County Championship: Division One guide

Warwickshire will be bidding to retain their title as the top flight welcomes Derbyshire and Yorkshire for the 2013 summer. Here's our county-by-county guide to the season ahead with the help of former England international Dominic Cork...

DURHAM

Division One odds: 8/1 Captain: Paul Collingwood
Head coach: Geoff Cook
Overseas: None
Ins: None
Outs: Michael Di Venuto (retired), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Ian Blackwell (retired) Durham flirted with a return to Division Two for the first time since 2005 before a local hero saved them from the dreaded drop. Paul Collingwood's appointment as captain culminated with a run of five wins from their final six games and safely steered the North East county away from relegation trouble. But they start the season in the drop zone on minus two points after they were handed a points penalty for exceeding the ECB's salary cap last term. The North East club will be relying on youth this season with head coach Geoff Cook admitting that financial restrictions have stymied his hopes of an overseas acquisition. The home grown formula brought back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, however survival will surely be the aim this term with the likes of Michael Di Venuto and Ian Blackwell no longer at the club. The return to form and fitness for Graham Onions, who took 69 Championship wickets last term - was a major boost for the county and they will be hoping he returns a similar wicket tally this summer. Key player: Ben Stokes - The powerful all-rounder incurred the wrath of the England Lions coaching staff in the winter and will need to let his cricket do the talking when the domestic season resumes. A talent with bat and ball and key to Durham's hopes of challenging in all forms. Corky says... Durham have dominated county cricket for a while but with the likes of Michael Di Venuto and Ian Blackwell retiring they are now are a team in transition. Read his full preview

MIDDLESEX

Division One odds: 13/2 Captain: Chris Rogers (Championship), Neil Dexter (limited-overs cricket)
Head coach: Richard Scott
Overseas: Chris Rogers (Australia)
Ins: James Harris (Glamorgan)
Outs: Andrew Strauss, Scott Newman, Anthony Ireland (Leicestershire), Robbie Williams (Leicestershire), Tom Scollay, Steven Crook (Northamptonshire) Having been promoted as champions in 2011, last summer was all about Middlesex retaining their top-flight status. They did so in impressive fashion, finishing in third place thanks to five wins. With or without the captaincy Chris Rogers thrived, the Australian scoring 1,108 first-class runs. He will continue in charge for the LV= County Championship fixtures in 2013, with club captain Neil Dexter then taking over in limited-overs cricket. Joe Denly made some good contributions since arriving from Kent and having slipped further down the England pecking order in Test cricket, Eoin Morgan will look to plunder plenty of runs in domestic action once the IPL has finished. Hopes of the left-hander raising his first-class batting average of 34.52 may be boosted by the return of Mark Ramprakash to Lord's as Middlesex's new batting coach - if only they could roll back the years and have 'Ramps' back in their middle order. The bowling resources available to whoever is skipper have been bolstered by the arrival of seamer James Harris from Glamorgan, an addition that should cover for the fact that Steve Finn will rarely be seen in Middlesex clothing over the next six months. Toby Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh both took over 60 first-class wickets and with Gareth Berg as a fourth seam option; they would not be too disappointed if it was another damp summer. What they will be disappointed with is their recent performances in Twenty20 cricket - it will be an area that managing director Angus Fraser will be targeting for improvement. Key player: Chris Rogers - Whoever he plays for, Rogers plunders runs. Well, except for Australia that is. The fact he has managed just one Test cap seems amazing considering his first-class average is a tad under 50. Middlesex will again need him to score heavily at the top of the order. Corky says... Angus Fraser, their director of cricket, has got things well and truly stable and they've got a good bunch of young cricketers. Read his full preview

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Division One odds: 9/2 Captain: Chris Read
Head coach: Mike Newell
Overseas player: Ed Cowan (Australia, start of season until 21 June); David Hussey (Australia, from June, including Twenty20 until August)
Ins: Ajmal Shahzad (Yorkshire)
Outs: Karl Turner, Scott Elstone, Neil Edwards (all released) Nottinghamshire should launch a powerful challenge on all fronts in 2013. Ed Cowan, the Australia Test opener, adds serious ballast to the top of the order before the ever-reliable David Hussey takes over in August. The rest of the batting under-achieved last year and Notts fans are entitled to expect more from Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, James Taylor and Samit Patel - England men all. All four averaged below 40 last season, and Chris Read - with a whopping 975 runs - had to come to the rescue all too often. Andre Adams continues to be one of the most dangerous bowlers on the county circuit - his 54 wickets came at just 19.17, and there would have been far more but for injury. But he needs more help. Ben Phillips took 13 matches to take 30 wickets, and the hugely promising Harry Gurney - signed amid much fanfare from Leicestershire - just 21 in 10. The capture of Ajmal Shahzad from Yorkshire may help. Precociously talented he may be, but he needs to walk-the-walk now if he wants to reignite his England claims. In Graeme Swann's absence, they are too reliant on Patel as a spin option. Graeme White played just five times last year and he will hope for a busier summer. Key player: Andre Adams - He has carried the Nottinghamshire attack for a few years now. The New Zealander is pivotal to their hopes of landing the title. Without him, whilst runs should not be a problem, Notts will struggle to bowl sides out twice. Corky says... Nottinghamshire will push in all forms of the game. They've made some excellent signings in recent years - the likes of Michael Lumb and James Taylor - and this season they've added Ajmal Shahzad from Yorkshire. Read his full preview

SOMERSET

Division One odds: 11/2 Captain: Marcus Trescothick
Head coach: Andy Hurry
Overseas: Alviro Petersen (South Africa), Abdur Rehman (Pakistan)
Ins: None
Outs: Steve Snell It is hard to see how Somerset can make the final leap from perennial nearly-men to county champions. They were runners-up last year and Nick Compton - by far their most prolific batsman in 2012 - is likely to miss the whole summer on England duty. South Africa's Alviro Petersen arrives to fill the void, on the back of averaging just 21 for Essex last season. Marcus Trescothick, James Hildreth, Arul Suppiah, Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler will of course keep the runs flowing. But Compton was the glue that kept the whole thing together. The bowling was the problem last season, Peter Trego carrying the attack for most of the summer and the estimable all-rounder was the only man to take 50 wickets. Somerset are pinning their hopes on the Overton twins, Jamie and Craig, making major breakthroughs this season. Alfonso Thomas arrives after the IPL but much, much more is needed from Steve Kirby (just 24 wickets from nine matches) and Gemaal Hussain (12 from five) who need to stay fit and start running through sides. If and when the sun finally makes an appearance, young Ireland spinner George Dockrell will be increasingly important, 34 wickets a decent return in his first full season. Key player: Peter Trego - ever-present last season, he continues to press his claims for an England call-up. Somerset's leading wicket-taker also scored 600 runs and he is arguably the best true all-rounder in the country. Heaven help the Somerset attack if he were to get injured. Corky says... Abdur Rehman's return later in the season will help but unless they get off to a great start they may find it difficult to get into a position to win the Championship. Read his full preview