County-by-county guide to the First Division

Essex

Coach: Graham Gooch

Captain: Ronnie Irani

Overseas players: Andy Flower (Zim); Scott Brant (Zim)

Central contracts: Nasser Hussain

This season: CC Div I; NL Div I

Last season: CC II Champions; NL II 3rd; C&G quarter-finals; B&H finalists.

This is a team as bristly as its coach's beard used to be. Bags of talent hungering for more success after bouncing back into the top flight as Second Division champions. They are perfectly capable of staying up, they have the batsmen to get them runs in the person of Flower, Habib, Irani, young Jefferson and the remarkable, born-again Stephenson, who also featured with the ball after scoring his first Championship hundred for four years last season. Robinson finally looked the class batsman he has always threatened to be. But, without Cowan, they will need huge efforts from their thinnish attack. Should enjoy more one day success as well.

In: Brant, Nick Dennis (Berks), Adrian McCoubrey (Ballymena).

Out: Richard Clinton, Mark Ilott.

Kent

Coach: Ian Brayshaw

Captain: David Fulton

Overseas player: Andrew Symonds (Aus)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div I; NL Div I

Last season: CC I 3rd; NL I 5th; C&G semi-final; B&H Group stage.

If they have weeded correctly, then the garden of England may well have a blooming good summer. Last season, Amjad and Saggers accounted for 142 wickets between them, now with Sheriyar (57 for Worcestershire) they look even more formidable. Symonds can be counted on to get a lot of runs, likewise Fulton and Key, but Smith must turn more fifties into centuries, while Walker, a top batsman on his day, might be better advised to change his name to 'Runner' to bring more luck. Trego may well prove an inspired signing, but he did fail to cut the mustard in three seasons at Somerset.

In: Michael Carberry (Surrey), Alamgir Sheriyar (Worcs), Peter Trego (Somerset), Ian Flanagan, Matthew Dennington.

Out: Matthew Fleming (ret), James Golding, James Hockley, Martin McCague (all released), Paul Nixon, David Masters (both to Leics).

Lancashire

Coach: Mike Watkinson

Captain: Warren Hegg

Overseas players: Stuart Law (Aus); Harbhajan Singh (Ind)

Central contract: Andrew Flintoff

This season: CC Div I; NL Div II

Last season: CC I 4th; NL II 5th; C&G Fourth round; B&H semi-finals.

The sometime "one-day kings" are geared up for a different crown. Harbhajan's delayed start because of injury is a blow, but Law's bat should take them a long way down the Championship road, so that by the time the Turbanator arrives they could still be well placed. New signings Loye and Sutcliffe can take them still further, and, considering the rest of the crew did them proud last season, they have to be worth a punt as the team most likely to spoil Surrey's party. The attack, even without the Indian Test off-spinner, looks tasty. They may even lift some one day silverware as well.

In: Harbhajan, Mal Loye (Northants), Iain Sutcliffe (Leics), Steven Crook, Mark Currie, Sajid Mahmood, Tim Rees.

Out: David Byas, Neil Fairbrother, Graham Lloyd (all ret), Ryan Driver, Tim Roberts, Mike Smethurst (all released).

Leicestershire

Coach: Phil Whitticase

Captain: Phil DeFreitas

Overseas players: Virender Sehwag (Ind); Brad Hodge (Aus)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div I; NL Div I

Last season: CC I 5th; NL I 6th; C&G Fourth round; B&H quarter-final

They will probably do well just to survive the summer after the winter they have had. It certainly looked as if the heart had been ripped out of the squad as one after another the players left. But amid the recriminations there were some astute signings, youngsters yearning for success, old dogs with plenty of life in them. The return of Nixon, as fine a wicketkeeper-batsmen as ever got going when the going got tough, could be telling. Sehwag will be full of runs, as should Hodge; Amin is a canny left-arm spinner and should be an ideal foil for Snape's off spin.

In: Sehwag, Hodge (Victoria), Paul Nixon, David Masters (Kent), Jeremy Snape (Gloucs), Rupesh Amin (Surrey), John Maunders (Middx), John Sadler (Yorks).

Out: Michael Bevan (released), Vince Wells (Durham), Iain Sutcliffe (Lancs), Neil Burns, Stephen Adshead, Carl Crowe, Ashley Wright (all released).

Middlesex

Coach: John Emburey

Captain: Andrew Strauss

Overseas players: Joe Dawes (Aus) temporary cover for Ashley Noffke (Aus), Abdul Razzaq (Pak)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div I; NL Div II.

Last season: CC I 2nd; NL II 9th; C&G 3rd round; B&H Group stage.

