A new county season - will Somerset actually win something?

So today marks the beginning of the new county season, less than a week after the World Cup final. Cricket really is a 365 day a year sport.

Somerset look like they might be able to improve on their treble of near misses last year. As well as powerful batting - Trescothick, Hildreth, Kieswetter - they have boosted their bowling attack. Steve Kirby is an astute signing, while overseas spin, in the form of Ajantha Mendis and then Murali Kartik, will get plenty of wickets, especially given that most English batsmen seem allergic to using their feet to spin. And George Dockrell could be an excellent signing too.

In the meantime, here are 10 county players to watch (click the links to read why)-
Simon Jones
Alviro Petersen
Owais Shah
Amjad Khan
Graham Onions
James Taylor
George Dockrell
Danny Briggs
Jonny Bairstow
Tom Maynard

What are your thoughts on the list? And, indeed predictions for the new season?

County men to watch - George Dockrell

Dockrell starred for Ireland at the World Cup, most notably dismissing Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. Just 18, Dockrell is a left-arm spinner who gives the ball a pleasing flight, as well as getting probing turn and bounce. But his biggest attribute is his relentless accuracy. Aided by an admirable temperament, Dockrell picked up 2/23 from his ten overs against Bangladesh. Somerset recognised his potential, handing him a two-year contract last year, and he could be a huge asset towards the end of the season.

2008 Season Preview: Somerset

2007 in a nutshell:

It was a pretty successful year for the Sabres with a double promotion to the top tiers of both the County Championship and Pro40 League One. A more sporting wicket at Taunton was much hyped but never seemed to materialise as early doors Somerset both recorded and conceded over 800 runs in an innings!

2008 prospects:

The talk is of a title challenge and while that may be a little optimistic, the west country club can expect to retain their newly found top tier status in both formats of the game. Any success will be built around a formidable batting unit which blends youth with experience throughout. It will be fascinating to see if the Taunton wicket is the usual featherbed which all have come to expect, or if it will have a little more in it. If the latter is the case, then Somerset may have a chance to bowl out opposition sides twice and in the process push for the title. If not, then Somerset’s ageing attack may well struggle at home.

Batting:

This facet is definitely the strength of the side with two former world class international openers in Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer. Sandwiched between the two in unlimited overs cricket will be Neil Edwards, who is highly thought of at Taunton, hence the decision to allow the promising Matthew Wood to leave for division rivals Nottinghamshire. The much hyped James Hildreth will come in next and he will be looking to press his England claims further this year. Ian Blackwell missed most of last season so will be eager to get back into the fold this year. Young wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter will be looking to build on his impressive start at Somerset, whilst Peter Trego, Omari Banks and Alfonso Thomas are all capable of contributing decent runs at a fair pace. Wes Durston and Arul Suppiah may well struggle to work their way into the four day side, though at least one of them will feature in limited overs cricket, if not both, with Edwards likely to make way.

Bowling:

This could be the weak link, especially at Taunton. Andy Caddick enjoyed a phenomenal season last year during the twilight of his career. However, that was in Division Two, during a wet summer. He will find the challenge harder in Division One, especially after back surgery, but will undoubtedly relish the test as he enters possibly his final season. Both Charl Willoughby and Steffan Jones are experienced but not getting any younger. Ben Phillips is returning from a year out through injury so it will be interesting to see how he fares. Peter Trego will look to build on an impressive season last time out as he develops into a genuine allrounder. New signing Alfonso Thomas will meanwhile be eager to show what he is capable of. The spinning options are good with both Blackwell and Banks experienced at international level. There is also the young Michael Munday to factor into the equation as he looks to develop his improving leg spin bowling.

Probable side:

Trescothick
Edwards (Suppiah/Durston for limited overs)
Langer (c)
Hildreth
Blackwell
Kieswetter (wk)
Trego
Thomas/Phillips (Banks/Munday when it’s turning)
Banks/Munday (Banks will likely feature heavily in limited overs matches)
Caddick
Willoughby (Suppiah/Durston for limited overs)

The side bats impressively and a long way down, on what is renowned as a fantastic home pitch. Runs will not be a problem for this side in any format and they should come at a good rate when needed, even without the cavalier Cameron White. Defending totals and bowling sides out might be a cause for concern though, especially at home, with Trego and Thomas needing to take increasing responsibility as the season wears on. Omari Banks will need to show that he is more than a bits and pieces cricketer, while the loss of Matthew Wood may be felt slightly in limited overs cricket.

