Reading the media coverage of the 2017 county cricket season it would appear that the sport is in turmoil and desperate for a massive restructure. Yet last summer saw a thrilling climax to the County Championship and lowly Northamptonshire claiming the T20 Blast trophy in a competition seeing increased attendances. If only the coming months could deliver another dollop of drama, preferably with Somerset winning something for a change!
Last September, Middlesex deprived us of that elusive pennant with a last-hour Toby Roland-Jones hat-trick and the champions must be in with a shout again. Last year there were no outstanding individuals so if someone can set the world alight with bat or ball, so much the better.
As usual, Surrey have been splashing the cash, nicking former Durham stars Stoneman and Borthwick to accompany Sangakkara. Last year the batting was the weakness, with the Currans amongst the best seam pair in the First Division. If Meaker and Dunn can also fire on all cylinders, and Batty and Ansari function on spin-friendly wickets, The Oval could see a cup or two this year.
I’d love to see Somerset triumph in the four-day game. Their mostly locally-grown bowling attack, led by Craig Overton, Luke Gregory and revelatory spinner Jack Leach, was excellent but too much was expected of Trescothick, Trego and Hildreth. Young Tom Abell has been entrusted with the captaincy, so drops to number three, replaced by David Elgar. I can’t see us making progress in the T20, though, especially if Leach continues to struggle with his remodelled action.
Warwickshire are another side with an excellent set of bowlers but short of runs. Now relieved of England duties, Jonathan Trott and captain Ian Bell will almost certainly provide plenty, but where will the rest come from? Lancashire could also struggle, especially if Haseeb Hameed is either unfit or opening for England. Dane Vilas will bolster the middle-order but they will need to make the most of Jimmy Anderson’s presence in the early fixtures. His 5-10 against Cambridge University today showed what the Red Roses will miss when the paceman is on international duty.
Hampshire won an unexpected reprieve last autumn when the ECB ruled that they stay where they were rather than Kent be promoted. James Vince needs to get his mojo back after a disappointing 2016, but Michael Carberry’s recovery from cancer seems on track after a century against the Cardiff students today. Signing the South African Kolpakers Abbott and Roussow was a smart move but bowling remains a problem. The same is true for Essex, back in the top tier after seven years, and the retirements of Napier and Masters will be keenly felt. Neil Wagner’s transfer from Lancashire will help. The batting should be strong, especially with the likes of Wheater, Browne, Bopara and Lawrence unlikely to earn international call-ups.
Yet I would make Yorkshire favourites to recapture the title. Had they beaten Middlesex in last season’s finale, they would have made it three in a row instead of finishing third behind the Londoners and Somerset. They won’t have Root or Bairstow, of course, and Adil Rashid, Plunkett and Willey could also be picked for limited-overs tournaments but if Lyth, Lees, Leaning and Ballance are on form, the batting will be fine. This will be Ryan Sidebottom’s last season but there is a worry that the other excellent thirty-something quicks Brooks, Bresnan and Patterson could succumb to injuries. Nevertheless, their confidence must be high and the White Roses will be tough to beat.
In Division Two, Kent will be keen to win promotion once more but this time to be allowed to make the step up. Durham only went down because of their financial problems but their 48-point penalty will make an instant return a tough task. Nottinghamshire were surprise bottom-placers in Division One last year. Surely James Taylor’s sad enforced early retirement wasn’t the only reason? Neither Stuart Broad nor Jake Ball will play much this year but James Pattinson’s arrival from Oz could prove invaluable. Hales, Lumb, Mullaney, Patel and Wessels are excellent one-day batsmen but can they be sufficiently consistent in the Championship? It would be a nice retirement present for Chris Read if Notts could go straight back up.
Sussex will be bolstered by Vernon Philander until June, Leicestershire will continue to rebuild, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan have the potential but the meagre resources at the disposal of Northamptonshire and Derbyshire will mean they won’t be in the promotion race. On the other hand, I reckon Worcestershire will be there or thereabouts again. Now led by one of 2016’s biggest county stars Joe Leach, and with young batsmen Joe Clarke, Tom Fell and Brett D’Oliveira on the books, they must have a chance.
So to my predictions:-
Champions: Yorkshire
Relegated: Somerset and Lancashire (I predicted this last year!)
Promoted: Kent and Worcestershire
