this season. His quality shined through last year, when he took 58 wickets in 12 Championship appearances, with seam partners Ben Raine and Charlie Shreck also reaching 50 wickets for the campaign.
One-to-watch: Three fifties in Championship cricket towards the end of the season demonstrated the potential of Aadil Ali to be a future hit at Grace Road. Scoring 412 runs in seven Championship matches for Leicestershire made Ali an instant hit with the fans, but he will have to build on his promising start to life as a first-class cricketer.
Prediction: 9th, Division Two
Ins: Clint McKay (Overseas), Paul Horton (Lancashire), Mark Pettini (Essex), Neil Dexter (Middlesex)
Outs: Andrea Agathangelou, Neil Pinner, Alex Wyatt (Released), Dan Redfern (Shropshire)
Middlesex:
Predicted by many to be relegated last season, Middlesex took a number of people by surprise when they finished as runners-up to Yorkshire in Division One last summer. The loss of Australian Chris Rogers, who has made the switch to Somerset this season, will leave a dent in their batting department, but they have Sam Robson and Nick Compton to fall back on, which is not a bad position to be in at all. The availability of Adam Voges, captain in the four-day campaign, as well as the potential signing of Michael Clarke, could prove important for Middlesex this summer.
Key Player: The form of Adam Voges over the last 24 months has been a revelation for Australian cricket. For Middlesex to have his services is a major coup, particularly when you consider that they only managed 29 batting points last season. Voges was in scintillating form against New Zealand, recording 239 in the first Test at Wellington in February and he registered 451 runs in four Championship matches last season, scoring 132 against Somerset.
One-to-watch: Ravi Patel only made one Championship appearance for Middlesex last season, but he managed to make his case for more first-team opportunities, taking five wickets against Sussex. Patel has renewed his contract with Middlesex this winter and is set to remain at Lord's until 2018, which suggests he will be given the exposure to county cricket on a regular basis this term.
Prediction: 4th, Division One
Ins: Adam Voges (Overseas), James Fuller (Gloucestershire), Martin Andersson (Youth)
Leicestershire:
Widely regarded as the perennial wooden spoon holders of county cricket, Leicestershire have had a brilliant winter, making strong signings to boost their chances of avoiding another season of being rooted to the bottom of the Division Two table. Paul Horton, Mark Pettini and Neil Dexter have all made the switch to Grace Road, with Australian paceman Clint McKay returning with his overseas services for Leicestershire.
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| Paul Horton has switched to Leicestershire after leaving Lancashire. |
Key Player: Australian fast bowler Clint McKay has the experience necessary to lead Leicestershire's bowling attack this season. His quality shined through last year, when he took 58 wickets in 12 Championship appearances, with seam partners Ben Raine and Charlie Shreck also reaching 50 wickets for the campaign.
One-to-watch: Three fifties in Championship cricket towards the end of the season demonstrated the potential of Aadil Ali to be a future hit at Grace Road. Scoring 412 runs in seven Championship matches for Leicestershire made Ali an instant hit with the fans, but he will have to build on his promising start to life as a first-class cricketer.
Prediction: 9th, Division Two
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| Can Leicestershire avoid finishing bottom for the fifth season in a row? |
Ins: Clint McKay (Overseas), Paul Horton (Lancashire), Mark Pettini (Essex), Neil Dexter (Middlesex)
Outs: Andrea Agathangelou, Neil Pinner, Alex Wyatt (Released), Dan Redfern (Shropshire)
Middlesex:
Predicted by many to be relegated last season, Middlesex took a number of people by surprise when they finished as runners-up to Yorkshire in Division One last summer. The loss of Australian Chris Rogers, who has made the switch to Somerset this season, will leave a dent in their batting department, but they have Sam Robson and Nick Compton to fall back on, which is not a bad position to be in at all. The availability of Adam Voges, captain in the four-day campaign, as well as the potential signing of Michael Clarke, could prove important for Middlesex this summer.
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| Chris Rogers spent four seasons with Middlesex but has moved to Somerset. |
One-to-watch: Ravi Patel only made one Championship appearance for Middlesex last season, but he managed to make his case for more first-team opportunities, taking five wickets against Sussex. Patel has renewed his contract with Middlesex this winter and is set to remain at Lord's until 2018, which suggests he will be given the exposure to county cricket on a regular basis this term.