Key Man:

There are a few to go for and they are all batsman, which tells the story of the season ahead. Marcus Trescothick has freed himself from the pressure which came with an anticipated England return. He will be able to focus purely on Somerset for the next couple of years which is fantastic news for everyone who is associated with the club. He is a fantastic player who will continue to plunder runs of the Ramprakash proportions in all formats for a good few years yet with his aggressive and domineering style of play.

Rising Star:

Michael Munday is my pick for the rising star. He is 23 now and should be looking to play on a more regular basis after making his debut in 2005. The young leg spinner has already taken 66 first class wickets in 22 matches to date, at a good average and strike rate. Aptly for a spinner he is a keen chess player. Young wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter will also be looking to push on at a higher level.

Captain and Coach:

Justin Langer brings a lot to the party as he winds down his playing career with the Cidermen. He knows how to win the biggest of prizes and has the knowledge and the resilience to inspire his troops and claim honours for the west country club. Coach Andy Hurry meanwhile will be looking to build on last years successes and is keen to match Langer’s lofty ambitions for the club. A first County Championship win would be a fine tonic for both.

Mystic Richard’s 2008 Predictions – Division 1

Having put the mockers on Middlesex’s chances in Division 2, here are my predictions for Division 1. Before I start I would like to remind everyone that last season’s title race was the closest ever and the two teams promoted promise to be challenging from the off. I will therefore also predict that the top five won’t be separated by more than 10 points. Right, having got my excuses in early, here goes…

9 Kent
The only team to have been ever present in Division 1 since the introduction of the two tier system, their demise is predicted on a regular basis. However, this summer sees arguably the strongest top league in years at this may be a problem for the lack of depth at Canterbury. They will be reliant on Rob Key for runs, while the emerging Joe Denly has to battle against second season syndrome. However, the attack looks lightweight, with Ryan Mclaren and James Tredwell the main threats. They won’t be cast away at the bottom as Worcester were last season, but the great run looks like it is coming to an end.

8 Surrey
Or Ramprakashire as they ought to be called. It’s a measure of Surrey’s reliance on him, that if Ramps had “only” scored a thousand runs and averaged 50, Surrey would have been comfortably relegated. A third phenomenal season in a row is surely too much to ask, and while there are signs of some youth coming through the ranks, this is an aging team and 2008 could be one season too many for much of the team. The loss of Rory Hamilton-Brown to Sussex is a blow to the long term plans of the club, the loss of Rikki Clarke probably isn’t after two seasons as disappointing as Ramps have been spectacular. The return of Saqlain will help the bowling, although he has been comprehensively outbowled by Mushtaq at Sussex. Much will depend on the development of Chris Jordan. If he can take enough wickets, they may survive.

7 Nottinghamshire
They have the best opening bowlers in English cricket, which will be a real blow as they spend the summer with England rather than at Trent Bridge. In the absence of Broad and Sidebottom, Notts will be relying on Charlie Schreck and Graeme Swann (when he isn’t on international duty) and hoping that Mark Footitt can put his injury problems behind him. David Hussey (when he arrives) and Mark Wagh are proven run scorers, as is Matt Wood, who has arrived from Somerset. And of course, they have the best wicket-keeper in English cricket. A tight, but I believe successful battle against relegation

6 Hampshire
A couple of weeks ago, I’d have had them as contenders. However, the loss of Warne is a huge blow to the club and replacing him as captain with Mascarenhas is an odd move given Dimi will miss the start of the season and not necessarily guaranteed a place in the starting eleven. The emergence of Michael Carberry as an international contender is the main strength in the batting, while Shane Bond should find English conditions to his liking, if he stays fit long enough. However, if they are to be successful, more is needed from the likes of Michael Lumb and John Crawley, who had poor seasons in 2007.

5 Durham
Likely to have Steve Harmison for the whole season, which will be a huge bonus given that Ottis Gibson has finally retired (to the delight of Yorkshire fans everywhere). Harmison will form a very strong pace bowling line up with Liam Plunkett and Graham Onions. Blenkenstein, DiVenuto and Chanderpaul are an impressive batting line up with Phil Mustard able to add the fireworks. It will be very close at the top and Durham will be there or there abouts.

