The Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Domestic Season 2012 Preview

County Championship

9 teams in each Division, 2 relegated and 2 promoted,

Division Two

DERBYSHIRE

Overseas player 2012: Martin Guptill (New Zealand, start of season until 12 June); Usman Khawaja (Australia, 14 June until end of season); Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (Pakistan, for T20).
Ins: David Wainwright (Yorkshire)
Outs: Steffan Jones (RET), Greg Smith (Essex), Luke Sutton (RET)
Other news: Wayne Madsen has replaced the retired Sutton as captain. Garry Park will captain the second XI in 2012 but will remain in contention for a first-team place. Former director of cricket David Houghton has returned to the county as a specialist batting coach.

Last season – 5th in Division Two.

Derbyshire have signed two current International and one ex International cricketer as their three overseas players this season. Martin Guptill and Usman Khawaja will share one batting slot and Naved will be the all rounder for them in the T20 competition. They have also signed David Wainwright from Yorkshire permanently, after his loan spell last season which gives them some strength in the lower order batting and a useful spin option. In addition to these signings, CE Keith Loring claims "large sums of money" are available to strengthen the squad further, with "half a dozen players" under consideration. The batting should be strong enough, but their bowling appears to be weak and I can not see them finishing much higher than last seasons mid-table position unless the clubs big recruitment drive is successful.
Prediction 7th. Odds 16/1.

ESSEX

Overseas player 2012: Alviro Petersen (South Africa) start of season until mid-June; Peter SIddle (Australia) for T20.
Ins: Greg Smith (Derbyshire), Ben Foakes (YTH), Charl Willoughby (Somerset)
Outs: Chris Wright (Warwickshire), Max Osborne (REL)
Possible signings: Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe) for T20
Other news: Essex have scrapped the Southend Festival for 2012, with matches being switched to their Chelmsford headquarters.

Last season - 7th in Division Two.

Essex have signed two top class overseas players for next season. Alviro Peterson will play for the club until mid-June then Peter Siddle will arrive for the T20 competition. Peterson will complement an already strong batting line-up which may be hampered by test call ups for Ravi Bopara and Alistair Cook but despite this, they do bat a long way down with Foster, Ten Doeschate and Napier in their lower middle order, so the amount of runs accumulated will not be a problem. Their main area of concern appears to be in the bowling, and they may well have problems bowling sides out to win sufficient games to make a major challenge for one of the promotion slots. Charl Willoughby has joined the bowling unit from Somerset and will form the pace attack with Graham Napier, David Masters and Maurice Chambers, however, they do not have much of a spin option this season with only Tim Phillips and a couple of youngsters available in this department.
Prediction 4th Odds 6/1.

GLAMORGAN

Overseas player 2012: Moises Henriques (Australia) for the first 5 weeks of the season followed by Marcus North (Australia) for the remainder of the season:
Ins: Simon Jones (Hampshire); Michael Hogan (Australia) from July onwards.
Outs: Mike Powell (Kent), Adam Shantry (RET), David Brown (RET)
Possible signings: Glamorgan have approached Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson about becoming their second Twenty20 signing.
Other news: Mark Wallace will captain the County Championship and CB40 sides, with vice-captain Jim Allenby leading the Twenty20 side.

Last season - 6th in Division Two.

Glamorgan have signed three good overseas players, all Aussies, in Moises Henriques, Marcus North and Michael Hogan. Henriques is a genuine allrounder, who bowls a lively pace, and would be selected in sides for his bowling or his batting alone, Marcus North was a regular middle order batsman and occasional spinner for Australia, until recently, with 1200 runs in 21 matches, and Michael Hogan is a pace bowler who plays for Western Australia, but has a British passport, so is not classed as an overseas player. Simon Jones has also re-joined the Welsh side from Hampshire but will only play 1 day cricket, so their pace attack in the CC will be David Harrison, James Harris & the two Aussies, Henriques & Hogan with Graham Wagg providing some pace and seam back up, whilst old stagers Dean Cosker and Robert Croft provide the spin option for them. Apart from their overseas batsmen, the batting appears to be lightweight, so I expect no more than a mid table position for the welsh side.
Prediction 6th. Odds 9/1.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Overseas player 2012: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka, for Twenty20)
Ins: Dan Housego (Middlesex)
Outs: Jon Lewis (Surrey), Vikram Banerjee (REL), Chris Taylor (REL)