Prediction: 4th, Division One
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| Middlesex finished second last season, but were still 68 points behind Yorkshire. |
Ins: Adam Voges (Overseas), James Fuller (Gloucestershire), Martin Andersson (Youth)
Outs: Neil Dexter (Leicestershire), Harry Podmore (Glamorgan - loan), Gurjit Sandhu (Released)
Northamptonshire:
A frank and honest speech from Alex Wakely after the Twenty20 final last year summed up Northamptonshire's plight reasonably well; they have a modest budget and will always struggle to compete with larger counties who can come along and take their best players. Yorkshire, arguably the biggest county of them all, did just that last year when they acquired the services of one of the most exciting cricketers in the country in all rounder David Willey. With his absence, Northants will attempt to challenge for promotion, knowing that they have a good group of talented young players who are capable of achieving highly if they are all able to find form.
Key Player: You hear of people who have a responsible head on young shoulders and Alex Wakely is a typical example of a player who shares this quality. The Northants captain has had to operate on a shoestring budget for some time now, but continues to enjoy the underdog tag, something that actually seems to allow his side to thrive in whatever situation they face. Northants is a side with great character and Wakely is a big part of that. His leadership will be just as his performances with the bat, although he will hoping to crack 1,000 runs this year after making 853 runs last season.
One-to-watch: A sometimes contentious opening batsman, but certainly one with great potential, Ben Duckett has to prove that he is committed to the cause this season and make good of his talent to pull Northants forward during this difficult time for the club. When he puts his mind to the task, he is an incredibly fluent batsman, although he will struggle to recapture his place as the first-choice keeper with Adam Rossington and David Murphy at the club. Duckett made 851 runs in 11 matches last season, scoring four centuries during an impressive campaign for the 21-year-old.
Prediction: 6th, Division Two
Nottinghamshire:
An early move for Peter Siddle over the winter was halted when the Australian seamer developed a stress fracture in his back, which forced Nottinghamshire to swoop for compatriot Jackson Bird as their overseas seam option. Nottinghamshire's experience of playing first-division cricket means that they are always worth of consideration when it comes to discussing possible title challengers, but there will be sizeable gaps in the squad when Alex Hales and possibly James Taylor are called upon for international duty. Whether they have the strength and depth to cope without them is what will decide their fate this season.
Key Player: Although he had his pre-season plans thwarted by injury, captain Chris Read is set to be fit in time to start his 19th season at Nottinghamshire, with the hope of guiding his side to their first Championship title since 2010. Read made 873 runs at an average of more than 50 last season, with his leadership likely to be vital if they are to challenge for the title in 2016. Read has accumulated more than 15,000 first-class runs during his illustrious career and his experience has been a cornerstone at Trent Bridge since he made his debut in 1997.
One-to-watch: A fierce left-arm pace bowler with the ability to swing the ball both ways, Luke Wood is a name to remember. The 20-year-old all rounder made his case for more first team cricket last summer when he took 30 wickets in 11 Championship appearances, adding 420 runs with the bat. Wood, who made his first-class debut in 2014, recorded his maiden century for Nottinghamshire last season against Sussex.
Prediction: 6th, Division One
Somerset:
Taunton stalwart Marcus Trescothick enters his 24th season of first-class cricket with Somerset, although he has mutually agreed to step down as captain after six years in charge. New signing and possible opening partner to Trescothick, Chris Rogers, has taken over as skipper in the four-day contest, while Somerset have been busy offloading a number of players over the winter. A blockbuster signing for the T20 Blast means sellout crowds will once again be treated to some outrageous hitting from Chris Gayle, while Yasir Arafat, who holds a UK passport, has been acquired on a season-long loan from Hampshire.
Key Player: Run machine James Hildreth finished the 2015 campaign with 1,390 runs, the highest accumulation by any batsman in the first division. Trescothick enjoyed a similarly profitable season, returning 1,284 runs, but it was Hildrerth who led Somerset's efforts with the bat, as they finished with the highest number of batting points last summer. Now in his 14th season at Somerset, Hildreth is a dependable figure in a Somerset side in transition, with his first-class record of more than 13,000 runs speaking volumes for his pedigree in county cricket.
