If it's March, it must be the return of county cricket! Huh?! The English domestic season seems to start earlier and earlier, so perhaps it's fortunate that Spring seems to do the same. Maybe the ECB controls the weather as tightly as it rules the sport over here! Many counties are returning from winter training and friendlies against local colleges to get their first true workouts against university sides before the County Championship launches on 5th April.
2011 saw another nailbiting climax to Division One, with Lancashire emerging victorious. Despite a relatively cool summer, attendances were up and now LV have extended their sponsorship until 2015, which is great news. Recent weeks have featured all sorts of speculation about what overseas stars may or may not be joining counties. It must be so hard for county managers to plan for the coming season when the international calendar is so congested. Just as you sign someone, his country (or the IPL) comes a-calling and it's back to square one. May as well forget about trying to sign a really big current Test star, except for the T20, and secure the services of a top-quality ex-international who just wants to earn a decent crust and boost his career averages and aggregates. A Watson or Warner may give you a few weeks' excitement but a Chris Rogers or Brendan Nash may deliver a whole summer's worth of runs and wickets.
As a Somerset fan, I was intrigued by the recent predictions of Ricky Ponting heading back to the county during his rare break from international duties. If only...! However, both Brian Rose and the Aussie legend eventually refuted the claims but such a signing could have made the difference and handed us that elusive first ever Championship pennant. Somerset still have Marcus Trescothick, of course, and a fit 'Banger' will always give you shedloads of runs. Last year, James Hildreth failed but Nick Compton stepped up to the mark. Sadly, Kieswetter and Buttler may be absent a lot this summer, Murali Kartik has departed for Surrey, and Charl Willoughby to Essex, but the arrival of Vernon Philander could set Taunton alight for a few months.
Lancashire will challenge again, bolstered by the arrival of Ashwell Prince. Glen Chapple and Kyle Hogg will do well to repeat last year's seam bowling achievements, but Gary Keedy is a reliable spin bowling workhorse. Nottinghamshire will be there or thereabouts, skippered by Chris Read. Samit Patel will no doubt be joining the likes of Swann and Broad on England duty, but James Taylor will add a huge amount to the middle-order, behind Alex Hales and new recruit Michael Lumb. Franks and Adams are getting older but are reliable wicket-takers.
Warwickshire surprised me last year, making a bold start by thumping Somerset in April, thanks to Varun Chopra's big innings. They avoided relegation, too, and provided Chris Woakes' all-round achievements continue to be ignored by England selectors, they will probably do the same again. Don't rule out the newly-promoted London clubs. Their big spending finally reaped rewards last season and in 2012 their overseas slots are occupied by Jacques Rudolph and Murali Kartik. Surrey also excelled at CB40 cricket, and it will be interesting to see whether the likes of Roy, Hamilton-Brown and Maynard progress in the first-class game alongside bowlers Dernbach and Meaker. Wise old heads like Jon Lewis, Chris Adams, Mark Ramprakash and Zander de Bruyn will combine with the young talent to make a formidable unit who may well challenge for the title. Middlesex have brought in Joe Denly and Ollie Rayner but I can't see Neil Dexter's side as having enough star quality. Same goes for Worcestershire. Moeen Ali and Vikram Solanki provided runs last year, and Gareth Andrew impressed with bat and ball, but I reckon they will also be relegation candidates.
Last I heard, Sussex had yet to recruit an overseas star for the Championship, and Monty Panesar's successful England recall will leave a gap in the bowling attack. Chris Nash and Murray Goodwin will doubtless offer strength near the top of the order, and a fit Mike Yardy will be an able captain and all-rounder, but where will the wickets come from?
Predictions? Notts, Surrey or Somerset for the title. Worcestershire, Sussex or Middlesex for the drop.
