You would be hard pushed to call it summer conditions but the LV= County Championship will begin under chilly skies on Thursday with the 18 First-class counties all looking to pick up a win which will set them on their way for another campaign of cricket.
The one good thing about the groups the way they are is we get lots of derbies and things along the way, although that has to wait until later in the season. The closest we get to a rivalry this week is the Root brothers facing each other.
Group 1
The biggest match in Group 1 this week comes from Chelmsford where Essex get their title defence underway when they take on a dangerous Worcestershire side, who could cause issues to everyone if they have their best form with them. The other two matches should be fairly one-sided affairs although whether that proves to be the case remains to be seen. They see Nottinghamshire taking on Durham and Warwickshire hosting a Derbyshire side who were the surprise package of the Bob Willis Trophy last season and will be wanting to replicate that this time around.
Group 2
This is the toughest of the three groups in my eyes so all six teams will be looking to get off to a positive start. Somerset will be the favourites to win the group but they start out with a tricky assignment against Middlesex at Lord’s. That could open the door for Hampshire and Surrey to hit the front early on. Hampshire head to Grace Road to take on Leicestershire while Surrey head down the M5 to Bristol to face a Gloucestershire side who shouldn’t be underestimated this season.
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Group 3
Yorkshire are expected to be the team to beat in Group 3 this season and they start out as the shortest price of anyone for their opening match. They are no bigger than 1/4 to see off Glamorgan at Headingley. Lancashire and Northamptonshire are among the sides who will be wanting to run the Tykes close. Lancashire are meant to be away to Sussex but technically it is a home game for them as the match has been moved to Old Trafford because of a bug issue at Hove. Northamptonshire welcome Kent to Wantage Road.
Betting
I’ll wait for the teams to settle down a bit and the overseas players to arrive and get through quarantine before I get stuck into the Championship this season. The weather warming up a bit will help as well but there is one side who look massively overpriced given the squad lists that have come out. That is Sussex who should be at home to Lancashire but who will be playing at Old Trafford instead. I’m not so sure that is a bad thing for them though.
Sussex warmed up for the season with a couple of good efforts where some young batsmen stood up and were counted and it is that which interests me here because with no Luke Wells this Lancashire batting line up looks very light indeed and if someone like Ollie Robinson can get through the opening pair Sussex could have a big role to play in this match. It isn’t ideal that they are without Phil Salt but this is a Lancashire side missing Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Jimmy Anderson and Jackson Bird for one reason or another. Sussex have Tom Haines in fine form and with a couple of other seasoned campaigners around him they can put on the runs that a good bowling attack can use to their advantage. Sussex might be getting Lancashire at the right time here.
Tips
PUSH – Back Sussex to beat Lancashire (DNB) for a 3/10 stake at 2.38 with Betfair
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