The big preview to the county cricket season: Division Two
THE county cricket season starts today. Colin Bateman looks at the runners and riders in Division Two.
LANCASHIRE
Last season: Relegated
Captain: Glen Chapple. Head coach: Peter Moores
County Champions in 2011, relegated last year. Explain that. Strong favourites to bounce back up with such quality and depth in their squad but they need Chapple, above, to stay fit.
Top signing: Kabir Ali
WORCESTERHIRE
Last season: Relegated
Captain: Daryl Mitchell. Head coach: Steven Rhodes
An already thin squad has been hit by Vikram Solanki’s move to Surrey. They need youngsters such as Richard Jones and Ben Cox to have breakthrough seasons to flourish.
Top signing: Thilan Samaraweera
KENT
Last season: 3rd
Captain: James Tredwell. Head Coach: Jimmy Adams
There is so much young talent at Kent that getting back into the top flight must be the priority, otherwise their star players will drift away. Rob Key should flourish without the captaincy.
Top signing: Calum Haggett
HAMPSHIRE
Last season: 4th
Captain: Jimmy Adams. Head coach: Giles White
Everything is set up for First Division cricket at Hampshire, who showed their quality by winning two one-day titles in 2012. Now they must concentrate on the four-day game.
Top signing: Saeed Ajmal
ESSEX
Last season: 5th
Captain: James Foster. Head coach: Paul Grayson
There is a suspicion that Essex would rather win a one-day trophy than promotion back to the top flight, but they are certainly equipped to go up if they put their mind to it.
Top signing: Sajid Mahmood
GLAMORGAN
Last season: 6th
Captain: Mark Wallace. Head coach: Matthew Mott
Disruptions and departures continue to hit Glamorgan, who have not won a trophy since 2004 and do not look equipped to do so this summer after losing young star James Harris.
Top signing: Dirk Nannes
LEICESTERSHIRE
Last season: 7th
Captain: Ramnaresh Sarwan. Head coach: Phil Whitticase
Leicestershire deserve credit for bringing through their academy products, trouble is they cannot hold on to them. This is likely to be the last hurrah for Matthew Hoggard’s creaking body.
Top signing: Niall O’Brien
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Last season: 8th
Captain: Stephen Peters. Head coach: David Ripley
Things can only get better after a torrid 2012 and there has been a shake-up with Peters taking over the four-day captaincy. Watch out for England Under-19 skipper Olly Stone.
Top signing: Matt Spriegel
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Last season: 9th
Captain: Michael Klinger. Head coach: John Bracewell
Bottom of the pile last year, Gloucestershire are another county who cannot keep their better players and whose small squad lacks quality for new captain Klinger to play with.
Top signing: Michael Klinger