One-to-watch: Promising young batsman Tom Abell emerged as a fan favourite at Taunton last season, recording a maiden first-class hundred against Hampshire in front of a home crowd in September. Abell, who scored 726 runs in four-day cricket last season, has the potential to go a long way based on the performances he has given in his short career thus far, although the true value of his character will be tested by his ability to convert starts into match-winning scores on a regular basis.
Prediction: 8th, Division One
Ins: Roelof van der Merwe (EU Passport), Ryan Davies (Kent), Michael Leask (Scotland), Yasir Arafat (Hampshire - season loan/UK Passport)
A frank and honest speech from Alex Wakely after the Twenty20 final last year summed up Northamptonshire's plight reasonably well; they have a modest budget and will always struggle to compete with larger counties who can come along and take their best players. Yorkshire, arguably the biggest county of them all, did just that last year when they acquired the services of one of the most exciting cricketers in the country in all rounder David Willey. With his absence, Northants will attempt to challenge for promotion, knowing that they have a good group of talented young players who are capable of achieving highly if they are all able to find form.
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| Talented all rounder David Willey has been snapped up by Yorkshire. |
Key Player: You hear of people who have a responsible head on young shoulders and Alex Wakely is a typical example of a player who shares this quality. The Northants captain has had to operate on a shoestring budget for some time now, but continues to enjoy the underdog tag, something that actually seems to allow his side to thrive in whatever situation they face. Northants is a side with great character and Wakely is a big part of that. His leadership will be just as his performances with the bat, although he will hoping to crack 1,000 runs this year after making 853 runs last season.
One-to-watch: A sometimes contentious opening batsman, but certainly one with great potential, Ben Duckett has to prove that he is committed to the cause this season and make good of his talent to pull Northants forward during this difficult time for the club. When he puts his mind to the task, he is an incredibly fluent batsman, although he will struggle to recapture his place as the first-choice keeper with Adam Rossington and David Murphy at the club. Duckett made 851 runs in 11 matches last season, scoring four centuries during an impressive campaign for the 21-year-old.
Prediction: 6th, Division Two
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| Ben Duckett needs to utilise his talent to help Northamptonshire. |
Ins: None
Outs: David Willey (Yorkshire), Kyle Coetzer, Maurice Chambers (Released)
Nottinghamshire:
An early move for Peter Siddle over the winter was halted when the Australian seamer developed a stress fracture in his back, which forced Nottinghamshire to swoop for compatriot Jackson Bird as their overseas seam option. Nottinghamshire's experience of playing first-division cricket means that they are always worth of consideration when it comes to discussing possible title challengers, but there will be sizeable gaps in the squad when Alex Hales and possibly James Taylor are called upon for international duty. Whether they have the strength and depth to cope without them is what will decide their fate this season.
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| Nottinghamshire won the title in 2010. |
Key Player: Although he had his pre-season plans thwarted by injury, captain Chris Read is set to be fit in time to start his 19th season at Nottinghamshire, with the hope of guiding his side to their first Championship title since 2010. Read made 873 runs at an average of more than 50 last season, with his leadership likely to be vital if they are to challenge for the title in 2016. Read has accumulated more than 15,000 first-class runs during his illustrious career and his experience has been a cornerstone at Trent Bridge since he made his debut in 1997.
One-to-watch: A fierce left-arm pace bowler with the ability to swing the ball both ways, Luke Wood is a name to remember. The 20-year-old all rounder made his case for more first team cricket last summer when he took 30 wickets in 11 Championship appearances, adding 420 runs with the bat. Wood, who made his first-class debut in 2014, recorded his maiden century for Nottinghamshire last season against Sussex.
Prediction: 6th, Division One
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| Chris Read's leadership has been a cornerstone of Nottinghamshire's success. |
Ins: Jackson Bird (Overseas)
Outs: Andy Carter (Derbyshire), Gary Keedy, Paul Franks (Retired)
Somerset:
Taunton stalwart Marcus Trescothick enters his 24th season of first-class cricket with Somerset, although he has mutually agreed to step down as captain after six years in charge. New signing and possible opening partner to Trescothick, Chris Rogers, has taken over as skipper in the four-day contest, while Somerset have been busy offloading a number of players over the winter. A blockbuster signing for the T20 Blast means sellout crowds will once again be treated to some outrageous hitting from Chris Gayle, while Yasir Arafat, who holds a UK passport, has been acquired on a season-long loan from Hampshire.