Questions are being asked of them, what are they playing? Cricket, or the name game? To those of Hutton and Compton can now be added that of Richards. Mali, son of West Indies legend Sir Viv, is on the books. The return to the First Division will provide the perfect stage for the likes of Joyce, Koenig, Strauss, Shah and company. The attack needs more consistency, but should be competitive, if not downright destructive. The loss of the wily Tufnell robs them of some firepower, but it makes room for a youngster to make his name. If they can rise to the challenge, the sons should all beam.

In: Dawes, Ben Gannon (Glos), Tom Savill (Camb U), Chris Whelan, Mali Richards, Alan Coleman, David Holt.

Out: Angus Fraser (ret), Phil Tufnell (ret), Aaron Laraman (Somerset), John Maunders (Leics), Ian Jones, Matt Creese, Carlo Rendell (all released).

Nottinghamshire

Coach: Mike Newell/Paul Johnson

Captain: Jason Gallian

Overseas players: Steve Elworthy (SA) temp cover for Chris Cairns (NZ), Stuart MacGill (Aus)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div I; NL Div II

Last season: CC II 3rd; NL I 9th; C&G 4th round; B&H Group stage.

What with Australia's MacGill to tie the opposition in knots with his leg spin, New Zealand's Cairns to hammer the runs as only he can and England's Afzaal to carry on where he left off with the bat in the summer, this has all the makings of being a very competitive squad, with a lot of all-round depth. There is a good balance of the raw and the wrinkled, the likes of Shafayat (as long as the England selectors do not wake up to his massive potential) supported by the experienced evergreen Bicknell. There is certainly enough promise to suggest some mighty tussles in the Championship, and perhaps even success in the one day game.

In: Cairns, Elworthy, Russell Warren (Northants).

Out: Paul Johnson (ret).

Surrey

Coach: Keith Medlycott

Captain: Adam Hollioake

Overseas players: Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood (both Pak)

Central contracts: Mark Butcher, Alec Stewart

This season: CC Div I; NL Div I

Last season: CC I Champions; NL II 2nd; C&G s-f; B&H Group stage

This is a squad crammed with brilliance. The batting beggars belief, with youngsters Clarke and Newman (and do watch out for Benning) to set alongside Thorpe (England permitting), Brown, Ramprakash, Ward and Hollioake. Not forgetting Test men Butcher and Stewart and overseas signing Mahmood. The attack can count on Bicknell, Tudor, Ormond and Clarke, backed up by the magic of Saqlain, not to mention Murtagh and Sampson. These are riches beyond most counties. They will have to work for it, but it is a fool who would bet against Surrey making a successful defence of their crown, and possibly lifting some one-day silver as well.

In: Mahmood, James Benning.

Out: Ed Giddins (Hants), Rupesh Amin (Leics), Jason Ratcliffe (ret), Michael Carberry (Kent).

Sussex

Coach: Peter Moores

Captain: Chris Adams

Overseas players: Mushtaq Ahmed (Pak); Murray Goodwin (Zim)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div I; NL Div II.

Last season: CC I 6th; NL II 8th; C&G quarter-final; B&H q-f.

There are plenty of buds on the boughs and they are all starting to flower. Captain Adams has a well-drilled side that knows how to win, there is strength in depth and runs aplenty down the order. Martin-Jenkins lost his way a little with the ball, but more than made up for that with his batting. Now he has to make both count. Prior has competition for the wicketkeeping with the ebullient and naturally gifted gloveman Ambrose and Mushtaq's cunning will test both men's ability to the full. Goodwin, Montgomerie, Cottey and Adams should be good for a few runs and Kirtley, Innes, Taylor, Hutchison and Lewry should provide wickets.

In: Mushtaq Ahmed, Shaun Rashid.

Out: Mark Robinson, Will House, Jamie Carpenter (all ret), Dominic Clapp, Paul Havell (released).

Warwickshire

Coach: John Inverarity

Captain: Michael Powell

Overseas players: Adam Dale (Aus)/Zaheer Khan (Ind) as stand-ins for Shane Bond (NZ)

Central contract: Ashley Giles

This season: CC Div I; NL Div I

Last season: CC I 2nd; NL I 3rd; C&G 4th round; B&H Winners

Knight is in his pomp, the talented Troughton must be a prime candidate for promotion to higher things, captain Powell is firing and so is Ostler. Runs, then, will be no problem, particularly since there is always the reliable Brown, Wagh and Wagg, and with luck Bell will have clambered out of the rut he rumbled into last year. So to the bowling. Here the Kiwi Bond, when he arrives, will be guaranteed to make an impact, Richardson is no slouch, Spires, Sheikh, Betts and Carter can provide all-important back-up and there is always Giles when not required by England. All in all a sound bet for honours somewhere down the line.

