Surrey pace bowlers hold key to County Championship

Surrey have reserves of pace bowling like no other county except Lancashire, and this season the holders of the county championship have to play four of their home games on the new sideways-pitches at Old Trafford which are not as pacey as their traditional ones.

While counties are stocked with fast-medium bowlers — and some with nothing but fast-medium — very few have anyone fast. In Stuart Meaker, who debuted for England’s 50-over team last winter, Surrey have one; and, rarer still, in Chris Jordan they have a quick-bowling all-rounder.

With Jade Dernbach, Tim Linley and Jon Lewis — signed from Gloucestershire – who has been nibbling the ball around on Surrey’s pre-season tours of Somerset and Essex, Surrey have the fuel in an era of reduced power-supplies; and there is also the possibly that Chris Tremlett might recover from his latest injury in time for the championship run-in.

The brown caps, or brown helmets, have batsmen too. The younger ones are shot-a-ball merchants more suited to the 20- and 40-over formats, but Surrey’s resources — as one of the richer, or least bankrupt, counties — have enabled them to sign veterans for them to bat around.

Given that county cricket now attracts only the left-overs from overseas — players not wanted by the Indian Premier League, whose fifth season extends to the end of May — Jacques Rudolph has been as big as any off-season signing this winter.

Rudolph may not have proved himself a Test opening batsman, but at number six he is not so much of an ‘lbw candidate’, has got away with closing the bat face and re-established himself in South Africa’s Test side. His relative absence from Yorkshire last season was a major reason for their demotion; and his acquisition by Surrey for the first two months of this season should guarantee their staying up, and maybe more.

The big question is whether Mark Ramprakash, at 42, can make any more big hundreds, especially after Rudolph departs for South Africa’s tour of England. Last season’s average of 33 was Ramprakash’s lowest since his debut year of 1987, and he made a single first-class century, leaving him on 114 in all.

Ramprakash got in last season, like Andrew Strauss in recent Tests, but didn’t go on from his 20s and 30s. Last week, when captaining MCC in Abu Dhabi against Lancashire, and when batting against a pink ball was fine except at twilight, he began his 26th first-class season with a 7 and 6.

As an ever higher proportion of top-level runs are scored in limited-overs formats, and an ever lower proportion in first-class cricket, nobody in future will come close to the 35,000 first-class runs that Ramprakash has clocked; and even Sachin Tendulkar, with 78, and Ricky Ponting, 77, are not going to approach his tally of first-class centuries.

This season’s county championship would round off not only an individual career but an era.

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LV County Championship previews

 Follow the Bear: Darren Maddy returns to action for Warwickshire against Worcestershire at Edgbaston Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Warwickshire v Worcestershire at Edgbaston

Warwickshire are missing key all-rounder Chris Woakes because of sore shins, an injury that will keep him sidelined for up to three weeks.

Seamer Naqaash Tahir and batsman Darren Maddy join the squad but captain Jim Troughton has failed to recover from a bruised shoulder.

Moeen Ali will captain Worcestershire for the first time against his former county in the absence of Daryl Mitchell who has a side strain. Wicketkeeper Ben Scott has rejoined on a month’s loan from Middlesex and displaces Ben Cox.

Yorkshire v Hampshire at Headingley

England seamer Tim Bresnan will make his first championship appearance for Yorkshire since the corresponding fixture at Scarborough last August.

All-rounder Richard Pyrah suffered a knee injury batting against Kent on Sunday. Seamer Moin Ashraf rejoins the squad. Former England seamer Kabir Ali is in line for his first Hampshire appearance in a year following his recovery from a knee injury.

Left arm seamer James Tomlinson may make his seasonal debut having overcome a foot injury but Friedel de Wet misses out.

Division Two

Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire at Bristol

Gloucestershire, who have signed Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien for the rest of the season, will be without former New Zealand batsman Hamish Marshall who broke a thumb against Middlesex.

Seamer Ian Saxelby replaces Marshall. Northamptonshire, the only side unbeaten in all cricket this season, have added left-arm seamers David Lucas and David Willey and slow left-armer Tom Brett to the side that beat Kent.

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Friends Provident T20 likely to be reduced following meeting of county chief executives at Lord's

Six counties indicated that they wished to retain the existing 16-match championship structure and four voted for a reduction to 14 matches. The other eight asked for more time to consider their position after it was made clear to counties that the T20 will revert to its old format from the current 16 match per side structure.

A clash of dates with the Champions League, which involves the domestic T20 champions and runners-up, has already forced the ECB to shorten the English season by a week.