Last season – 4th in Division Two

With Jon Lewis, their leading wicket taker last season and Chris Taylor, one of their best batsmen, leaving the club for pastures new, it will be a struggle for Gloucestershire this coming season. Hamish Marshall, the ex New Zealand test player will provide the back bone for their batting and they have a couple of useful middle order all-rounders in the Gidman brothers who provide good batting and bowling options for the Bristol based side. However, their bowling looks weak without Lewis and will mainly consist of David Payne, Ian Saxelby, a few untried youngsters and Richard Dawson and I think it will be difficult for them to bowl sides out on sufficient occasions to win enough matches to be competitive and it looks like bottom place for them despite the bookies odds of a 6th place finish.
Prediction 9th. Odds 12/1.

HAMPSHIRE

Overseas player 2012: Simon Katich (Australia); Shahid Afridi (Pakistan, for Twenty20)
Ins: None
Outs: Michael Lumb (Nottinghamshire), Dominic Cork (RET), Nic Pothas (REL), Friedel de Wet (KPK, REL), Johann Myburgh (KPK, REL), Jamie Miller (REL), Simon Jones (Glamorgan)
Other news: Jimmy Adams has been confirmed as Cork's successor as captain for 2012 (and signed a contract extension), but Kolpak signing Neil McKenzie will only be available for the T20 campaign for family reasons. “Chalky” White has joined the coaching team, as assistant, from Yorkshire, where he was part of last seasons coaching team.
Dimitri Mascarenhas will miss the first 8 weeks of the season on IPL duties.

Last season – relegated (9th in Division One).

Although they are the bookies favourites, seven leavers since last summer for the 2011 relegated south coast side has made serious in-roads to the strength of Hampshire. If you also factor in Mascarenhas`s early season un-availability on IPL duties, Neil Mckenzie only being available for the T20, and no Imran Tahir, the team is considerably weaker than last years unit. The bowling especially looks below par with Cork, Tahir & Simon Jones all missing from last seasons attack, and DImi missing the first eight weeks of the season. Danny Briggs, Chris Tomlinson and the injury prone Kabir Ali appear to be their only major bowling threats, early season, along with a few untried youngsters, including Chris Wood who impressed on a number of occasions last year. However, they have signed Simon Katich as their overseas player and their batting looks as strong as ever at the top of the order with Katich, Carberry, Adams, Vince and Ervine occupying the first 5 slots, but their middle order looks weak without Pothas, Cork and DImi filling the 6 to 8 slots.
Prediction 2nd. Odds 10/3 favourites.

KENT

Overseas player 2012: Brendan Nash (W Indies)
Ins: Charlie Shreck (Nottinghamshire), Ivan Thomas (YTH), Benedict Kemp (YTH), Fabian Cowdrey (YTH), Mike Powell (Glamorgan), Ben Harmison (Durham).
Batsman Scott Newman has joined Kent from Middlesex on loan for the first two months of the season.
Outs: Joe Denly (Middlesex), Martin van Jaarsveld (Leicestershire, but has since retired), James Goodman (RET), Robbie Joseph (Leicestershire).
Other news: Director of cricket Paul Farbrace has left after two years in charge (and since taken over as Yorkshire 2nd XI coach), and been replaced by new head coach Jimmy Adams.

Last season – 8th in Division Two.

Kent surprisingly struggled in the lower reaches of Division Two last season after being relegated the year before. Brendan Nash, Kent`s recent signing, 34, has played 21 Tests and nine one-day internationals and will be available for Kent's first game at Yorkshire on 5 April. He will strengthen their batting along with Scott Newman (on loan) and Mike Powell who have joined the county, and are like for like batting replacements for Joe Denly and Martin Van Jaarsveld who have left the club. All-rounder Ben Harmison has also joined the south coast side and should strengthen the middle order batting alongside Azhar Mahmood, Geraint Jones and Darren Stevens. Charlie Shrek joins the club and will lead the pace attack with Simon Cook, while James Tredwell will provide the spin option. Their batting and bowling units appear to be marginally better than last season and l therfore expect an improvement in Kent`s fortunes this coming season and a mid-table finishing position.
Prediction 5th. Odds 14/1.

