It's another big few days of County Championship action in both Division 1 and 2 with 5 games starting off tomorrow and another game starting out on Monday as most sides near the half way point of their County Championship campaigns, and it's certainly going better for some sides than it is for others with a number of sides battling it out for the Division 1 title while it seems the rest of the Division 1 teams are fighting against relegation, while there are still a lot of sides chasing down the 2 promotion spots at the top of Division 2.
So then, it's time for me to look ahead to some big games this week:
Division 1
Sunday 8th June:
Somerset Vs Sussex - This should be a very good 4 day contest between 2 sides that are fairly evenly matched and are both looking towards the top end of the table and the Division 1 title, but this will be a key game for them as too many more draws are not going to be of much use for them. Somerset are 3rd in the table and only 12 points back from Middlesex with a game in hand and they have a squad well suited to FC cricket with the likes of Trescothick, Nick Compton, Devon Petersen along with Trego and also George Dockrell who both bowl better in the FC format. Sussex probably lack a little bit of strength compared to Somerset but they do have a nice squad with experienced Jon Lewis heading up their bowling line-up but the continued absence of Chris Jordan due to International duties with Matt Prior joining him will certainly not help. However there batting like Somerset's also looks very strong with the likes of Ed Joyce, Luke Wright, Chris Nash and Rory Hamilton-Brown.
Prediction: If someone is going to win it'll most likely be Somerset but the Draw is certainly favourite at Taunton with strong batting sides.
Warwickshire Vs Lancashire - These 2 sides however are looking over their shoulder at relegation with Lancashire sat in the relegation zone 7 points adrift of Durham and Warwickshire who are in 6th though with a game in hand. Warwickshire really don't seem to be as strong as they were in the last 2 years but with Rankin, Chris Wright and Jeetan Patel in their bowling line-up it seems to be the batsmen letting them down with Chopra, Porterfield and Westwood looking like they have to pull most of the weight. Lancashire meanwhile seem to be let down by their batting which is simply not strong enough to accompany a bowling line-up including young spinner Simon Kerrigan and Kabir Ali as well as the experienced Glen Chapple. They seem to be missing the experience in the batting and the quality in the batting just to accompany the bowlers.
Prediction: With stronger bowlers but weaker batsmen I think we'll get a result. Warwickshire just seem to be a little stronger all around.
Yorkshire Vs Nottinghamshire - Again this should be a cracking match between two teams that are also looking towards the top of the table and have incredibly strong teams. Yorkshire are in 2nd place just 5 points off of Middlesex with a game in hand. Notts are back in 4th and 17 points away from Middlesex so they need to start picking up some more wins, and they certainly cannot afford to lose this match. Nottinghamshire do have a very strong side with Andre Adams, Ajmal Shahzad and Peter Siddle heading their bowling line-up with all-rounder Samit Patel offering some top batting and very useful left arm spin. Michael Lumb, Alex Hales, James Taylor along with Patel boast a very strong top order although one that could certainly work on their FC games in my opinion. Yorkshire look incredibly strong with a great bowling line-up and batting card, although they will miss the presence of Liam Plunkett due to international duty. However they do have Tim Bresnan, Jack Brooks and the leg spin of Adil Rashid at their disposal and that makes them look very strong. Batting wise the likes of Lyth, Lees, Bairstow, Gale and Finch giving them a strong feel and with all-rounders in Rashid and Bresnan they certainly bat deep.
Prediction: This should be a very interesting FC match but Yorkshire just look a little stronger and have more form behind them.
Division 2
Sunday 8th June:
Leicestershire Vs Derbyshire - Both of these 2 teams have played 6 championship games so far this season and they are propping up the division 2 table having drawn 4 games and not won one between them. It really has been a poor show from both this year, starting with Leicestershire who have been very poor in the FC format for a number of years though. Losing their last match on the last day by 9 wickets highlighting their general lack of quality in the bowling line-up. Their batting is nothing special either although Josh Cobb, Niall O'Brien the keeper and captain Sarwan should be pulling the side up on that front. Derbyshire's team honestly doesn't look as weak as their results suggest in terms of players but without confidence and momentum it will always be tough. But with bowers like Palladino, Wainwright and Groenewald they shouldn't be struggling as much as they are there but the batsmen like Madsen and Borrington seem to be struggling for form leaving Moore and North to make the runs and they can't always do it.
Predictions: Both have struggled but I think Derbyshire may edge this if they can force a result.
Worcestershire Vs Hampshire - Meanwhile these 2 sides seem to have all the momentum as they are currently in the Division 2 promotion places having not lost a game between them with 3 wins each and 4 draws. Worcestershire are riding on a high at the moment in both this and in the T20 Blast and they're a side full of confidence. They will be hit now by the absence of Moeen Ali on Test Match duty but they have plenty of quality elsewhere and I'm always impressed by Kervezee for them as he seems to be coming along nicely just as Shantry does with the ball. Ajmal is a great signing for them and he will also play a big part in this match. Hampshire look like a very strong side as always with the likes of Jimmy Adams and the incredible young James Vince heading the batting line-up but their bowling is the only thing letting them down in my opinion even despite the spin of young Danny Briggs.
Predictions: If there is a result I fancy Hampshire to win but I think a Draw is equally as likely.
Monday 9th June:
Gloucestershire Vs Surrey - Gloucestershire are the nearest challengers to the top 2 but they are 31 points behind the top 2 in 3rd place so they really need to be winning every game they can but this one against mid-table Surrey will be key as well. Gloucestershire seem to have a strong batting line-up as they showed in their 9 wicket win against Leicestershire last championship game. The Gidman's are a massive part of the Gloucester team as are Chris Dent and Michael Klinger. Surrey meanwhile have a very strong team and it is surprising that they've only won one championship game with bowlers like Tremlett, Batty and Dernbach and a batting line-up that has really struggled despite Jason Roy, Steven Davies and Solanki's presence but in recent years Surrey's championship batting line-up simply just doesn't look as strong as their bowling.
Prediction: The draw might be a favourite result here, if I had to pick a winner Gloucestershire should take advantage of Surrey's weak batting.
It should be another intriguing week of County Championship action though as we head towards the second half of the Championship season.
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