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LV County Championship: match previews

 Back in the swing: Matt Prior returns to county championship action for Sussex against Nottinghamshire this week Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Durham v Somerset, Chester-le-Street

Durham’s championship captain Phil Mustard has recovered from an infected toe and will play his first game in a month. Michael Richardson makes way in the only change to the side that beat Warwickshire.

Somerset have added leg-spinner Max Waller to the side that beat Worcestershire. Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis has played his last match having linked up with the Sri Lankan tourists.

Sussex v Nottinghamshire, Hove

Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior will face his England team-mates Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad, the new England Twenty20 captain, as the trio make their first Championship appearances of the season.

Sussex paceman Amjad Khan has recovered from a groin strain. Akhil Patel, younger brother of Samit, has been called up by Nottinghamshire to replace Alex Hales, who broke his jaw against Yorkshire.

DIVISION TWO

Derbyshire v Essex, Derby

Ross Whiteley has been recalled by Derbyshire in place of all-rounder Jon Clare, who has been ruled out with a strained bicep.

Essex have dropped opening batsman Bill Godleman, who has mustered only 131 runs in 10 innings this season. Reserve wicketkeeper Adam Wheater will make his first championship appearance of the season as a specialist batsman.

Glamorgan v Kent, Cardiff

Glamorgan, who have not beaten Kent in a championship match in Cardiff since 1967, are without seamer Huw Waters because of a back injury, but have included all-rounder Jim Allenby, off-spinner Robert Croft and seamer Will Owen to the side beaten by Essex.

Injury-ravaged Kent welcome back all-rounder Matt Coles from a hamstring strain in place of Adam Ball and have added Scotland seamer Dewald Nel to their squad.

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Majority of teams oppose reducing County Championship to 14 matches a side

 Job done: Hampshire celebrate victory during the Friends Provident T20 Final over Somerset at The Rose Bowl on Aug 14 last year Photo: GETTY IMAGES

When county chairmen and chief executives met at Lord’s two weeks ago to discuss possible changes to the structure for next year, eight counties asked for more time to consider their position.

The ECB then sent out a questionnaire to counties which had to be returned to Lord’s by last Friday.

Telegraph Sport understands the questionnaire is likely to produce a 12-6 vote in favour of retaining the 16-match championship structure.

Counties have been warned that retaining the existing structure would probably be at the expense of English participation in the Champions League T20, whose recent scheduling has clashed with the end of the English season. Last season Hamshire and Somerset lost out when a change of dates by the Champions League caused a serious overlap with the ECB’s schedule.

Withdrawal from the Champions League would cost each county £50,000, significantly more to the two who qualify for the global event, but the majority of counties regard the integrity of the County Championship as being more important.

“I don’t think that the Champions League should determine what we are doing in county cricket,” said Leicestershire chief executive Mike Siddall. “We don’t know how the Champions League will stand up in the long term and we don’t believe that the ECB should be bowing down to a competition that benefits just two counties.”

The 14-strong ECB board, which includes four county chairmen in Peter Wright (Nottinghamshire), Colin Graves (Yorkshire), Ian Lovett (Middlesex) and Nigel Hilliard (Essex), must now decide whether to support the view of the majority of counties or back Team England who would like to reduce the amount of county cricket.

The Professional Cricketers’ Association canvassed its 18 county representatives which produced mixed messages. The representatives, who consulted with their players, voted 14-4 in favour of retaining a 16-match County Championship but were split 10-8 for a 14-match format if it meant sacrificing playing in the Champions League.

“We believe that the County Championship is it stands produces good cricketers for England and competitive and intense cricket. We mess with it at our peril,” said PCA chief executive Angus Fraser.

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Twenty20 success will be strong pointer to new county cricket model

 Wanting more: Dominic Cork of Hampshire celebrates victory during the Friends Provident T20 Final last year Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Spearheaded by David Morgan, the former chairman of the ECB and president of the International Cricket Council, his paper is charged with producing a blueprint for a vibrant domestic game in this country.

Last year’s Twenty20 competition was a tough sell, with falling attendances leading to a cut in the number of fixtures from 2011.

It took nearly six months for the counties to agree to the reduction – some are still unhappy about the decision – and the delay has meant this year’s competition remains at 144 matches.

It is a mammoth schedule. Each team plays at least 16 matches, and counties are being imaginative in their attempts to pull in supporters. A mixture of fun and the downright naff will include an opportunity to play darts against Phil Taylor at the Oval and an Elvis night in Cardiff.

