With the start of the county cricket season fast approaching it is time to summarise the sides in the second division. Here is our county-by-county guide to the teams in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two.
Derbyshire
2015 was a complete season to forget for Derbyshire and the task is to ensure there is an improvement in all formats in 2016. That shouldn’t be too difficult but with an ambitious chairman even mid-table will be considered a failure.
I’m not sure where they are going to improve though. Billy Godleman has taken over the captaincy from Wayne Madsen in the hope that the runs return for the latter but any captain is only as good as his bowling attack and Godleman’s bowling attack will be without Mark Footitt who has moved to Surrey. That is an awful lot of wickets to replace and I’m expecting a season of struggle as a result.
Last season: 8th
Overseas Player(s): Hamish Rutherford
Key Players: Wayne Madsen & Shiv Thakor
One to Watch: Tom Milnes – Never saw as much cricket at Warwickshire as he would have liked but he has the chance to launch his career in Derby.
Best Odds: 18/1 (Stan James)
Predicted Finishing Position: 9th
Essex
Essex have been perennial underachievers in the County Championship. But with some important players likely to be available for much longer this summer, coupled with their fine young talent this could be the year Essex thrive. They have a new, young, exciting coaching staff who can bring fresh ideas which could be crucial.
Alastair Cook is likely to see more action now he is nowhere near the one day sides for England. Ravi Bopara’s England career being a thing of the past looks to be another positive. Ryan ten Doeschate will be around much more and Jesse Ryder is back. The signing of Ashar Zaidi looks a good one and gives Essex everything they need to have a real tilt at the title.
Last season: 3rd
Overseas Player(s): Jesse Ryder
Key Players: Ravi Bopara & Tom Westley
One to Watch: Dan Lawrence – Classy batsman who will make a big impression this season.
Best Odds: 5/1 (General)
Predicted Finishing Position: 1st
Glamorgan
The Welsh side were surprise promotion challengers last season. Although their charge petered out the longer the season went on, they have reinforced and will hope they can get in the mix again this time around. Robert Croft has taken over as coach and he will ensure there is plenty of passion in the dressing room.
Timm van der Gugten, Craig Meschede and Harry Podmore all look good signings to beef up the bowling attack. If captain Jacques Rudolph and Colin Ingram can churn out significant runs Glamorgan could yet have a part to play in the overall picture this season. In the end I think they might fizzle out again but this can be another solid campaign.
Last season: 4th
Overseas Player(s): Jacques Rudolph
Key Players: Jacques Rudolph & Michael Hogan
One to Watch: Timm van der Gugten – the Dutch international isn’t a youngster but this is his debut county season and he has the quality to make a big impression.
Best Odds: 16/1 (Stan James)
Predicted Finishing Position: 3rd
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire had a brilliant season last year which culminated in winning the Royal London One Day Cup at Lord’s in September. A young squad will be given the task of building on that in the longer format of the game. If they are to do that a bowling attack lacking depth will need to stay fit you would think.
Gareth Roderick has taken over the captaincy with Michael Klinger away at the IPL to start the season. James Fuller has moved on which isn’t ideal while Geraint Jones has retired. Cameron Bancroft has been recruited to take the gloves in the early part of the season. Gloucestershire should have the runs to cope but I feel they haven’t improved enough with the ball to be any more competitive than last season.
Last season: 6th
Overseas Player(s): Cameron Bancroft (April-May), Michael Klinger (June onwards)
Key Players: Chris Dent & Liam Norwell
One to Watch: George Hankins – Regular churner of runs at junior level and has the ability to do the same at adult level.
Best Odds: 14/1 (General)
Predicted Finishing Position: 6th
Kent
Like most young sides Kent have seen most of their success in recent seasons come in the one day formats and I think that is where they will make their mark this season. Their seam bowling has been a concern for a while and although runs look natural to arrive you just wonder how they’ll fare when given the task of bowling sides out on flat wickets in mid-summer.
Sam Billings being away at the IPL isn’t helpful but at least Kent have recruited a couple of excellent overseas signings in Tom Latham and Kagiso Rabada. Rabada is only there for a month but he should make a huge contribution to the bowling stocks both on and off the field with the quality that he has.