4 Somerset
No Cameron White this year, due to the cull on overseas players, but Trescothick, Langer, Hildredth and Trego means that Somerset probably have the best batting line up in the division. Andy Caddick and Charl Willoughby will find life much harder in Division 1 though and Somerset may struggle to win enough matches by taking 20 wickets. The form of Ian Blackwell with the ball could well be key for their title challenge.

3 Yorkshire
If England persist with James Anderson over Matthew Hoggard for the summer, then the title is a real possibility. Even in Hoggard’s absence, the bowling line up contains threats throughout, with Gough and Bresnan being joined by Rana Naved who should be a much more potent threat than the steady Jason Gillespie. There is also the spin threat of Adil Rashid. The batting is steady rather than spectacular with Jacques Rudolph and Anthony McGrath likely to score big again and with Bresnan coming in at 8, the line up goes a long way down. If the summer is a dry one, then Rashid could really come of age.

2 Lancashire
Close but no cigar again last year. They haven’t won the Championship outright since 1934. The strength of the bowling attack will largely depend on whether England persist with Anderson or want to rush Andrew Flintoff back into action. Otherwise, the evergreen Dominic Cork and Glen Chapple will carry the attack, with Gary Keedy supplying the spin option. Stuart Law, this season as captain, will again be the main source of runs. However, more is needed from the rest of the line up and I suspect they will again pull up just short.

1 Sussex
It’s a simple technique.
1. Take a world class spinner (Mushtaq) and prepare pitches that suit his bowling.
2. Don’t rely on one batsmen, but make sure that you have plenty who can make big runs throughout the season (Adams, Goodwin, Prior, Yardy)
3. If you lose a player to England, have an even better replacement in line (Hodd for Prior)
4. Fill team with other players, not quite good enough for England, but able to support the main men (Martin Jenkins, Lewry, Kirtley)
5. Pull the odd rabbit out of the hat (Wright)
The loss of Naved weakens their pace attack, but that’s not really what Sussex are about. Champions again I’m afraid.

Trescothick leaves a terrific England career behind

Confirmation of the end was sad but inevitable. Marcus Trescothick has seemed a tormented man for two years, weighed down by problems far superseding anything that occurs on the cricket pitch. So it was somehow fitting that he did not go out in a blaze of glory, but a low-key announcement that he was officially retiring from international cricket. For he has been a man not entirely comfortable with the intense media glare international cricketers are now subjected to, preferring to go quietly about scoring runs than chase headlines or the England captaincy.

For six years from his debut in 2000, Trescothick was a fearsome sight at the top of England's order. Commentators frequently bemoaned his lack of foot movement, but he developed a highly effective 'stand and deliver' method that relied on fantastic hand-eye coordination and, above all, an uncluttered mindset that focussed on hitting the ball cleanly. If that sounds a little demeaning, it should not, for it takes a fiercely single-minded individual to have trust in his method and succeed with a technique that many believed was fundamentally flawed, and could not succeed over an extended period against the best.

Trescothick was very much Duncan Fletcher's pick, selected not for any sterling county deeds but largely for an innings of 167 against Glamorgan, whom Fletcher was coaching at the time, in 1999. The knock displayed his uninhibited talent, his ability to play his natural game even as others around him were losing confidence in theirs, and a power that could intimidate the world's finest bowlers. He was a tremendous team-man, too, whose selflessness was exemplified when he compromised his batting in accepting the challenge of keeping wicket for England in the one-day series in New Zealand in 2002.

Trescothick was at his best when he stopped worrying about technique, and allowed his rich natural instincts and belligerence to come to the fore. These were the hallmarks of some of his most memorable Test knocks, including his momentum-seizing 90 in the 2005 Ashes and an epic 219 to help England square the series with South Africa two years previously. The latter was particularly noteworthy, as it came at a time when his technique was under exceptional scrutiny. But he succeeded in freeing his mind from technical jargon, displaying admirable resilience aided by the less glamorous attributes of selectivity, patience and sheer determination in his nine and-a-half hour masterpiece.