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| Marcus Trescothick has stepped down as captain with Chris Rogers taking over. |
One-to-watch: Promising young batsman Tom Abell emerged as a fan favourite at Taunton last season, recording a maiden first-class hundred against Hampshire in front of a home crowd in September. Abell, who scored 726 runs in four-day cricket last season, has the potential to go a long way based on the performances he has given in his short career thus far, although the true value of his character will be tested by his ability to convert starts into match-winning scores on a regular basis.
Prediction: 8th, Division One
 |
| Somerset narrowly avoided the drop last season, can they do it again in 2016? |
Ins: Roelof van der Merwe (EU Passport), Ryan Davies (Kent), Michael Leask (Scotland), Yasir Arafat (Hampshire - season loan/UK Passport)
Outs: Alfonso Thomas, Adam Dibble, George Dockrell, James Regan, Michael Bates, Tom Cooper (Released), Craig Meschede (Glamorgan)
Surrey:
For a long time, Surrey suffered from an imbalance in the quality of their bowling compared to their imposing ability with the bat, but they are now truly the whole package and that is why they are not content with survival this season; they want to win the Division One title. The magnificent talent of Tom Curran and brother Sam has allowed Surrey to develop a truly threatening bowling attack, with captain Gareth Batty's spin giving them balance and depth to adapt to different batting surfaces. Michael Di Venuto has been drafted in as the club's new head coach, Mark Footitt has made the with to The Oval from Derby and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara will be returning with his overseas services. True title contenders.
Key Player: Once the promising, up and coming talent, Tom Curran is now the figurehead of the Surrey bowling attack and he will be crucial if the southern side are able to continue their ascent to the top of Division One. He finished the 2015 campaign with 76 wickets at an average of 23.07 and he was the only person to play in all 16 matches in the championship for Surrey. With Footitt and brother Sam for company, Curran will be excited at the prospect of continuing his development in the top flight, as he continues to push for international recognition.
One-to-watch: A cruel twist of fate prevented Zafar Ansari from making his Test debut against Pakistan during the winter when he broke his thumb against Lancashire on the day that he received his call-up from England. When he is able to make his return to county cricket, it will be interesting to see if he can put his all-round talents to good use in the first division after scoring 771 runs and taking 44 wickets last season.
Prediction: 3rd, Division One
Ins: Mark Footitt (Derbyshire), Ravi Rampaul (Kolpak), Conor McKerr, Mathew Pillans (UK Passport)
Outs: Vikram Solanki, Tim Linley, David Balcombe (Retired)
Sussex:
It has been a tough year at Hove to say the least. Sussex were relegated from the first division, have parted company with Mark Robinson after ten years as coach and they also suffered the devastating loss of fast bowler Matthew Hobden, who died in the New Year. A new era has started at Sussex, with former player and deputy to Robinson, Mark Davis, taking over at this tumultuous time for the club. Many will expect them to make an immediate return to the top flight, but it will be a difficult summer for this proud club.
Key Player: Captain Luke Wright must pull Sussex away from the despair of being relegated last season and lead his side to a successful campaign this season. An ever-present threat in the Sussex side, Wright finished the 2015 campaign with 1,210 runs at an average of 46.53, although the Hove faithful will hope to see more from him in the bowling department after failing to take a single wicket in the four-day contest last season.
One-to-watch: Every young cricketer dreams of making the perfect debut and Ollie Robinson did just that in April, scoring an invaluable century and taking four wickets against Durham on home soil. The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive season taking 46 wickets to cement his place in the first team, but he will need to have another superb summer to help Sussex to promotion.
