The Yorkshire County Cricket Club

2012 Domestic Season - Weeks 3 & 4 Preview


A full program of CC matches for both of the next two weeks with a consistent start day for all 16 matches. This should be happening every week of the season, but alas, later on in the summer, a jumbled confusing fixture list returns with CC matches starting on every day of the week again.
A poor weather forecast for the next week could mean a lot of drawn matches in the first round of games.

LV County Championship - Division One

Thursday, 19 April 2012
Lancashire v Warwickshire, Liverpool, 11:00
Middlesex v Durham, Lord's, 11:00
Nottinghamshire v Somerset, Trent Bridge, 11:00
Surrey v Worcestershire, The Kia Oval, 11:00

The current champions, Lancashire, started this season with a loss to Sussex and they return to the same venue to play Warwickshire at Liverpool. Warwickshire, last years runners-up, started their season with a win at home against Somerset. I predict a very close game with Warwickshire just having the edge and emerge as winners.
Middlesex entertain Durham at Lords. The home team have won 1 and lost 1, while the visitors have played only one match which they lost. Middlesex have available for selection Andrew Strauss and Steven Finn after being released to play by England so they will be considerably stronger. Despite this, Durham on paper, appear to have more strength in depth than their hosts and I expect a victory for them.
The current top two in Notts and Somerset meet at Trent Bridge. Notts although winning their first two matches have failed to pick up a single batting point yet. Quite remarkable, considering their strong batting line-up. Somerset`s strength also lies in their batting with Compton in top form at the moment with a 99 and a century already so far this season. I predict another close contest with Notts just coming out on top.
The final game in Division One is at the Oval where Surrey play Worcestershire. Worcs came close to beating Notts in the first week of fixtures, but lost, while Surrey have a win and a loss from their two matches. I predict a win for Surrey in this tie.
Wins for Warwickshire, Durham, Notts & Surrey.
Match odds Lancs 4/5, Durham 4/5, Notts10/11, Surrey 8/15.

Thursday, 26 April 2012
Somerset v Lancashire, Taunton, 11:00
Surrey v Durham, The Kia Oval, 11:00
Sussex v Warwickshire, Hove, 11:00
Worcestershire v Nottinghamshire, New Road, 11:00

Somerset entertain Lancashire at Taunton in the 4th round of matches. Two strong evenly matched sides meet in this tie, but I expect that ground advantage will just give Somerset a slight edge and I expect them to win.
Surrey play Durham at the Oval and although Surrey have recruited well over the past two seasons, I expect Durham`s all round strength to prevail and for them to win this tie.
Sussex host Warwickshire at Hove who have Ian Bell returning from England duty to bolster an already strong batting line-up and I expect a win for the visitors.
Top v bottom meet when Notts travel to play Worcestershire at New Road for an early return match after meeting in round 1. I expect Notts to have a comfortable victory against perennial strugglers Worcestershire.
Wins for Somerset, Durham, Warwickshire & Notts.

LV County Championship - Division Two

Thursday, 19 April 2012
Derbyshire v Leicestershire, Derby, 11:00
Glamorgan v Hampshire, The Swalec Stadium, 11:00
Kent v Gloucestershire, Canterbury, 11:00
Yorkshire v Essex, Headingley Carnegie, 11:00

Top of the table Derbyshire (who would have predicted that pre-season) host Leicestershire at Derby. Both teams have 100% records but Derbyshire do appear to have a stronger squad so I am predicting another win for Derbyshire to make it 3 from 3.
Hampshire, last seasons relegated team, travel to Cardiff to play Glamorgan. Glamorgan have lost both their matches and Hampshire have played just once and lost. Hampshire appear to be weak in bowling having lost several players from last season but still have a strong batting unit. Glamorgan have been poor in all departments so far this season and I expect Hampshire to win this match.
Second place Kent, play their first match at home when they entertain Gloucestershire at Canterbury. The new favourites to take the title have been very impressive thus far, crushing Northants by an innings last week and having much the better of the game at Headingley the previous week, which they surely would have won without the rain intervention. Gloucestershire lost their first match and had a narrow victory over Hampshire last week. I predict a comfortable win for the home side.
Yorkshire and Essex both play their second match of the season when they meet at Headingley. Essex won their first match by an innings, Bopara returns for Essex after missing that match, Alviro Peterson, the SA opener, will also play, but Alistair Cook is unavailable. Yorkshire have Phil Jaques available and could play 7 batsmen to accommodate him. Both sides have good batting units and are relatively weak in seam bowling but Yorkshire have a marked advantage in the spin department. A much improved performance by Yorkshire on the two previous games at Headingley is needed if they are to get anything out of this match. If they get the big improvement, I predict a win for Yorkshire, (if the rain holds of long enough) otherwise a defeat is quite possible.
Wins for Derbyshire, Hampshire, Kent & Yorkshire.
Match odds Derbyshire 8/11, Hampshire 4/7, Kent 4/7, Yorkshire 10/11.

Thursday, 26 April 2012
Essex v Northamptonshire, Chelmsford, 11:00
Gloucestershire v Glamorgan, Bristol, 11:00
Hampshire v Leicestershire, The Ageas Bowl, 11:00
Kent v Yorkshire, Canterbury, 11:00

Essex entertain Northants at Chelmsford and I believe the ground advantage will prove decisive for Essex and they will win this match.
There is a clash of the two west country sides when Gloucestershire take on Glamorgan at Bristol. Not a great start for the welsh team and Gloucestershire have won 1 of their matches so far against a good side in Hampshire, so I predict a close match and a narrow victory for the home side.
Hampshire play Leicestershire at the Rose Bowl and I predict they will be to strong for the Leicestershire outfit and gain a comfortable victory.
And finally, another tough match for Yorkshire who travel down south to play Kent at Canterbury. Tim Bresnan will be available for Yorkshire and this will massively improve the visitors bowling attack which has been un-penetrative prior to this match. Two very evenly matched sides, and the bookies new favourites for the two promotion slots, makes this in to an interesting clash. With both sides wanting to avoid defeat and give an advantage to their rivals, this tie is a close one to call, so I will sit on the fence and predict a draw.
Wins for Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and a draw between Kent & Yorkshire.