LEICESTERSHIRE

Overseas player 2012: Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies, subject to international clearance); Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan, for Twenty20)
Ins: Rob Taylor (YTH), Robbie Joseph (Kent).
Outs: Paul Nixon (RET, has taken on ambassadorial role), Harry Gurney (Nottinghamshire), Tom New (REL), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)
Other news: Ben Smith has joined the county as batting coach.

Last season - 9th in Division Two.

Leicestershire captain Matthew Hoggard is confident his side have learnt a great deal from their disastrous County Championship showing last season and expects a big improvement in 2012. They finished bottom in Division Two although they did win the FL t20. Robbie Joseph joins Hoggy in their pace attack, complimented by Wayne White, Nadeem Malik & Nathan Buck athough they have lost left arm seamer, Harry Gurney, to Notts. Veteran Claude Henderson and Jigar Naik will provide the spin option. The Windies test player Ramnaresh Sarwan will provide some solid reliability to their batting which was weakened considerably when James Taylor moved to Notts, during the winter and all-rounder Mcdonald left due to work permit/nationality problems. Their remaining batting looks very light weight apart from Will Jefferson and there appears to be little strength in depth. Paul Dixey and Ned Eckersley (who topped their batting averages last season) will be fighting for the vacant keepers slot after Paul Nixons retirement last year.
Prediction 8th. Odds 16/1.

NORTHANTS

Overseas player 2012: Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)
Ins: Kyle Coetzer (Durham); Con de Lange (South Africa)
Outs: David Lucas (Worcestershire), Mal Loye (REL), Tom Brett (REL), Gavin Baker (REL)
Other news: Northants have signed South African-born left-arm spinner Con de Lange for the 2012 season. The 31-year-old has played all his first-class cricket in South Africa, taking 175 wickets in spells with Boland, Cape Cobras and Eagles, but is now a UK resident. Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh allrounder, is among the candidates shortlisted to be Northamptonshire's second overseas player in this summer's Friends Life t20 competition. Shakib, the 24-year-old left-arm spinner who is currently rated as the world's best allrounder in the ICC's Test rankings, is one of three or four overseas players they are considering.

Last season - 3rd in Division Two.

Northants had a big disappointment last summer when missing out on promotion after being in pole position for most of the season. A late season charge by Surrey put Northants down to third place and, as a result, the club will be extra keen to ensure promotion this year. Chaminda Vaas remains with the club as overseas player, batsman Kyle Coetzer has joined them from Durham and left arm spinner Con de Lange joins them from South Africa. Bilal Shavayat, David Sales & Stephen Peters form the backbone of their batting, while all-rounder Andrew Hall and keeper Niall O`Brien (the Irish International) provide a strong middle order batting unit. Jack Brookes and Lee Daggett join Vaas to form the pace attack, while James Middlebrook will give them a second spinning option alongside Con de Lange. Despite having a good looking side, that has capable batsmen well down the order, I feel they will just miss out again this season, and finish in third place behind last seasons two relegated teams.
Prediction 3rd. Odds 8/1.

YORKSHIRE

Overseas player 2012: TBC
Ins: Phil Jaques (UKP), Alex Lees (YTH), James Wainman (YTH), Callum Geldart (YTH), Alex Lilley (YTH), Dan Hodgson (YTH)
Outs: David Wainwright (Derbyshire), Ben Sanderson (REL), Lee Hodgson (REL)
Other news: Former Australia Test batsman Jaques was originally announced as an overseas signing, but has now retired from Australian domestic cricket and will play on a UK passport. Former Australia paceman Jason Gillespie has joined as first-team coach, with ex-Kent boss Paul Farbrace in charge of the 2nd XI.

Last season - relegated (8th in Division One).