Last season: 7th
Overseas Player(s): Tom Latham, Kagiso Rabada (July)
Key Players: Sam Northeast & Darren Stevens
One to Watch: Matt Hunn – was talked up for a while and five wickets against the Australians in a tour match shot him even further into prominence. He can break through in full this year.
Best Odds: 10/1 (Bwin)
Predicted Finishing Position: 7th
Leicestershire
After a couple of years of abjectness there were shoots of life for Leicestershire last season. Although they still finished bottom they moved forward with a couple of wins and some other competitive performances and they’ve brought in the necessary experience to kick on again. Promotion is beyond them at this stage but a solid outing in the Championship and a run in a one day competition would equate to a very acceptable season.
Paul Horton has come in from Lancashire and he has been joined by Mark Pettini and Neil Dexter from Essex and Middlesex respectively. That trio combined with Angus Robson, Mark Cosgrove and Ned Eckersley makes for a pretty solid top six at this level and if Clint McKay, Ben Raine and Charlie Shreck all perform well Leicestershire can climb the table this year.
Last season: 9th
Overseas Player(s): Clint McKay
Key Players: Mark Cosgrove & Clint McKay
One to Watch: Aadil Ali – Batsman who made an impression last season and can provide solid runs this time around.
Best Odds: 26/1 (NetBet)
Predicted Finishing Position: 5th
Northamptonshire
Finances have made progression very difficult for Northants over the last couple of seasons. It hasn’t stopped them overperforming in the 20 over sphere where they backed up their 2013 success with a run to the final last season. It is probably that tournament where most of their positivity comes this season. For them to be remotely competitive in the Championship they need extreme luck with injuries.
Since last season David Willey has left and Stephen Peters has retired while Kyle Coetzer was released. The Steelbacks did make the headlines recently for offering Monty Panesar a contract and all eyes will be on Wantage Road to see what he can deliver. Northants look a shade light with the bat and the ball for comfort.
Last season: 5th
Overseas Player(s): Rory Kleinveldt
Key Players: Ben Duckett & Mohammad Azharullah
One to Watch: Ben Duckett – not new to the scene but will get a much more responsible role this season.
Best Odds: 16/1 (General)
Predicted Finishing Position: 8th
Sussex
2015 was a horrible year for Sussex as Hampshire’s late revival sent them tumbling to the second division and it could hardly have happened at a worse time given that the promotion places have been halved this season. That means the turnaround at Hove is going to have to be dramatic and everyone is going to have to be on it from the off.
Sussex are another side to change captain with Luke Wright taking on the reins. He will have to do without the retired Michael Yardy while Chris Liddle and James Anyon have both left while the club will still be coming to terms with the tragic loss of Matt Hobden. Chris Jordan, Ajmal Shahzad and Steve Magoffin carry a huge burden with the ball but even then I’m not convinced Sussex have enough runs in them.
Last season: 8th in Division 1
Overseas Player(s): None
Key Players: Ed Joyce & Steve Magoffin
One to Watch: Ollie Robinson – had a good first season at Hove after leaving Yorkshire. Expect more this year.
Best Odds: 11/5 (NetBet)
Predicted Finishing Position: 2nd
Worcestershire
Although Worcestershire finished bottom in Division One last season and were relegated it still wasn’t a bad season. They were competitive in four day cricket, often finding the going too tough in the second innings after competing strongly in the first innings. Their qualification for the quarter final of the T20 highlighted a young side ready to do things.
Any team who are relegated will be expected to go straight back up but with only one promotion place up for grabs that isn’t going to be easy. Batting depth could be a concern and while their seam attack looks solid on paper they have ridden the wickets of Saeed Ajmal for the last season or two. He isn’t around this year so his wickets have to be accounted for.
Last season: 9th
Overseas Player(s): Matt Henry (April-June), Kyle Abbott (July-Sept)
Key Players: Daryl Mitchell & Jack Shantry
One to Watch: Jamie Clarke – middle order batsman who oozes class and will go on to much bigger and better things.
Best Odds: 4/1 (General)
Predicted Finishing Position: 4th
