WRF SEASON PREVIEW 2009

By Stu Acton

Here we are about to start a hectic 2009 cricket season. Three domestic competitions all up and running by the end of May alongside the international matches v the West Indies; then the two Twenty/20 World Cup competitions in June for the lads and lasses and the Ashes to follow in July and August, as the dessert.

A new innovation this year is a split in the twenty/20 competition with two windows of matches with some CC games in between.

Will Joe Sayers re-establish himself
as Yorkshire's opener in 2009?

Lets start with the County Championship...

DURHAM (2008 - County Championship; Winners, Division One; Pro 40: 3rd, Division One; FP Trophy: Semi-finalists, Top of Group D; Twenty20 Cup: Semi-finalists)
Captain: Will Smith
Coach: Geoff Cook
Overseas players: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI), David Warner (Aus)
Ins: Ian Blackwell (Somerset), David Warner
Outs: Gary Scott, Garry Park (Derbyshire)

Prospects: A new captain steps into Dale Benkenstein`s shoes, and Smith comes across as an eminently sensible choice. A delay in Chanderpauls arrival could hinder their chances early doors. Their pace attack is still the best in the country but the lack of a decent spin option could be their downfall late on in the season, even with the arrival of more experience and ability in the shape of Ian Blackwell, alas, he has never been a big ripper of a bowler but his batting should strengthen the middle order. The Twenty20 signing of David Warner is intriguing and Durham should continue to rub shoulders with the best on all fronts.
Bookies joint favourite to take the title again at 9/2.

HAMPSHIRE (2008 - County Championship: 3rd, Division One; Pro 40: Runners-up in Division One; FP Trophy: 4th, Group A; Twenty20 Cup: Group losers)
Captain: Dimitri Mascarenhas
Coach: Giles White
Overseas players: Marcus North (Aus), Imran Tahir (Pak)
Ins: Dominic Cork (Lancashire), Marcus North (Gloucestershire)
Outs: Ian Harvey, Nantie Hayward, Rory Kleinveldt, Greg Lamb, Kevin Latouf, Richard Morris, Michael Brown (Surrey)

Prospects: Flattered to deceive last year and will be looking to prove the doubters wrong again after finishing 3rd last year with a late season charge. They have a decent spin and seam attack but are probably lacking sufficient runs and surely can only attain a mid-table finish. The old-stager Dominic Cork can be expected to have a significant impact on their one day performances and this surely is their best chance of silverware.
Bookies price 6-1.

LANCASHIRE (2008 - County Championship: 5th, Division One; Pro 40: 8th, Division One, Relegated; FP Trophy: 4th, Group D; Twenty20 Cup: Quarter-finalists)
Captain: Glen Chapple
Coach: Peter Moores
Overseas players: VVS Laxman (Ind), Ashwell Prince (SA)
Ins: Steven Cheetham, Simon Kerrigan, Adrian Shankar Outs: Dominic Cork (Hampshire), Stuart Law (Derbyshire), Simon Marshall, Iain Sutcliffe

Prospects: New captain and a new coach, but it will not be Lancashire's year. A transitional period is very likely, although Peter Moores has the obvious credentials and motivation to succeed. Laxman and Prince will bring sharply contrasting overseas contributions in the middle order and others will have to adapt. Apart from Chapple and Mahmood, assuming Anderson and Flintoff`s absence, its very likely that their rookie bowling attack will struggle.
Bookies price 8-1.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (2008 - County Championship: Runners-up, Division One; Pro 40: 4th, Division One; FP Trophy: Quarter-finalists, Runners-up in Group C; Twenty20 Cup: Group losers)
Captain: Chris Read
Coach: Mick Newell
Overseas players: Adam Voges (Aus)
Ins: Ali Brown (Surrey), Jason Brown (Northamptonshire)
Outs: AJ Harris (Leicestershire), Gareth Clough, Rob Ferley (Kent)

Prospects: Right in the mix in most competitions in recent years, Nottinghamshire faltered with the championship almost within their grasp last season. They look capable of coming back for more, and will be very competitive in all forms of cricket. and many will hope the two veteran Browns can make a success of their respective moves north. Three top class spinners and a great pace attack, unless England come a calling, and they will be pressing Durham hard for the title.
Bookies joint favourite to take the title at 9/2.