It appears to be a straight fight between Hampshire and Yorkshire for the number one slot in Division Two this season. Hampshire are seven players down, and have another 2 with limited availability, from last season, whereas Yorkshire have the same squad in place as last summer, so that should give them the edge over their south coast rivals. Yorkshire have a very strong looking squad with almost every player having International experience at various levels under their belts. However, they collectively under performed in a big way last season and deservedly got relegated, but with a new coaching team in place (apart from the “head honcho” himself), surely they can not under perform again. It just needs a focussed approach, for them to play to their undoubted potential and to avoid any complacency, but it will not be easy as there are several good teams in this Division, who are all capable of mounting a promotion charge in their own right.
Eight established top class batsmen, appear to be fighting for the 6 main batting slots, with three young batsmen in Lees, Leaning and Geldart also looking to break into the team, so that could cause an interesting selection dilemma for the new coach and captain. The bowling is strong in both seam and spin with five England or under 19 England players (Siddy, Bresnan, Shazad, Rashid, Rafiq) filling the bowling slots when at full strength. However, Tim Bresnan may be unavailable on England duties occasionally which will give Ashraf some opportunities to establish himself in the first team squad. Jonny Bairstow may also miss some games if selected for England for the ODI`s, but they have an able deputy keeper in Gerard Brophy. As long as they play to their potential, the season should end with the Division Two title going to Headingley, despite currently only being the bookies second favourites, behind the other 2011 relegated team, Hampshire.
Prediction 1st place. Odds 4/1.

The season starts two weeks tomorrow and apologies for the long tome. Realistically, any of Hampshire, Yorkshire, Northants, Kent or Essex could get promotion as they all have very capable sides, but in the light of all the new signings, transfers, and players missing, it surely has to be Yorkshire for the title and promotion. My heart always says Yorkshire are going to be champions, but my head does this year as well, as I can not see Hampshire still being the force they were last year with eight high-profile leavers.

40 over & T20 preview next week.

Bookies prices correct as of today.

I think Essex and Kent could be strong 'dark horses' for promotion this year- they each have a few reliable, experienced batsmen (Key, Nash, Stevens, Jones)/(Pettini, Shah, Bopara, Smith) supplemented by some promising youngsters (Blake, Bell-Drummond, Northeast)/(Godleman, Mickleburgh, Westley, Wheater) and again a decent mix of youth and experience in the bowling department; surely they can't do as badly as last season.
Agree that Gloucestershire will struggle, they look to have a very weak squad.
I'd be surprised if Northants repeated the heights of last season.
Not sure that the players released by Hampshire actually weaken their squad, other than McKenzie. I think they're in a fairly similar situation to Yorkshire, with a move away from the imports of the past and more focus on their younger talents. Michael Carberry being available all season will make a big difference, and I'm sure Katich will score plenty of runs.
Glamorgan's 3rd Aussie Hogan will not join until July by the way, so will miss Henriques' stay completely.

Thanks for the comments.

Agree with your appraisals of Essex and Kent and it was a difficult decision on which order to place the first five as all are quite capable of taking the title.
I think the main point with Hanpshire is the lack of batting from 6 downwards. After a first five of Katich, Adams, Carberry, Vince, & Ervine, it used to be Mckenzie, Macharenhas, Pothas and Cork (not necessarily in that order), now it will probably be Bates, Kabir Ali, Briggs, Tomlinson etc. Once the Hampshire first 5 go there is nowt much left batting wise.

Possibly need a re-think, the bookies do not rate our players. Been scrolling around a few betting sites on prices for "top batsman" and "top bowler" in Division Two and there is not one Yorkshire player in the top 20 in either category. Rob Key is the bookies favourite in the batsmen, and Chaminda Vaas the favourite in the bowlers. Surely we are not that bad are we?

Batting list

http://bettingzone.oddsc...ivision-two/top-batsman

Bowling list

http://bettingzone.oddsc...-division-two/top-bowler

Thanks JG, I had not noticed that. It`s probably last years list and not yet updated. Thought it was bizzare!!

Confirmation. He has signed, and I assume, will play against us next week. Shrek and Davies to open the bowling for Kent?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17485815

Essex now joint favourites to win Division Two with Skybet. Strange after playing only 1 match. Yorkshire now 4th favourites.

Tournament Winner

Essex 7/2 Hampshire 7/2
Kent 4/1
Yorkshire 9/2
Derbyshire 13/2
Gloucestershire 10/1
Leicestershire 14/1
Northamptonshire 16/1
Glamorgan 20/1

but Hants have Mascarenhas to return post IPL. We have Jaques....

I dont think we can make judgements after one game - last season we won our first game and after being 3rd in 2010 I bet the bookies had us as one of the favourites and Lancs tipped for relegation.

If I had to bet now though, I would favour Kent over most other teams, although their bowling attack may prove weak in the long term if injuries strike the ageing Davies and Shreck based on past history