The finest and most valuable of his innings was indisputably at Johannesburg in 2005. A pulsating match - and series - was decided by Matthew Hoggard's 12-wicket haul, but it was Trescothick's brilliance under pressure that set-up victory. He scored 180 out of England's second innings 332, launching a fearless assault on the South African attack while team-mates floundered. This was vintage Trescothick: driving powerfully; pulling audaciously; treating the spin of Nicky Boje with disdain; and steadfastly refusing to get bogged down by the pressure team-mates were succumbing to.

It is for knocks like these that Trescothick deserves to be remembered. While his technique was to some extent found out by Gillespie and McGrath, he had the faith to stick with it and play a vital part in the 2005 Ashes - though failing, sadly, to score his first Test hundred against Australia. While he can be pigeon-holed as a thrasher of trundling medium-pace, the truth is Trescothick was a wonderfully adaptable player, who excelled himself against South Africa but, utilising his long reach and slog-sweep, was also a close second to Graham Thorpe as the most successful Englishman of his time in the sub-Continent. His vigil of 193 in Pakistan in late 2005, when he had reluctantly accepted the captaincy, seemed to signal a time of renewed productivity, when he would consistently combine patience with his natural free-hitting skill. But it was not quite to be.

Trescothick was the consummate team-man, and deserves to feel no guilt for walking out of the Ashes tour. With 26 international hundreds, he was a high-class international batsman, and one of the finest openers England have ever possessed in ODIs, the man behind countless daring assaults during the overs of fielding restrictions.

At 32, he could have still had his best international years in front of him. It is not to be but everyone will hope Trescothick will replicate his form of last season for several more years with Somerset, the county of his birth and, in these days when international superstars seldom turn out for their counties, almost nostalgically close to his heart. If he does, he may yet achieve something just as satisfying as the 2005 Ashes win: a first county championship for Somerset.

2007 County Awards

As an epic Championship race comes to an end, it's time to review the 2007 county season with Third Umpire's end-of-season awards.

Best player: His side didn't even come close to the honours, but it simply has to be Mark Ramprakash. Averaging 100 in consecutive seasons simply defies belief; an unprecedented achievement for the consummate professional and master technician. And finally, the first man to hit 10 first-class hundreds in a season since, well, himself.

Best batsman: Same again.

Best bowler:A toss up between two 38-year-olds (Andy Caddick and Otis Gibson) and the irrepressible Mushtaq Ahmed. Gibson's superhuman deeds in Divison One, and match-winning Friends Provident display, shade it.

Best performance: Otis Gibson's 10-47 against Hampshire was simply extraordinary.

Best hat-trick: Ryan McLaren's memorable effort in Kent's Twenty20Cup Final win.

Best match: Though ultimately it proved not to be close, for sheer quality and intensity Sussex's crucial victory over Lancashire at Liverpool.

Most valiant run chase: Lancashire's 464 on the final day against Surrey, just beating Surrey's very own 467 against Hampshire which, not coincidentally, were both at the Oval. Now, if only Lancs had showed similar application in the aforementioned Sussex clash.

Most ridiculous rant: Bob Willis, take a bow. His claim that former internationals like Hick, Crawley and Ramprakash were "clogging up" the system was totally nonsensical. On the contrary, they raise the standard - and are invaluable for youngsters to learn from.

Best decision (1): Chris Adams' 11th-hour u-turn when Yorkshire came calling. He was vindicated as, under his astute captaincy, Sussex won the Championship once more.

Best decision (2): Surrey effectively sacking Azhar Mahmood, seldom a first-class match-winner, and signing Harbhajan Singh in his place. Singh, with much to prove after being dropped by India, was the catalyst for their spectacular mid-season change of fortunes, claiming 37 wickets in just six games and providing the penetration his side had so lacked previously.

Worst decision (1): The ECB re-jigging the recruitment rules and banning the second overseas player from next season. They have helped immeasurably in improving the quality of cricket. Better, surely, to introduce serious preventive measures to ensure counties always field at least eight players eligible for England at that time.

Worst decision (2): The London-based dentist who paid for Jimmy Maher to be Glamorgan's overseas player. Maher suffered a sad crisis-in-confidence, averaging a paltry 17 in eight first-class games in a Glamorgan season that went from one nadir to the next. Meanwhile his early season stand-in, Matthew Elliot, was excellent.

