Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

I did this the other day, but it must have got lost when the site went down

Div 1
Warks or Yorks will win it this year. which, depends on whether, or how quickly, Trotty is brought back into the England set up.
Notts and the Middle will be up near the top challenging
Lancs will be comfortably mid table
Durham mid to lower mid table, but will depend on winning 3 early season matches before England call ups and injuries kick in
Sussex will just about survive
Somerset and Northants to go down.

Div 2

Hants and Gloucs to go up with Hants as champions
Glam, Derby will threaten but fall short
Surrey will suffer from Ovalitis and just not secure enough home wins to be competitive
Essex, Kent will bumble along without ever really being in contention
Worcester will struggle without Richo, and might not have that much of Moeen either
Gawd bless Leics.... bottom again

Sussex will JUST survive.....

Are you on the wind up? We have a great chance to win it this year, obviously pending getting 6 or 7 international call ups and having to play back to back Yorkshire and Durham games.... Or being the only county to play Warwickshire with Trott and Bell, like every year!

I think so.

tell me your predictions, SP

Durham's lack of strength likely to be detrimental to the county and occupy a relegation spot.
Somerset in transition mode, whilst other counties are more settled with their squads. This alone might cost Division One status.
Northamptonshire's gradually built momentum and togetherness in recent years enough to retain Division One status.
Lancashire in a survival battle with the above three, but have enough in personnel to survive.
Warwickshire firmly in the middle
Nottinghamshire as challengers, but the bowling unit a tad light without a frontline spinner and 4th seamer to really have a foothold for top spot.
Sussex firmly in the mix, but international call ups and a lack of credible back up players may scupper their chances.
Yorkshire strength in every department, this might be the year but it depends on how many Yorkshire players the ECB help themselves to and Kane Williamson away for one month might be too long.
Middlesex on an upward curve under Angus Fraser, for me they will sneak it.

Durhamfootman wrote:I think so.

tell me your predictions, SP

Yorkshire to win the championship if they keep Bairstow and Balance, they may even do it at a canter.
Sussex/ Durham to fight it out for 2nd/3rd. Durham lack batting but shred teams with the ball, Sussex will be unable to finish teams with lack of bowling depth, and as the international call ups come, will struggle to cope with the second string.
Notts will have a middling year, lacking quality in enough areas, but too good to go down.
Warwickshire will be a middling team without Trott and Bell, lacking top quality middle order batting, and maybe a bowler
Lancashire lack quality all over, and will be relegated
Northants will give it a really good go, but they also lack quality at the top division level and will probably be relegated
Somerset to fight it out with Northants all the way

Sussex's chances probably depend on who gets the England job. If it's Robbo we're in trouble.

sussexpob wrote:Lancashire lack quality all over, and will be relegated

Getting your excuses for Moores' in early this season.

Making_Splinters wrote:

sussexpob wrote:Lancashire lack quality all over, and will be relegated

Getting your excuses for Moores' in early this season.

sussexpob wrote:

Making_Splinters wrote:

sussexpob wrote:Lancashire lack quality all over, and will be relegated

Getting your excuses for Moores' in early this season.

Well, it's the only way I can make head nor tail of this comment.

Making_Splinters wrote:

sussexpob wrote:Lancashire lack quality all over, and will be relegated

Getting your excuses for Moores' in early this season.

I think he's seeing things like me. If Suusex lose Robbo, or Lancs lose Moores to England, it's going to be tough for either respective side losing their coach.

pompeymeowth wrote:

Making_Splinters wrote:

sussexpob wrote:Lancashire lack quality all over, and will be relegated

Getting your excuses for Moores' in early this season.

I think he's seeing things like me. If Suusex lose Robbo, or Lancs lose Moores to England, it's going to be tough for either respective side losing their coach.

Whoever Karl Krikken is in charge of will end up doing a quality job, getting Derbyshire promoted to Division One with their distinctly average squad is an achievement in itself.

Might as welll begin the 2015 predictions

Durham - 8th - Predicting relegated teams not easy, but Durham's lack of recruitment could be the difference between survival and relegation.
Hampshire - 7th - Solid batting line up, but question marks over their bowling options.
Middlesex - 4th. Made some solid additions over the winter, keep Finn in the side
Notts - 3rd. Strongest batting line up in England, but their bowling attack looks incapable of taking 20 wickets in a match.
Somerset - 2nd. Made some solid recruits over the winter and a team least likely to be affected by England call ups.
Sussex - 2015 County Champions. Solid batting line up and the bowling attack bolstered with the signings of Shazhad and Mills.
Warwickshire - 6th. Woakes and Trott spending more time with Team England are likely to stunt Warwickshire's progress.
Worcestershire - 9th. Plenty of potential in the side, but lack batting experience especially with Moeen being a more permanent England member. Bowling attack not as potent compared to the other counties.
Yorkshire - 5th. Squad ravaged by England call-ups, which will expose the lack of depth in the batting department.

Yorkshire - 1st - best squad, will still have lots of talent after call ups.
Middlesex - 2nd - Great bowling attack that makes up for their lower middle order quality, a few batsman looking to prove they still have it... very dangerous mix.
Sussex - 3rd - A bowler or two short to challenge the title runners, dependant on a few guys to maintain batting form
Warwickshire - 4th - Always defy the odds in the last few years, some good players, expect them to be hard to beat.
Notts - 5th - Lack bowling depth, despite having a strong batting line up. Risky pick in Hilfenhaus, an injury prone guy, to prop up a paper thin attack.
Durham - 6th - Will win matches with their bowling attack, will lose them with their batting.
Hampshire - 7th - A lot of older guys dotted round the team that could work or not. Could still be a tough team to beat on their day.
Somerset - 8th - Lots of good names, but most are past their best. Batting looks crumbly, which is a concern on a pitch that most bowlers can struggle on.
Worcestershire - 9th - Ajmal bowled them to a promotion, but he wont be there all year, and even with him the team is noticeably lacking quality compared to the rest of the division

Rather amusing to be reminded of Sussex's defence of Moores. Can't help but wonder if with hindsight his position on the matter has changed?

Making_Splinters wrote:Rather amusing to be reminded of Sussex's defence of Moores. Can't help but wonder if with hindsight his position on the matter has changed?

He left, they got relegated.... he had the job, it was the first time in decades they won a county championship.... he was at Sussex, won their only championship in nearly 200 years....clearly a terrible county manager.