Morgan’s report, which will be submitted to the ECB at the end of the year, will look beyond just the Twenty20 competition but the state of health of county cricket’s most marketable product provides strong evidence to make a prognosis for the rest of the domestic game.

“There is more concern [in cricket] about the bottom line today than at any time in the last decade,” Morgan told Telegraph Sport.

“The recession has not made things any easier but we shall be working at trying to determine what might be a model for the first-class counties into the future. We can only do that with valuable input from the counties themselves and I expect that to be forthcoming.

“A vibrant domestic game would see improved spectator interest. There is a huge amount of interest in county cricket in this country.

"That is not manifest in terms of crowds at the grounds. There are some exceptions but how we maintain that interest through a long summer is something we need to consider”

Morgan has not ruled out looking at franchise cricket, a swear word at ECB board level since the advent of the Indian Premier League changed cricket.

As far as some players are concerned, it is the only answer. “I think we can match the IPL but you might have to go to a franchise system and cut down the teams,” said Dominic Cork, captain of defending champions Hampshire. “It is about producing a good tournament.

"We have one now. We play too many games but all in all if we can try to get as close to IPL as possible, then good.

“What we can do is make sure that when we play cricket at the Oval, for example, it is packed because you have got two franchise teams such as London playing Manchester, with heaps of international players and some local players. We will then see big crowds.”

That is for the future, and a distant one at that. This tournament will probably be more popular this year with no football World Cup to compete against but for the teams it will again be a test of stamina with the group stage crammed into just six weeks.

“The schedule is hard,” Cork said. “This year we finish a day/night game at 10pm in Cardiff and start a four-day game the following morning in Worcester.”

With county squads thinner than ever before because of finances, counties have found it hard to attract top-class overseas players. The upside is that this year’s tournament should be about young English players such as Ben Stokes, of Durham, James Taylor, of Leicestershire, and Somerset’s Jos Buttler. With places available in the England one-day squads this summer, the next few weeks are a timely opportunity to make a mark.

“Anybody could win this tournament,” Cork said. “There are so many good teams out there. You play teams twice as well and last year Sussex were walking our league but then didn’t qualify because we beat them on the last day and that is how it goes. You have to try to build your momentum. You have to peak at the right time.”

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Friends Life T20 opening fixtures

Wednesday

South Group

Hampshire v Somerset (Rose Bowl, 7.10pm).

Thursday

North Group

Derbys v Lancs (Derby, 7)Durham v Warwicks (Emirates Durham, 5.40).

South Group

Surrey v Gloucs (Kia Oval, 6.30)Sussex v Essex (Hove, 7.10).

Friday

North Group

Lancs v Worcs (Old Trafford, 5.30)Northants v Leics (Northampton, 6.50)Notts v Derbys (Trent Bridge, 6)Yorks v Warwicks (Headingley Carnegie, 5.40).

South Group

Essex v Gloucs (Chelmsford, 7)Glamorgan v Middlesex (SWALEC Stadium, 7.30)Hants v Surrey (Rose Bowl, 7)Kent v Somerset (Tunbridge Wells, 5.30).

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Ttwweennttyy success will be strong pointer to the new model of county cricket

Wanting more: Dominic Cork of Hampshire celebrates victory during the Friends Provident T20 Final last year Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Led by David Morgan, the former President of the ECB and the President of the International Cricket Council, his paper is responsible for producing a detailed plan for a dynamic domestic game in this country.

Ttwweennttyy competition last year, it was difficult to accept, with the decline in attendance, leading to a reduction in the number of fixtures in 2011.

It took almost six months for the counties to consent to the reduction - some are still unhappy with the decision - and remains of this year competition has led to delay in 144 games.

It is a schedule to mammoth. Each team plays at least 16 matches and counties were being imaginative in their attempts to draw supporters. A mixture of pleasure and the naff squarely will include the opportunity to play darts against Phil Taylor at the oval and a night of Elvis in Cardiff.

Morgan report, which will be submitted to the ECB by the end of the year, will be to look beyond just ttwweennttyy competition, but the State of health of the most marketable product county cricket provides strong evidence to make a prognosis for the rest of the inner part.

"There is more fear [in cricket] on the bottom line today than at any time in the last decade," Morgan told Telegraph Sport.

"The recession is not things more easy, but we will work to try to determine what could be a model for the counties of first class in the future.". We can only do that with the valuable contribution of the counties themselves, and I think that it is forthcoming.