Saddest tale: Staying with Glamorgan, Simon Jones' depressing transformation from reverse-swing king to a stuttering run-up - and one first-class wicket for 290. A move may just reinvigorate him but, though he is just 28, you would get long odds on him playing for England again.

Best emerging player: A rare bright spot for Glammy, 17-year-old James Harris took 12 wickets against Gloucestershire, and continued to impress therafter, finishing with 33 wickets at just 23. And, as shown by an 88*, he can bat too.

Biggest red-herring: Sussex suffering innings defeats in games two and three, only to bounce back to record consecutive Championship titles.

Most predictable match-winner: The irrepressible Mushtaq Ahmed was at it again, claiming 90 first-class wickets including 13 in their final Championship win. Whether he is Sussex's finest ever player is certainly up for debate; but he is, surely, their biggest ever match-winner.

Most hyped-up player: Adil Rashid was always in the spotlight after his heroics last season. His batting develop tremendously (average 46) but his leg-spin still lacks control, and he found things mighty tough towards the end. Still, well worth an A tour and near-certain to play for England one day.

Biggest proof of the quality of the county game: The plethora of superb spinners on the circuit, although this was fall next season. Shane Warne, Mushtaq, Muralitharan, Harbhajan, Danish Kaneria, Murali Kartik and Monty Panesar bring immense spinning quality to the game. Hopefully Adil Rashid, whose bowling stuttered somewhat after a fine start, and Mike Munday, who recorded match figures of 10-60 in the season's final game, can learn a thing or two.

Best captain: For a pair of promotions and stamping his authority over a talented but hitherto underachieving side, it has to be Justin Langer, who scored copious runs to boot. Elsewhere, Rob key was excellent in leading Kent's Twenty20 triumph, while Adams was as combative as ever.

Most heart-warming story: Worcestershire overcoming floods and Championship thrashings to win the Pro40 league was a tremendous show of character.

Easiest scapegoat: The Pro40. Derided primarily for being 40 overs (how much difference does the loss of 10 middle overs really make?) it provided some enthralling action during the summer holidays. As Worcestershire illustrated, a competition starting in mid-season can reinvigorate a county. With only eight games, it is short and sweet; and, above all, it proved a lot of fun.

Dream Championship XI (both divisions, based on first-class form only):
Justin Langer (captain)
Michael Di Venuto
Mark Ramprakash
Stuart Law
David Hussey
Cameron White
Tim Ambrose (wicket-keeper)
Andy Bichel
Otis Gibson
Mushtaq Ahmed
Andy Caddick

(With Murali replacing Bichel on turning tracks)

What are your thoughts on this campaign? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

If you're interested in writing a season review for your county, please email it cricketingworld@hotmail.com. If possible please follow the template of last season's Surrey review.

Mystic Richard’s Half Term review – part 2

Having looked at the teams at the lower reaches of Division 2, it’s time to look at the four teams challenging for promotion, and the two teams that are likely to replace them in the 2nd tier

Div 2
Somerset
I predicted 4th and in the promotion mix. They’re currently top and looking good. Batting at Taunton has been a dream this season and seven players have scored tons. Marcus Trescothick, Justin Langer, James Hildreth and Cameron White all have over 700 runs so far this season with Langer’s highest score of 315 being more than any Glamorgan player has managed in total this term. As impressive has been the bowling attack of Andrew Caddick (39 wickets), Charl Willoughby (29) and Peter Trego (21) all at an average of 30 or less. It looked as if the Taunton wicket would prevent too enough home victories but big wins in their last two matches have taken them to the top and they will be difficult to dislodge.

Nottinghamshire
I predicted top and they’re one and half points behind in second, having recently gone off the boil with a loss to Glamorgan and being unable to force a win in a day and a half against Derby. On the batting front David Hussey, Jason Gallian and Mark Wagh all have more than 500 runs, while Samit Patel and Chris Read are both averaging over 50 as well. The bowling has been weakened by Ryan Sidebottom’s England call up, but Charlie Schrek (36 wickets at 24), Mark Ealham (25 at 24), Graeme Swann (24 at 30) and Paul Franks (23 at 30) are a well balanced and effective bowling attack. With Stephen Fleming still to come good this season, it should be a battle royale between the top two.