SOMERSET (2008 - County Championship: 4th, Division One; Pro 40: 6th, Division One; FP Trophy: Quarter-finalists, Runners-up in Group A; Twenty20 Cup: Group losers)
Captain: Justin Langer
Coach: Brian Rose
Overseas player: Justin Langer
Ins: David Stiff
Outs: Ian Blackwell (Durham), Andy Sutton, Rob Woodman (Gloucestershire)

Prospects: Langer is sure to keep making everyone concentrate at Taunton. Ian Blackwell's departure is a big loss, though, and the general feeling is that Somerset will be only mid-table at best. The Taunton wickets and their massive strength in batting coupled with their mediocre bowling attack will ensure lots of draws and few losses. Will not win enough matches to be challengers for the title.
Bookies price 15/2.

SUSSEX (2008 - County Championship: 6th, Division One; Pro 40: Winners, Division One; FP Trophy: Bottom of Group B; Twenty20 Cup: Group losers)
Captain: Michael Yardy
Coach: Mark Robinson
Overseas player: Yasir Arafat (Pak)
Ins: Ed Joyce (Middlesex), Yasir Arafat (Kent), Pepler Sandri
Outs: Mushtaq Ahmed, Ryan Harris, Chris Adams

Prospects: Michael Yardy knows he has big job on his hands and it would be unfair on him to expect the Sussex success story to carry on regardless. Ed Joyce is obviously a sound signing but Sussex will miss Mushy and do not have in Ollie Raynor a proven spinner. They do have Collymore to open the bowling with Arafat with Lewry and Martin-Jenkins in reserve but nevertheless could be fighting against relegation this year, although the bookies have them at 6-1.

WARWICKSHIRE (2008 - County Championship: Winners, Division Two, Promoted; Pro 40: 6th, Division Two; FP Trophy: 4th, Group C; Twenty20 Cup: Quarter-finalists)
Captain: Darren Maddy
Coach: Ashley Giles
Overseas players: Chris Martin (Nzl), Monde Zondeki (SA), Jeetan Patel (Nzl)
Ins: Ateeq Javid, Rikki Clarke (Derbyshire)
Outs: Tim Groenewald (Derbyshire), Lee Daggett (Northamptonshire), Stuart Hole, Nick James, Luke Parker, Michael Powell, Ian Salisbury

Prospects: Ashley Giles has begun the revival but does not yet have a playing staff which looks ready to add top-flight silverware to last year's Division Two table-topping. A strong batting side with 2 of last years top 5 batsmen (Trott and Frost) and Bell playing regularly. A possible signing, David Malan from Middlesex will also help strengthen the batting along with the return of Ambrose. Difficult to beat but will not bowl enough sides out twice to win matches.
Bookies price 17-1.

WORCESTERSHIRE (2008 - County Championship: Runners-up, Division Two, Promoted; Pro 40: 7th, Division One, play-off winners; FP Trophy: 3rd, Group A; Twenty20 Cup: Group losers)
Captain: Vikram Solanki
Coach: Steve Rhodes
Overseas player: Ashley Noffke (Aus)
Ins: Ian Fisher (Gloucestershire), Imran Arif
Outs: Graeme Hick

Prospects: Australia seamer, Noffke has always seemed a sure-fire bet to take a hatful of wickets in England, but injury has often conspired against him. A full season for him, and Simon Jones using the seamer friendly New Road wickets, would be ideal for them if Worcestershire is to consolidate on promotion.
Bookies price 14-1.