"A dynamic domestic game would see enhanced spectator interest.". There is a huge amount of interest in county cricket in this country.

"This is not apparent in terms of crowds on the ground." "There are a few exceptions, but how to sustain that interest with a long summer is something, that we need to consider"

Morgan was not ousted by watching cricket franchise, an expletive at the level of the BCE Board since the advent of the Indian Premier League has changed cricket.

With regard to some players, it is the only possible response. "I believe that we can match the IPL, but you may need to go to a franchise system and cutting teams", said Dominic Cork, the champions Hampshire captain. "It is to produce a good tournament."

"We have one now.". We play too many games but overall if we can try to get too close to possible IPL, then good.

"What we can do, is to ensure that when we play cricket oval, for example, she is excited because you have two teams of franchise such as London to play in Manchester, with lots of international players and some local players." Then we will see large crowds. »

It is for the future and a distant to this. This tournament will be probably more popular this year with no cutting of the world to compete against but also for the football teams to be, once again, an endurance test with the phase of groups packed in only six weeks.

"The schedule is hard," said Cork. "This year finish us a game day and night at 10 pm at Cardiff and start a four-day game the following day morning in Worcester.".

With squadrons County thinner than ever before because of finances, counties have found it difficult to attract the players overseas in first class. It is that tournament this year should be subject of young English players such as Ben Stokes, of Durham, James Taylor, Leicestershire and Jos Buttler of Somerset. With seats are available in squads of a day of England this summer, the next few weeks are a timely opportunity to make a mark.

"Anyone could win this tournament," said Cork. "There are so many good teams out there.". You play twice more teams and Sussex last year walked our Championship but then did not qualify because beat them us on the last day and this is how it goes. You try to build your momentum. You have to at the right time. »

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Opening of life fixtures T20 Friends

Wednesday

Group South

Hampshire v Somerset (Rose Bowl, 7.10 pm).

Thursday

Group North

Derby (Derby, 7) Lancs v Durham v Warwicks (Emirates Durham, 5.40).

Group South

Surrey v Gloucs (oval Kia, 6: 30 pm) Sussex v Essex (Hove, 7.10).

Friday

Group North

Lancs v Worcs (Old Trafford, 5.30) Northants v centres (Northampton, 6.50) Notts v Derby (Trent Bridge, 6) Yorks v Warwicks (Headingley Carnegie, 5.40).

Group South

Essex v Gloucs (Chelmsford, 7) Glamorgan v Middlesex (SWALEC Stadium, 7.30) v Surrey Hants (Rose Bowl, 7) Kent v Somerset (Tunbridge Wells, 5.30).

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The majority of teams oppose reducing County Championship 14 matches to a side

Work done: Hampshire celebrate the victory in the final of the Friends Provident T20 over Somerset at the Rose Bowl on August 14 last year Photo: GETTY IMAGES

When county Presidents and business leaders gathered in the Lord two weeks to discuss possible changes to the structure for the next year, eight counties requested more time to consider their position.

The ECB then sent a questionnaire to the counties which had to be returned to the Lord by last Friday.

That sport Telegraph understands that the questionnaire is likely to produce a vote of 12-6 to keep the structure of 16-match Championship.

Counties have been notified that retaining the existing structure would probably to the detriment of recent English Champions League T20, including scheduling participation has faced the end of the English season. The season was last power and Somerset lost when a change of date by the Champions League has caused a serious overlap with the calendar of the ECB.

The withdrawal of the Champions League would cost each county £ 50,000, significantly more to the two who qualify for the world event, but the majority of counties see the integrity of the County Championship as being more important.

"I do not think that the Champions League must determine what we do in county cricket,", said Chief Executive Mike Siddall Leicestershire. "We do not know how the Champions League will be standing in the long term and we do not believe that the ECB should be bowing down to a competition that benefits just two counties."

14-Fort ECB Council, which includes four Presidents Peter Wright counties (Nottinghamshire), Colin graves (Yorkshire), Ian Lovett (Middlesex) and Nigel Hilliard (Essex), must now decide whether the opinion of the majority of counties or team England who wishes to reduce the amount of cricket for the County of return.

Professional cricketers Association review in-depth its 18 representatives of County produces ambiguous messages. The representatives, who consulted with their players, vote 14-4 in favour of keeping a 16-match County Championship, but were split 10-8 for a 14-match format if it meant sacrificing playing in the Champions League.

"We believe that the County Championship is that it provides good cricket for England and intense and competitive cricket players." "We mess with it at our peril,", said the BCP Executive Chief Angus Fraser.

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