I can’t believe it’s that time of year again when I can put aside my fears for Queen’s Park Rangers’ Premier League survival and focus more on cricket’s premier competition. No, I don’t mean the IPL jamboree; I refer of course, to the County Championship.
County cricket is always so tricky to predict, and that’s what makes it so exciting. Division One may have only nine participants, but probably any of seven could win, and any of six could be relegated. After all, just a few years ago, Lancashire went from champions to the trap door in one season.
The 2014 champions Yorkshire should be hard to beat again this summer, but thanks to the ridiculous central contract system, their best players will probably be snatched away on international duty, so their very survival in the top flight rests on how poor the likes of Root, Lyth, Balance, Bairstow, Rashid, Plunkett and Brooks fare when or if they are selected by England. By the time Cheteshwar Pujara takes his place in the batting line-up, the White Roses may well be out of the running, a victim of their own success last season.
Warwickshire were arguably the best all-round county last time around, taking that mantle from Somerset who were made to struggle, even in one–dayers. The Edgbaston outfit, led by Chopra, should once more be very competitive but they have relied heavily in their bowlers, especially Woakes, Barker and veteran Kiwi Jeetan Patel. Somerset are weakened further by the defection to the London bright lights of Compton. If Craig Kieswetter is absent throughout following last year’s horrific facial injury, then even the arrival from Glamorgan of all-rounder Jim Allenby won’t compensate for the lack of runs. The talk of Taunton may be on Chris Gayle but he will play only a handful of T20s, if we’re lucky.
Nottinghamshire again look strong on paper, although if James Taylor continues to get a run for England that his talents deserve, they may not finish in the top three in the Championship. Who knows what Alex Hales will do, or how well Will Gidman will settle amongst the big boys? Durham boast an interesting mix of youth and experience. Stoneman and Jennings are useful openers, Scott Borthwick is more batsman than legspinner these days and Ben Stokes is capable of providing fireworks with bat and ball. However, he may get an early call into the England ODI squad after his erstwhile colleagues buggered up the World Cup!
Sussex cannot be ruled out of the Championship running, although they were inexplicably awful in one-dayers last year. Skipper Ed Joyce was prolific in the first half of the summer, and Aussie seamer Steve Magoffin is the most consistent bowler in the domestic first-class game in recent seasons. Luke Wright is capable of anything, and Chris Jordan can take plenty of wickets if left out of England’s plans. Tymal Mills is a very fast left-armer who never fulfilled his potential at Essex. Maybe the Sussex coaches will succeed in harnessing pace with control and make him a great bowler. Middlesex have yet to fire on all cylinders and will miss Chris Rogers and new signing Adam Voges, absent during the Ashes tour. England discard Sam Robson has to start all over again, but Nick Compton will surely provide soli support. The bowlers are good but getting on a bit.
Newly-promoted Hampshire and yo-yo club Worcestershire won’t win the title but I fancy the former to avoid the drop. That will be certain if James Vince is overlooked yet again at senior level, particularly likely if Kevin Pietersen’s media frenzy wins the day.
As for Division Two, Lancashire, Northants, Kent, Essex and Surrey will surely be the main challengers, although Derbyshire notched some creditable victories in 2014. Northants were the Division One whipping boys last season but have cleared the decks of some of the older contingent. All eyes will be on KP as he tries to revive his first-class career in between T20 franchise performances, but how will the ‘muppets’ alongside him react to the England has-been?!
Glamorgan will miss Allenby hugely, while the departure of both Gidman brothers will surely push Gloucestershire down to rival Leicestershire for the wooden spoon. The latter will be hoping for at least one win to end their sorry losing sequence.
Predictions:-
Champions: Warwickshire, runners-up: Yorkshire or Sussex
Relegated: Somerset and Worcestershire
Promoted: Kent and Surrey
Bottom: Gloucestershire.