YORKSHIRE (2008 - County Championship: 7th, Division One; Pro 40: Runners-up, Division Two, Promoted; FP Trophy: Semi-finalists, Runners-up in Group D; Twenty20 Cup: Disqualified)
Captain: Anthony McGrath
Coach: Martyn Moxon
Overseas player: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (Pak)
Ins: John Blain, Lee Hodgson (Surrey), Azeem Rafiq, Jonathan Bairstow
Outs: Darren Gough, Gary Balance, Mark Lawson (Derbyshire), Greg Wood

Prospects: An injury-free season from Naved is vital for Yorkshires chances as he is a vital cog in a very useful seam attack. Yorkshire also has great spin options, while the batting is strong with plenty of depth. And MV and Hoggy, will both be out to impress the England selectors. However, the main requirement for a successful County Championship campaign is consistency: Yorkshire need to continue all season long their last two seasons flying starts, when they headed the CC by the end of May in both years, only to end up fighting against relegation. Probably the best of the rest, after Notts and Durham, but not reflected in the bookies price of 12-1. Could be worth a punt!!

My predictions -- 1. Durham, 2. Notts, 3. Yorkshire, 4. Hants, 5. Somerset, 6. Lancashire, 7.Sussex, 8. Worcestershire, 9 Warwickshire.



Yorkshire need a big year
from Rana Naved

FP groups

Yorks, Gloucs, Surrey, Sussex, Durham.
Ireland, Worcestershire, Notts, Leicestershire, Hants.
Derbyshire, Glam, Essex, Lancs , Northants.
Kent, Warwicks, Scotland, Somerset, Middlesex

A tough group for Yorkshire and it will be difficult for us to qualify for the QF. Gloucs have had a fantastic one- day record for a number of years, Durham were the FP winners in 2007 and semi-finalists last year, Susses are the Pro-40 Division One champs and Surrey are always a good one-day side. Yorkshire will need to be on top form in every match, especially as Darren Gough, last seasons best bowler in this competition, is no longer with them.

The ECB seem to have shot themselves in the foot with the FP, with the QF`s scheduled just three days after the final group matches, It will be almost impossible for four of the clubs to arrange effective ticketing in such a short-time and thus it will be a logistics nightmare for the fortunate (or unfortunate) clubs drawn at home in the quarter-finals.

Last 8 predictions Durham, Sussex, Notts, Hants, Essex, Lancs, Kent, Middlesex.

Twenty/20

Yorkshire have indicated they will not sign a twenty/20 specialist replacement overseas player for Naved, who is banned from playing in this competition due to his ICL connections. Despite several players being available, including the ex. Yorkshire player Yuvraj, this decision will seriously handicap the side, and again as in the FP, it is difficult to see them progressing through to the QF stage. Notts and Durham appear to be the sides to beat in the Northern Group and my predicted quarter-finalists are Kent, Essex, Durham, Notts, Lancs, Somerset, Sussex and Gloucs.

Pro-40

This is the last season of this competition, so with no promotion or relegation it surely is a good year for the teams to look at some of the youngsters in their respective squads. Notts or Durham again seem to be favourites to take the Division One title and Yorkshire will find it difficult, with some tough matches and several good one-day sides in the division, to finish any higher than mid-table.

2009 Milestones

(First class only)* Joe Sayers needs 185 runs to reach 3,000 career runs
* Tim Bresnan needs 10 wickets to reach 200 career wickets
* Gerard Brophy needs 102 runs to reach 4,000 career runs
* Andrew Gale needs 581 runs to reach 2,000 career runs
* Adam Lyth needs 324 runs to reach 1,000 career runs
* Anthony McGrath needs 525 runs to reach 12,000 career runs
* Rana Naved needs 16 wickets to reach 500 career wickets
* Adil Rashid needs 340 rns to reach 2,000 career runs
* Chris Taylor needs 385 runs to reach 2,000 career runs

Links

BBC Season Preview Link

James Buttler, Yorkshire's PR & Communications Manager, Previews the 2009 Season Link

Rhythm of summer replaced by chaos Link

Be sure to enter the WRF F&P prediction contest Link

Poll: Where will Yorkshire finish in 2009? Link