The County Championship gets underway on Sunday and having provided a county-by-county guide to the teams in Division One it is time to get stuck into the betting side of things. We’ll start with the division markets.
Outright
Yorkshire go into the campaign as the favourites to win a third title in a row and that is a justified position as we mentioned in our team guide but Warwickshire were only 17pts behind them when they won their first title in 2014 and I believe the Bears can lay down a really significant challenge this time around.
That year Ian Bell only played four matches, Jonathan Trott played just eight matches, Chris Woakes only nine and Boyd Rankin seven. They are four big players for Warwickshire who with their international careers either over or not in such good shape, perhaps with the exception of Woakes then Warwickshire can only benefit.
On the flip side of that Yorkshire saw Adam Lyth, Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid for near enough the entire season and that isn’t going to happen again this year so if Warwickshire can avoid the injuries they had last year, and by having those injuries their strength in depth is automatically much stronger, then the stage is set for Warwickshire to run Yorkshire really close.
Of the rest I like Middlesex but I’m a little concerned that they are turning their attentions a little too much towards one day cricket which could take their eye of the ball when it comes to their four day cricket. I’m also slightly concerned that their bowling resources could get stretched should they get injuries at a time when Tim Murtagh could be away on international duty.
It is never a bad thing to have Surrey in the top flight because bookies always overrate them. In fairness they’ve not done that in the outright markets which is correct because this will come a year too soon for them, as it will for Lancashire.
The only other side who I believe can win the title this year is Nottinghamshire and I don’t truly believe they can win it because I don’t see them bowling sides out quickly enough or often enough over the course of the 16 matches.
For me, this is between Yorkshire and Warwickshire and if the injuries stay away I’m firmly in the camp of the Bears at over three times the price of their rivals.
Relegation
As I’ve detailed in the county guide I think the relegation is between Hampshire, Somerset and Durham this season and at the prices I’m going to take a chance on Durham.
Were anything to happen to either Chris Rushworth or Graham Onions then with Mark Wood likely to be with England for much of the summer their bowling stocks would be tested to the full which isn’t ideal given that runs aren’t guaranteed on a spicy wicket.
Both Hampshire and Somerset have the tools to hang in matches and gain bonus points whereas Durham aren’t going to bank many batting points at home. There is just enough in the price for Durham to go down.
Tips
Back Warwickshire to win County Championship Division One for a 3/10 stake at 7.00 with Betfair
Back them here:
Back Durham to be relegated for a 3/10 stake at 3.60 with Bet365
Back them here:
