Thursday 6 April 2017 17:55, UK
Will Middlesex retain the County Championship title they won in such dramatic fashion last season?
We asked Sky Sports experts Nasser Hussain, David Lloyd, Rob Key and Dominic Cork that question and plenty more ahead of the new domestic campaign. Check out their predictions, then read our previews... CCD1 | CCD2
NASSER HUSSAIN
Batsman to watch (any format, any division): Keaton Jennings
I was so impressed with the way he started for England out in India, a hundred on Test debut. I know he didn't have a particularly good time on the England Lions tour that followed, but I just think he has the right attitude and is made of the right stuff between the ears. He could really kick on this summer, especially with Durham being in Division Two. Also, a special mention for Ben Foakes, the wicketkeeper-batsman at Surrey - he is another to keep an eye on.
Bowler to watch (any format, any division): Mason Crane
If he plays… That's the problem with being a young leg-spinner in England as a lot of county cricket is played early on in the summer, on pitches that might not turn much. But I saw some footage of him bowling in the recent North v South series, and the drift and spin he was able to get was really impressive. He needs to play, so if Hampshire aren't picking him, he needs to go somewhere else.
County Championship winners: Yorkshire
Just pipped by Middlesex last season, but I've been impressed by the way Yorkshire as a club are run, on the cricketing side, over the last few years. Other than Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, they won't lose too many players to England, and with their academy system and the depth of squad they have, they will always be there or thereabouts. There are some unknowns with Andrew Gale as a first-year head coach and Gary Ballance as captain, but I back them to do well.
Relegated: Hampshire, Lancashire
Hampshire have made some good signings - going down the Kolpak route, although I don't necessarily agree with that - but I thought they were lucky to stay up last season after the Durham demotion and will need to improve. As for Lancashire, when Jimmy Anderson and Haseeb Hameed are away on England duty, they look a bit short with bat and ball.
Division Two champions: Nottinghamshire
I can't see beyond Nottinghamshire. I can see James Pattinson, and Stuart Broad and Jake Ball - when not away with England - taking a load of wickets in Division Two cricket. Their problem when they were relegated last season was scoring runs, but if they can do that, with Alex Hales making a success off it at No 4, they'll come straight back up. I'd like to see Durham prove a point and come straight back up, because on the field they're a first division calibre side. It would be a great story, but it's likely too big an ask.
T20 Blast champions: Surrey
It's harsh to write Northants off - we seem to do it every year - but I can't look beyond Surrey. The players that they have signed, I can't see how they won't be competitive in white-ball cricket this year. They've got Aaron Finch, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Jason Roy, Foakes, the Curran brothers.
Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Yorkshire
Yorkshire have not really kicked on in white-ball cricket as well as they should have done, but if they have all their players fit and available, they have every box ticked. And again, like in the Blast, with all the signing they have made, Surrey should be in the mix
Best overseas signing: Mohammad Amir
I know it's controversial after everything that has happened in his career, but he is box office. If he can swing that ball at Chelmsford, with the pace he bowls at, he could be devastating. There is a big British Asian community around Essex, so he is also sure to help put bums on seats.
DAVID LLOYD
Batsman to watch (any format, any division): Liam Livingstone
Livingstone. He's my 'Bumble's Bolter' big tip - I'm backing him to play for England this year. He is one of a number of talented young lads coming through together at Lancashire.
Bowler to watch (any format, any division): Toby Roland-Jones
Roland-Jones is another I'm tipping to play for England by the time the year is out. He looks a proper bowler, and he's had a terrific winter with England Lions.
County Championship winners: Middlesex
They will come back even stronger for the experience of winning last season. Having said that, they're probably likely to miss Roland-Jones to England if my prediction above proves correct. Expect Surrey to push them very close - they are assembling a powerful squad.
Relegated: Essex, Hampshire
It's such a tough division to stay in, especially this year, with two teams from eight going down. I just feel that both Essex and Hampshire's squads look a little light.
Division Two champions: Nottinghamshire
Notts to bounce back. They're too talented for Division Two.
T20 Blast champions: Lancashire
Lancs have got plenty of young players coming through, who, like Livingstone, are progressing rapidly. They have recruited well too.
Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Somerset
They have a good mix of players at Somerset, and I reckon head coach Matt Maynard will be looking to give this competition a right good go.
ROB KEY
Batsman to watch (any format, any division): Sam Northeast
It's about time that England started to notice Sam Northeast and the runs that he gets across all formats. A good 100 in for the South in the second 50-over match against the North in Dubai should be the start of his progression into the Lions at the very least. I wouldn't be surprised if he forces his way into the full England side in both white-ball and red-ball cricket.
