A bit late as the season proper starts today, but I was wondering what peoples thoughts and fancies were to win the varying competitions?
In division 1 of the county championship I have gone for Hants & Yorkshire.
7/2 for Hants seems a fair enough price though Clark will only be there for 7 weeks, though the bowling with good support from Mascaranas, Tremlett, Ervine & Bruce still looks pretty decent. Warne should be able to galvanise them after their near miss last season.
Yorkshire @ 16/1 e/w with
ladbrokes who go 1/4 odds top 3 look a good outside bet. They have strengthened the batting well in bringing in Khan & Younis. Bowling looks a little weak but Bresnan and Rashid look very promising players and they have the experience of Gough, Gillespie and Kruis.
In division 2
Little bias as I support Notts, but they shouldn't really of been relegated last season. A collapse on the last day saw them go down. Maybe a slight weakness in bowling teams out with the only spin really coming from Swann. Shreck though had a really good 2006 season taking 54 wickets in 11 county championship matches. Also Ealham, Harris & Sidebottom all got their fair share. A trio of new recruits: Shafayat, Wagh and Jefferson should help overseas stars Hussey & Fleming in scoring enough runs batting wise.
7/2 seems a fair enough price on Notts.
I also had a wee dabble on Middlesex 8/1 e/w as they have recruited Vaas, R Johnson and Kartik which has given their bowling attack a much needed boost. They have strength in depth in their batting even allowing for potential England call ups.