Prediction: 1st, Division Two
Ins: Danny Briggs (Hampshire), Ross Taylor (Overseas), George Garton, Phil Salt, Stuart Whittingham (Youth)
Outs: Michael Yardy, Steffan Piolet (Retired), Chris Liddle (Gloucester), Ashar Zaidi (Essex)
Warwickshire:
Experience in the first division and a successful history in recent seasons made a mid-table finish disappointing for the Bears last season. Warwickshire will be looking to make good of the availability of two quality experienced batsmen in Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, with both players focusing all of their efforts on county cricket for the first season in a very long time. An already formidable bowling attack, boasting the likes of Rikki Clarke and Jeetan Patel, will receive an added boost with Chris Woakes likely to be available more than he was the previous campaign. They are the nearest threat to Yorkshire's hold over county cricket and could spoil their hopes of a third successive title.
Key Player: While several experienced players at Edgbaston failed to deliver last summer, Rikki Clarke had another strong campaign, contributing in all three facets for Warwickshire. 535 runs and 47 wickets marked a typical summer for the veteran all-rounder, who enters his 15th season with Warwickshire. His expertise will be a vital component this season, but he will need his teammates to make good of their own experience if Warwickshire are to launch a bid for a first title since 2012.
One-to-watch: Josh Posyden is being groomed into a threatening leg-break bowler, with shades of Shane Warne about his wristy action. The 24-year-old played only one first-class game for Warwickshire last season, conceding 165 runs for one wicket against Sussex, but he is a vastly improving cricketer with the potential to have a breakthrough season this summer.
Prediction: 1st, Division One
Ins: Alex Mellor (Staffordshire), Ed Pollock, Sunny Singh (Youth)
Outs: Tom Milnes (Derbyshire), Tom Lewis, Pete McKay (Released)
Worcestershire:
Relegated from the first division last summer, Worcestershire find themselves in the all-too familiar position of being expected to bounce back and make a strong big for promotion in 2016. Just three victories last season saw Worcester comfortably relegated, but they have a strong squad, capable of competing for promotion this season, recruiting Kyle Abbot and Matt Henry as overseas players to add to their respectable bowling attack. The likes of Joe Leach and Charlie Morris were superb with the ball last season, but the only person to reach 1,000 runs last season, Tom Fell, has been struck by cancer over the winter and will not be in action until the middle of the season.
Key Player: Shropshire-born seamer Jack Shantry continues to deliver for Worcestershire in all three formats, with the left-arm fast bowler taking 57 wickets at an average of 25.08 last season. An ever-present part of the championship team last season, Shantry's unfamiliar bowling action continues to intrigue and excite in equal measure and he will be expected to utilise his experience and to lead a strong bowling attack to safety in a tough division this summer.
One-to-watch: One of a number of talented bowlers at New Road, Ed Barnard demonstrated his potential to be a future hit when he made good of his limited exposure to the Worcestershire first team last season. Barnard took 12 wickets in four appearances in four-day cricket, making his first-class debut against Hampshire at the age of 19 last season. With more experience, Barnard has the potential to develop into a dangerous bowler at Worcestershire.
Prediction: 3rd, Division Two
Ins: Matt Henry, Kyle Abbot (Overseas)
Surrey:
For a long time, Surrey suffered from an imbalance in the quality of their bowling compared to their imposing ability with the bat, but they are now truly the whole package and that is why they are not content with survival this season; they want to win the Division One title. The magnificent talent of Tom Curran and brother Sam has allowed Surrey to develop a truly threatening bowling attack, with captain Gareth Batty's spin giving them balance and depth to adapt to different batting surfaces. Michael Di Venuto has been drafted in as the club's new head coach, Mark Footitt has made the with to The Oval from Derby and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara will be returning with his overseas services. True title contenders.
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| Kumar Sangakkara did not disappoint with the bat for Surrey last summer. |
Key Player: Once the promising, up and coming talent, Tom Curran is now the figurehead of the Surrey bowling attack and he will be crucial if the southern side are able to continue their ascent to the top of Division One. He finished the 2015 campaign with 76 wickets at an average of 23.07 and he was the only person to play in all 16 matches in the championship for Surrey. With Footitt and brother Sam for company, Curran will be excited at the prospect of continuing his development in the top flight, as he continues to push for international recognition.