In: Dale/Khan, Bond, Jonathan Trott (SA but Eng qual), Moin Munir Ali, Huw Jones (Oxford U).

Out: Shaun Pollock, Elliott Wilson.

County-by-county guide to the Second Division

Derbyshire

Coach: Adrian Pierson

Captain: Dominic Cork

Overseas players: Michael Di Venuto (Aus); Shahid Afridi (Pak) for first two months

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div II; NL Div II

Last season: CCII 6th; NLII 4th; C&G 3rd round; B&H Group stage.

Not a happy bunch of campers. Captain Cork appears to be thwarted at every turn. By all accounts he was unhappy with the choice of coach, then his request for the prodigal Barnett to be allowed to return was rejected. Now Cork has to concentrate on hauling the county out of the doldrums and tasting a little success. There is a realistic chance of that. If Bassano, Gait and Di Venuto carry on where they left off, there will be runs and Cork, Dean and Welch can be relied upon for wickets. They just need a few more in the squad to follow suit and it could be a good year.

In: Shahid Afridi (Mohammad Kaif or Yuvraj Singh will replace Afridi at the end of May).

Out: Paul Aldred, Rob Bailey (ret), Matthew Dowman, Tim Munton (ret), James Pyemont (released).

Durham

Coach: Martyn Moxon

Captain: Jon Lewis

Overseas players: Dewald Pretorious (SA); Javagal Srinath (Ind) for first month as stand-in for Martin Love (Aus)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div II; NL Div II

Last season: CC II, 9th; NL II 8th; C&G 4th round; B&H Group stage.

They could have starred as extras in Casualty, there were that many injuries last year. They are likely to lose the odd player this season but for better reasons. But the overseas aid looks good. The prolific Love should last longer than he managed last year, Srinath is not a bad stand-in, while Pretorius is supposed to be sharp with the new ball. Collingwood and Harmison have every chance of England call-ups, but there is nothing to stop their replacements. Muchall, the Pratts and Gough can all benefit from the arrival of Wells, who will inject discipline, runs and wickets to the cause.

In: Pretorius, Srinath, Vince Wells (Leics).

Out: James Brinkley (released), Simon Brown (ret), Jimmy Daley (released), Marc Symington (released).

Glamorgan

Coach: John Derrick

Captain: Steve James

Overseas player: Mike Kasprowicz (Aus)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div II; NL Div I

Last season: CC II 5th; NL I Champions; C&G 4th round; B&H Group stage.

They turned a one-day match into an epic against Surrey last year, they now need to do the same to their whole season. The chances of that happening, though, are negligible. Finances have restricted them to one overseas player, Kasprowicz, who can play like two men at times. Should be plenty of runs, though, thanks to the usual suspects, Maynard, captain James, Dale, Hemp and Croft. The loss of Jones for the bulk, if not the whole, of the summer will be sorely felt. Kasprowicz and Thomas need more consistent back-up from the spinners, most notably Cosker, a slow left-armer whose talent hints at bigger hauls than he produces.

In: None.

Out: Keith Newell, Alun Evans.

Gloucestershire

Coach: John Bracewell

Captain: Mark Alleyne

Overseas players: Ian Harvey (Aus); Jonty Rhodes (SA)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div II; NL Div I

Last season: CC II 8th; NL II, Champions; C&G quarter-finals; B&H quarter-finals.

The top flight of the National League probably will not know what has hit it when the Glorious Glosters hit town with Harvey and Rhodes in tow. Two brilliant overseas players who make the short game look comparatively easy. Expect big things there, but in the Championship it will be a lot tougher. If runs were scarce, then wickets were an endangered species last year. No one bowler reached a half-century, although remarkably they missed out only three times on maximum bowling points, but it is second-innings wickets that win matches. For its part the batting must supply the bowlers with more runs.

In: Rhodes, Philip Weston (Worcs), James Pearson.

Out: Kim Barnett (released), Jeremy Snape (Leics), Ben Gannon (Middx).

Hampshire

Coach-manager: Paul Terry

Captain: John Crawley

Overseas players: Wasim Akram (Pak); Simon Katich (Aus)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div II; NL Div II

Last season: CC I 7th; NL II 7th; C&G 4th round; B&H Group stage

It would have looked impressive, the names of Warne and Shoaib on the books, but Katich and Wasim are not so bad. The Australian is a prolific run-maker and the Pakistani warhorse can still make batsmen jump and leave fielders sprawling. The winter clear-out puts a lot of responsibility on Crawley, Smith, Kendall and even Kenway, who had originally requested to be released. But youngsters such as Francis and Hamblin have to do their bit for the batting as well. Morris and Tomlinson must provide additional clout to that of Mullally, Mascarenhas, Tremlett and Udal. Outside chance of promotion.