Essex
I predicted 2nd and they’re currently 3rd and 19 points behind the top two. Ronnie Irani tops the batting averages, but his retirement will hit the team hard, as did the loss of Andy Flower to England. None of the top six in the batting averages have played every game for Essex this season. Ravi Bopara tops the batting aggregate with 496 runs and Essex must be hoping that his injury isn’t serious enough to keep him out of the 2nd half of the season if they are to challenge. They must also hope for more from their opening pair of Mark Bettini and Vanush Chopra who haven’t score a hundred between them. Danesh Kaneria leads the bowling figures by a mile with 47 wickets at 25 and Essex should expect more from their overseas pair of Andre Nel and Andy Bichel. The loss of Irani may just be too much for them to cope with and their challenge could fall just short again.

Middlesex
I predicted 3rd and they are 4th having played a game less than the top three. Owais Shah, following his disappointing England performance, is making up for it in the Championship, along with the highly promising Ben Godleman, who is pushing for an academy place come the winter break. More disappointing have been Ed Joyce and Nick Compton who will both be looking for an improvement in the second half of the season. Bowling wise, Alan Richardson has 26 wickets at just 18, while Chris Silverwood has 23 and 21, meaning that Chaminda Vaas hasn’t been missed while injured and then on International duty. 35 points behind 2nd is a lot to make up, even with a game in hand, but they will be there or thereabouts come September.


Div 1
Surrey
I predicted 5th, higher if Mark Ramprakash continued his form, but thought they would have difficulty taking wickets. Well the last part of that was correct at least. Currently 8th and 24 points behind Kent, they are still win-less, despite the best efforts of Ramprakash who has nearly a thousand runs already this season, averaging over 100. Jon Batty has also had a profitable season, but their problem isn’t scoring runs. Nadeem Doshi is the leading wicket taker with 13 at over 50. Mo Akram tops the bowling averages at nearly 40 runs per wicket. If they can’t bowl a team out twice then they will go down and unless they find some young wicket takers, they may struggle to come back up again.

Worcestershire
I predicted 9th and that is where they are. Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki have both scored over 500 runs, but no-one is averaging over 50 and there is little contribution from lower in the order. The bowling is heavily reliant on Kabir Ali (26 wickets) and Gareth Batty (19). There has also been little contribution from the overseas players, particularly Doug Bollinger who is averaging 50+ with the ball and 6 with the bat. Very close to their first win against fellow strugglers Surrey, they do at least look as if they could surprise someone, and I’d fancy them to finish above Surrey by the end of the season.

Mystic Richard’s Division 2 Predictions

The curtain has been raised, Ali Cook has shown Essex what they’re going to miss this season and flush from my successful predictions for the World Cup, I’m putting my neck on the line for the County Championship. Division1 to follow, but here, in reverse order, is my prediction for Div 2.

9 Derbyshire
Mike Di Venuto was their only player to top a thousand runs last season, and he’s not coming back. There is an enormous responsibility on the shoulders of the three Aussies Ian Harvey, Simon Katich and Travis Birt to carry a weak batting line up. The bowling also looks poor with last season’s leading wicket taker, Stefan Jones, also having left. Graeme Welch will have a lot of bowling to do, but the progression of Wayne White and Boyd Rankin should also be watched with an eye on the future. Anything better than bottom should be seen as success.

8 Leicestershire
The loss of Darren Maddy will be difficult to get over, with HD Ackerman and Darren Robinson now heavily relied upon for runs. Jeremy Snape and Paul Nixon will add experience and grit to the middle order, but the bowling looks light, especially if Stuart Broad ends up playing for England for most of the summer. They did well to contend for promotion last season. This season will be a struggle.

7 Glamorgan
A season of change for Glamorgan approaches, not least with the new Sophia Gardens being built. On the pitch, rebuilding is also required and like Leicestershire, they should lose their main strike bowler, Simon Jones, to England for most of the season (if fit). Their bowling will be reliant on David Harrison and the evergreen Robert Croft. Their batting line up looks much stronger, with David Hemp, Jimmy Maher and Michael Powell all capable of big runs. However, it’s the performances of youngsters such as Ben Wright and Huw Waters that will determine the how the future will pan out.