One-to-watch: A cruel twist of fate prevented Zafar Ansari from making his Test debut against Pakistan during the winter when he broke his thumb against Lancashire on the day that he received his call-up from England. When he is able to make his return to county cricket, it will be interesting to see if he can put his all-round talents to good use in the first division after scoring 771 runs and taking 44 wickets last season.
Prediction: 3rd, Division One
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| Zafar Ansari has had another minor operation ahead of the new season. |
Ins: Mark Footitt (Derbyshire), Ravi Rampaul (Kolpak), Conor McKerr, Mathew Pillans (UK Passport)
Outs: Vikram Solanki, Tim Linley, David Balcombe (Retired)
Sussex:
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| Relegation and the departure of Mark Robinson have been big blows at Hove. |
One-to-watch: Every young cricketer dreams of making the perfect debut and Ollie Robinson did just that in April, scoring an invaluable century and taking four wickets against Durham on home soil. The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive season taking 46 wickets to cement his place in the first team, but he will need to have another superb summer to help Sussex to promotion.
Prediction: 1st, Division Two
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| Luke Wright will have a weight of expectation on his shoulders this summer. |
Ins: Danny Briggs (Hampshire), Ross Taylor (Overseas), George Garton, Phil Salt, Stuart Whittingham (Youth)
Outs: Michael Yardy, Steffan Piolet (Retired), Chris Liddle (Gloucester), Ashar Zaidi (Essex)
Warwickshire:
Experience in the first division and a successful history in recent seasons made a mid-table finish disappointing for the Bears last season. Warwickshire will be looking to make good of the availability of two quality experienced batsmen in Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, with both players focusing all of their efforts on county cricket for the first season in a very long time. An already formidable bowling attack, boasting the likes of Rikki Clarke and Jeetan Patel, will receive an added boost with Chris Woakes likely to be available more than he was the previous campaign. They are the nearest threat to Yorkshire's hold over county cricket and could spoil their hopes of a third successive title.
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| Ian Bell will captain Warwickshire after falling out of favour with England. |
Key Player: While several experienced players at Edgbaston failed to deliver last summer, Rikki Clarke had another strong campaign, contributing in all three facets for Warwickshire. 535 runs and 47 wickets marked a typical summer for the veteran all-rounder, who enters his 15th season with Warwickshire. His expertise will be a vital component this season, but he will need his teammates to make good of their own experience if Warwickshire are to launch a bid for a first title since 2012.
One-to-watch: Josh Posyden is being groomed into a threatening leg-break bowler, with shades of Shane Warne about his wristy action. The 24-year-old played only one first-class game for Warwickshire last season, conceding 165 runs for one wicket against Sussex, but he is a vastly improving cricketer with the potential to have a breakthrough season this summer.
Prediction: 1st, Division One
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| Rikki Clarke's experience will be a vital component in Warwickshire's side. |
Outs: Tom Milnes (Derbyshire), Tom Lewis, Pete McKay (Released)
Worcestershire:
Relegated from the first division last summer, Worcestershire find themselves in the all-too familiar position of being expected to bounce back and make a strong big for promotion in 2016. Just three victories last season saw Worcester comfortably relegated, but they have a strong squad, capable of competing for promotion this season, recruiting Kyle Abbot and Matt Henry as overseas players to add to their respectable bowling attack. The likes of Joe Leach and Charlie Morris were superb with the ball last season, but the only person to reach 1,000 runs last season, Tom Fell, has been struck by cancer over the winter and will not be in action until the middle of the season.
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| Worcestershire captain Daryll Mitchell made 768 four-day runs last season. |
Key Player: Shropshire-born seamer Jack Shantry continues to deliver for Worcestershire in all three formats, with the left-arm fast bowler taking 57 wickets at an average of 25.08 last season. An ever-present part of the championship team last season, Shantry's unfamiliar bowling action continues to intrigue and excite in equal measure and he will be expected to utilise his experience and to lead a strong bowling attack to safety in a tough division this summer.
One-to-watch: One of a number of talented bowlers at New Road, Ed Barnard demonstrated his potential to be a future hit when he made good of his limited exposure to the Worcestershire first team last season. Barnard took 12 wickets in four appearances in four-day cricket, making his first-class debut against Hampshire at the age of 19 last season. With more experience, Barnard has the potential to develop into a dangerous bowler at Worcestershire.
