Yesterday I previewed the top tier of the County Championship so now for Division Two. Last season, Yorkshire and Hampshire were surprisingly relegated, and must be amongst the favourites to bounce back up again. Tykes skipper Andrew Gale is hopefully recovered from his broken arm, bolstered by Phil Jacques, signed as a UK player. In 2011, Joe Root emerged while Adam Lyth failed to repeat his 2010 performances. However, the outstanding player was Jonny Bairstow who, amongst so many great young English wicketkeeper-batsmen, outscored them all. Shahzad, Pyrah and Sidebottom may benefit from the arrival of bowling coach Jason Gillespie, and I always admire Adil Rashid's all-round abilities. Maybe this will be his year.
Dominic Cork has retired, Michael Lumb moved to Notts and injury-prone 'keeper Nic Pothas released but Hampshire's batting still looks impressive, with Michael Carberry, James Vince, new skipper Jimmy Adams and Aussie signing Simon Katich. Not sure about the bowling, though.
Derbyshire looked doomed at the start of last season but, along with a rare profit, were comfortably mid-table. Somerset reject Wes Durston was brilliant with the bat, Clare and Groenewald took wickets and there was enough support to boost spirits. However, unless Guptill and Khawaja sprinkle some foreign stardust, surely there's not enough firepower to bring promotion. Essex may have more chance, especially if they get some early appearances out of England's Cook and Bopara. Alviro Petersen has joined from Glamorgan but now he is in the South African Test side, he could be absent for much of the season. James Foster always scores runs and David Masters was last year's top wicket-taker in the Championship, too, joined by fellow workhorse Charl Willoughby from Somerset.
Kent often promise more than they deliver, too. Rob Key is maddeningly inconsistent, able to carry his bat one day, go for a duck the next, but veteran Darren Stevens is a wonderfully prolific all-rounder in all forms of cricket and will probably maintain that form through 2012. Azhar Mahmood is an excellent foil, while James Tredwell can provide some runs in addition to his day job as frontline spinner. Charlie Shreck and Mark Davies have arrived to bolster a weak attack, and there's a new Cowdrey on the block to keep an eye on.
Gloucestershire were pushing for promotion last year but relied too heavily on the Gidman brothers. Will was the surprise all-round package of 2011 alongside skipper Alex, but without the evergreen Jonathan Lewis this summer, where will the wickets come from. At least, if Kane Williamson reprises his recent NZ batting, Gloucestershire will avoid embarrassment. Neighbours Glamorgan had some useful results but last year's top scorer Petersen has departed. Fortunately, opener Gareth Rees, who also topped 1000 runs, remains and all-rounder James Allenby will be even more important to the Welsh side. Bowler James Harris also needs to keep fit and not play too much for England 'A' while, talking of fitness, could returning local hero Simon Jones actually start and finish a match for once?!
Leicestershire finished the 2011 season rooted to the bottom after securing just one victory. With young batting star and Lions captain James Taylor now up the road at Trent Bridge, even the expected arrival of Ramnesh Sarwan surely can't spark an improvement. Northants, on the other hand, were unlucky not to go up. Having led the table for much of the summer, they missed out by a single point. Wakely and Peters were he pick of the specialist batsmen, but skipper Andrew Hall also led from the front. James Middlebrook scored late order runs and spun his way to wickets while the attack was led by one of my all-time favourite seamers, Chaminda Vaas. If he stays fit, Northants will be there or thereabouts.
So my predictions? Promotion: Yorkshire, Northants or long shots Kent. Wooden spoon: Leicestershire (but Derbyshire and Gloucs could struggle).