6 Gloucestershire
The loss of Ian Harvey will be a short term blow, particularly in the One Day games, but in Hamish Marshall, Alex Gidman and Craig Spearman, Gloucester have three proven run getters to go with the all round ability of Kadeer Ali and Steve Adshead. On the bowling front, Jon Lewis will be the key man again, with the erratic Steve Kirby in support. Michael Ball’s retirement reduces the slow bowling options somewhat and they need Ian Fisher to contribute more than the meagre ten wickets he managed last season.

5 Northamptonshire
A big turn around last season with David Capel taking over from Kepler Wessels in mid season and should carry on the progression this year. A strong batting line up, with skipper David Sales, Chris Rogers, Usman Afzaal and Lance Klusner all likely to get over a thousand runs. This will also be bolstered by the signing of the Irish wicketkeeper, Niall O’Brien. Top of the bowling averages last year was Monty Panesar, but he won’t be seen much in Northampton this season. “Replacing” him is new signing Richard Dawson who will be looking to recapture the form that got him an England call up. Overall the bowling looks the weak suit, but Northants are an improving team.

4 Somerset
Bottom last year, with only Cameron White scoring over a thousand runs. This year, they will be bolstered by Justin Langer, who scored a triple hundred in one of his two games last season, and Marcus Trescothick, who will surely not be recalled in to the test team without a great deal more cricket under his belt. On the bowling side they look very strong, with the signing of Stefan Jones adding to Charll Willoughby and Andy Caddick meaning that Richard Johnson shouldn’t be missed. The top four in the division will be tight and Somerset will be challenging for promotion.

3 Middlesex
Relegated last season after falling away at the end of the summer, their bowling was hugely reliant on the previously injury prone Chris Silverwood. The return of Richard Johnson and the signing of Chaminda Vaas should take some of the pressure off Silverwood and allow the impressive batting line up to make a challenge for promotion. Andrew Strauss won’t be seen much, but Nick Compton, Ben Smith, Owais Shah and Ed Joyce will all be pushing for international recognition, as will Jamie Dalrymple as England’s second spinner.

2 Essex
On the plus side, the World Cup and the mid season ODI break means that Ali Cook will play a bit more for his county this season. However, that will be at the expense of Ravi Bopara, who has been one of the plusses for England over the winter. The loss of Darren Gough will be a blow to Essex, but with seven players getting more than 20 championship wickets last season and Andre Nel and Danesh Kaneria coming in, bowling teams out shouldn’t be a problem. Likewise, with the Flower brothers, Ronnie Irani and the hugely promising Varun Choppra and Mark Pettini and World Cup star Ryan Ten Doeschate, runs should be plentiful. It’s also a big season for James Foster, with a prospective new England coach to impress. Just short last year – they should go up this year.

1 Nottinghamshire
Champions one year relegated the next. By half a point. They should go back up comfortably as champions this year with David Hussey and Stephen Fleming scoring heavily. A return to form by Jason Gallian would also be welcome although The signing of the highly rated Will Jefferson and Bilal Shafayat will add good support. On the bowling front, they have a balanced attack, led by Ryan Sidebottom and Charlie Shreck, with the evergreen Mark Ealham and Andy Harris and spin from Graeme Swann. Like Foster at Essex, Chris Read may have another England coach to try to impress, and should spend more of the season with England than Notts.

Marcus Trescothick

As the 2007 county season approaches, we will be compiling a list of six men to watch; not necessarily the finest players, but those with particularly significant and interesting seasons ahead. Also keep an eye on King Cricket's list.

Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)
Trescothick’s last year has been extremely traumatic, with twin tour walkouts and an international future looking doubtful in the extreme. But he took out some of his anger on Devon in a pre-season game, plundering a phenomenal 117-ball 256.

While he is said to have been in fine spirits during pre-season training with Somerset, his mental welfare will palpably continue to remain a great concern. Even if he scores bucketfuls of runs, the English selectors will obviously need much convincing that he is in a fit state to return. And, despite his assertions to the contrary, does Trescothick really want to play for England again, considering all the pressures of doing so?

In the meantime, pulverising mediocre county attacks in tranquil surroundings should help Trescothick; hopefully, he will revel in the glorious futility of sport. His opening partner and county captain Justin Langer - whom he will form a potentially superb opening partnershp with - could be crucial in helping him recover his focus.

If anyone doubts how much England need him, they should only see their opening struggles in the Caribbean. But a return is a long way off, and we should just be pleased to see Trescothick enjoy a harmonious and productive county season.