Prediction: 3rd, Division Two
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| Jack Shantry took 57 wickets last season in four-day cricket. |
Ins: Matt Henry, Kyle Abbot (Overseas)
Outs: Gareth Andrew, Richard Oliver, Alex Gidman, Shaaiq Choudhry (Released)
Yorkshire:
Vying for a third consecutive Championship trophy, the White Rose county have all the ingredients they need to enjoy another successful season in red-ball cricket. The likes of Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance will be out to prove their worth to the international selectors, which can only benefit Yorkshire, who already have a formidable batting line-up. With Jack Brooks, Ryan Sidebottom and Steven Patterson taking more than 150 wickets between them in the Championship last summer, Jason Gillespie's side have what it takes to lift the trophy once again this year.
Key Player: Something of a forgotten man with the England team, Tim Bresnan continues to deliver with his all-round exploits for Yorkshire and he was one of only two players to feature in all 16 matches in the Championship for the White Rose last season. Renowned for his talents with the ball, Bresnan claimed 45 wickets in four-day cricket last season, but he also contributed 849 runs at an average of nearly 50 runs per innings.
One-to-watch: Jack Leaning registered three centuries last summer, emerging as one of the many brilliant cricketers to come from the impressive Yorkshire set-up. A return of 922 runs at an average of 40.08 proved vital in the absence of the strong Yorkshire contingent in the England establishment and his efforts will no doubt ensure his place in the team even when international players become available.
Prediction: 2nd, Division One
Ins: Kane Williamson, Travis Head (Overseas), David Willey (Northants)
Outs: Moin Ashraf, Dan Hodgson, Jonny Tattarsall (Released), Richard Pyrah (Retired), Josh Shaw (Gloucestershire)
Predicted Final Standings:
Division One: Division Two:
1. Warwickshire 1. Sussex
2. Yorkshire 2. Essex
3. Surrey 3. Worcestershire
4. Middlesex 4. Kent
5. Durham 5. Gloucestershire
6. Nottinghamshire 6. Northamptonshire
7. Lancashire 7. Glamorgan
8. Somerset 8. Derbyshire
9. Hampshire 9. Leicestershire
Yorkshire:
Vying for a third consecutive Championship trophy, the White Rose county have all the ingredients they need to enjoy another successful season in red-ball cricket. The likes of Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance will be out to prove their worth to the international selectors, which can only benefit Yorkshire, who already have a formidable batting line-up. With Jack Brooks, Ryan Sidebottom and Steven Patterson taking more than 150 wickets between them in the Championship last summer, Jason Gillespie's side have what it takes to lift the trophy once again this year.
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| Yorkshire are the dominant force in English cricket, but can they be stopped? |
Key Player: Something of a forgotten man with the England team, Tim Bresnan continues to deliver with his all-round exploits for Yorkshire and he was one of only two players to feature in all 16 matches in the Championship for the White Rose last season. Renowned for his talents with the ball, Bresnan claimed 45 wickets in four-day cricket last season, but he also contributed 849 runs at an average of nearly 50 runs per innings.
One-to-watch: Jack Leaning registered three centuries last summer, emerging as one of the many brilliant cricketers to come from the impressive Yorkshire set-up. A return of 922 runs at an average of 40.08 proved vital in the absence of the strong Yorkshire contingent in the England establishment and his efforts will no doubt ensure his place in the team even when international players become available.
Prediction: 2nd, Division One
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| Tim Bresnan has been left behind by England which can only benefit Yorkshire. |
Ins: Kane Williamson, Travis Head (Overseas), David Willey (Northants)
Outs: Moin Ashraf, Dan Hodgson, Jonny Tattarsall (Released), Richard Pyrah (Retired), Josh Shaw (Gloucestershire)
Predicted Final Standings:
Division One: Division Two:
1. Warwickshire 1. Sussex
2. Yorkshire 2. Essex
3. Surrey 3. Worcestershire
4. Middlesex 4. Kent
5. Durham 5. Gloucestershire
6. Nottinghamshire 6. Northamptonshire
7. Lancashire 7. Glamorgan
8. Somerset 8. Derbyshire
9. Hampshire 9. Leicestershire
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