Bowler to watch (any format, any division): Mason Crane
It's going to be a fascinating to see how Hampshire use the leg-spinner this season. Will they play it safe or be bold and pick him consistently? You've got to be able to bowl to get picked for a Shield team out in Australia. Yes, he's still very young and has a lot to learn but he's clearly got a lot about him - so the selectors must resolve the dilemma of how to use him.
County Championship winners: Surrey
I like them because they've got the X-factor with the ball and strength in depth having been unlucky with injuries in recent years. Gareth Batty and Zafar Ansari are proven performers at the Oval while they've got enough pace options to sustain a Championship challenge - Jade Dernbach, the Curran brothers, Matt Dunn, Mark Footitt, Stuart Meaker, Ravi Rampaul… They've recruited well, too, with Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick, pus there's always the Kumar Sangakkara factor too.
Division Two champions: Nottinghamshire
They must have had a shocker last season to go down with the team they've got. Alex Hales will be out to prove a point, as will Samit Patel, while Steven Mullaney is underrated. They might have Stuart Broad available for the odd game too. There's so much strength in depth at Trent Bridge - Jake Ball and Riki Wessels to name but two - as well as a lot of promising cricketers. James Pattinson is a fantastic addition if he can stay fit and get through game after game. The first year after getting relegated is your best chance of going back up. If you get a few wins early on you can be unstoppable.
T20 Blast champions: Northants
No one ever seems to tip them but there's no reason why they shouldn't keep on going. They seem to have a good formula - batsmen after batsmen who can take a game away from you and hurt you. They're organised with the ball and know how to win.
Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Nottinghamshire
With their power with the bat - Lumb, Wessels, Hales (if he's around) - they should go far. Last year they were smashing the ball to all parts and I think they'll be right up there again. Trent Bridge has become probably the best place to bat in white-ball cricket. They've got such experience in this format.
Best overseas signing: Mohammad Amir
I can't wait to see how he goes at Essex - but with his pace and skill you'd expect him to exploit English conditions. The big question with overseas players in general is how well can they cope with the grind of county cricket day after day? If Amir is a big trier, loves county cricket and wants to run in day after day, he'll be a real asset - even if he isn't available to mid-June.
DOMINIC CORK
Batsman to watch (any format, any division): Liam Livingstone
From an early age he has had this tag as an explosive player. Sometimes that can add a bit of pressure, and certain players can't live up to it. But from what I've seen up till now, I think he can. He went away with England Lions this winter and was the first person to score a hundred in both innings since Kevin Pietersen, on spinning pitches in Sri Lanka.
Bowler to watch (any format, any division): Mason Crane
I wasn't at Hampshire when he was there, but the reports I hear are that he works hard, and has quite an aggressive streak about him, which I think you have to have as a bowler. Anyone who forces their way into becoming an overseas player for New South Wales in Australia, like he did, says it all. He has got the ability to go all the way, although I hope England don't throw him in at the deep end too soon - he is still learning his trade, and you don't want what happened to Simon Kerrigan to happen to him.
County Championship winners: Yorkshire
They've got more than enough quality in the side, despite the loss of Root and Bairstow for large parts, and an ageing bowling unit. They've got that understanding of what it takes to win the four-day competition.
Relegated: Essex, Somerset
No disrespect to Chris Silverwood, head coach over at Essex. They've recruited well, bringing in the likes of Adam Wheater, but it's always hard to make that initial step up from Division Two. And Somerset - even though they came so close to winning it last year - people will now adapt to the way they play and their spinning wickets. They may struggled, though it would be a shock if they went down.
Division Two champions: Nottinghamshire
I was tempted by Durham, but the 48-point deduction leaves them with slightly too much to do. Notts have too much quality - I don't get how they went down in the first place. A new coach in Peter Moores, the young players they are bringing through, as well as the quality they already have, I expect them to fly back up.
T20 Blast champions: Hampshire
There's the arrival of their two Kolpaks, in Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw, plus Michael Carberry is back and James Vince will be more readily available now he's slightly out of the England fold. There's also spinners Liam Dawson and Crane. They have every base covered, and know already how to win the competition.
Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Surrey
With the signings of Scott Borthwick and Mark Stoneman from Durham added to the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Curran brothers already in the team, they look very strong. There's also maybe a bit of Jason Roy early on in the competition ahead of his involvement in the Champions Trophy.
Best overseas signing: Peter Hanscomb
I watched the India v Australia Test series on Sky and he impressed me. He just seems to have that Australian grit about him - he just wants to bat, and bat, and bat. He will fit in at Yorkshire beautifully. They've got quite a young batting line-up, so he could be a really shrewd signing.
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