In: Katich, Wasim, Ed Giddins (Surrey).

Out: Adrian Aymes (ret), Jason Laney, James Schofield, Irfan Shah, Giles White (all released).

Northamptonshire

Coach: Kepler Wessels

Captain: Mike Hussey

Overseas players: Hussey (Aus); Andre Nel (SA)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div II; NL Div II

Last season: CC II 7th; NL II 6th; C&G Fourth round; B&H Group stage

They have Kepler Wessels, the former Australian and South African Test batsman, as coach and, while the loss of Loye will be felt, there is so much talent queuing up that it should not matter. It will be exciting to see how Powell and White set about destroying attacks again. If Sales is fit, he will show them, Hussey will be there to provide sound guidance and big scores. Cook, Penberthy and Swann are no slouches with the bat either. Cousins may be lost to them but, if Nel really is quick, then he could set up the opposition for trial by spin with Panesar, Swann and Brown lining up to have a twirl. They may yet surprise everyone.

In: Nel, David Paynter, James Wade.

Out: Mal Loye (Lancs), Russell Warren (Notts), Adrian Rollins, Matthew Cassar (both released).

Somerset

Coach: Kevin Shine

Captain: Mike Burns

Overseas players: Jamie Cox (Aus); Nixon McLean (WI)

Central contracts: Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Caddick

This season: CC Div II; NL Div II

Last season: CC I 8th; NL I 7th; C&G finalists; B&H Group stage

Can some of the old Botham magic change things? There were not enough runs and too few wickets last season. Their best two players were reduced to "also batted" and "also bowled" categories and this year will be no different. McLean's 44 Test wickets for the West Indies at 42.57 is hardly in the Garner class. Cox is admirable, of course, but new captain Burns was the only one to make it to four figures last summer. Blackwell was the batting hero. Wood, Holloway, Turner and Parsons must find even more runs. The attack needs an injury-free Johnson, and even more from Bulbeck, Francis and Jones.

In: McLean, Aaron Laraman (Middlesex), James Bryant (Eastern Province, SA, Eng qual).

Out: Graham Rose, Mark Lathwell (both ret), Peter Trego (Kent).

Worcestershire

Coach: Tom Moody

Captain: Ben Smith

Overseas players: Andrew Hall (SA), Mornantau 'Nanty' Hayward (SA)

Central contracts: None

This season: CC Div II; NL Div I

Last season: CC II 4th; NL I 2nd; C&G quarter-final; B&H semi-final

They are clearly going to pack some punch this summer, a left and a right combination of genuinely fast bowlers having been signed ­ South Australia's Harrity, and Hayward, from Eastern Province, respectively. Moody clearly wants to fast track his team into the First Division. Runs should not be a problem either, though just two men reached four figures in the Championship, the former captain Hick and his successor for this summer, Smith. But late last year Peters stirred, as did Solanki and Singh, and Leatherdale is always good for a few.

In: Hall, Hayward, Mark Harrity (Aust, but EU qual), David Wigley (Yorks), Jonathan Farrow, Christopher Guest, Daryl Mitchell, Stephan Moore.

Out: Stuart Lampitt, Paul Pollard (both ret), Alamgir Sheriyar (Kent), Philip Weston (Glos), Duncan Catterall, Matthew Rawnsley, Nathan Round, Gurdeep Kandola, Depesh Patel (all released).

Yorkshire

Coach: Kevin Sharp/Arnie Sidebottom

Captain: Anthony McGrath

Overseas player: Matthew Elliott (Aus)

Central contracts: Matthew Hoggard, Michael Vaughan

This season: CC Div II; NL Div I

Last season: CC I 9th ; NL I 4th; C&G Winners; B&H quarter-final

Having gone from penthouse to outhouse in successive seasons, they should be able to consolidate and drag themselves off the bottom of the heap and reclaim their place in the top flight. Rookie captain McGrath may not be able to call on Lehmann, but Elliott revealed enough in the latter stages of last season to show he is bursting with runs. When you add Lumb, White, and McGrath himself to the batting, it looks pretty good. Gough will want to prove he has regained his fitness and his appetite by getting in among the wickets early on, which should be enough to inspire Sidebottom, Silverwood and Kirby to greater deeds than last year.

In: Pieter Swanepoel (SA, Eng qual), Andrew Gale, Richard Pyrah, Nick Thornicroft.

Out: Darren Lehmann.