It’s difficult to determine what was the bigger shock last year – Essex storming to the title in their first season back in County Championship Division One, champions Middlesex’s relegation or Yorkshire’s transformation from annual championship contenders to strugglers.
One thing’s for certain, Essex are not going to catch out bookmakers a second time and are only a best 7/2 with Ladbrokes to successfully defend their crown. Anthony McGrath has succeeded fellow Yorkshireman Chris Silverwood as the new head coach and will be hoping that the addition of former Aussie Test bowler Peter Siddle can help his squad of largely home-grown players to hit the heights again. Alistair Cook will be available for matches at the beginning and end of the County Championship season if he’s retained by England but the former international skipper had a disappointing winter and it’s entirely possible that Joe Root and the selectors could be looking for a younger replacement – a fully committed Cook would be a massive boost to Essex.
Coach Andrew Gale and captain Gary Balance may have needed a season to get used to their new roles at Yorkshire but to only avoid relegation by a few points was not on the cards considering their recent domination of the four-day game.
The White Rose county will again be hampered by the non-availability of Root, Jonny Bairstow and a host of England one-day players including David Willey, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett. But Kane Williamson has re-signed and the first XI is backed up by a host of promising youngsters so the best 11/2 for Yorkshire to reclaim their throne is probably about right.
Great rivals Lancashire are only 9/2 with Unibet to win County Championship Division One but they are unlikely to see much of James Anderson, Jos Buttler, Stephen Parry or captain Liam Livingstone this summer. The weather in the north west can also be a disadvantage when trying to force results.
Surrey were third behind Essex and Lancashire last year but the final table had a lop-sided look about it, such was the champion’s dominance. Only 30 points eventually separated the runner’s up from seventh-placed Middlesex, who got relegated, and Surrey only managed two wins all season. Their squad is much better equipped to succeed in the one-day or T20 format so the 11/2 with Unibet to win Division One this year looks poor value. Hampshire are more interesting at 8/1 with Betway considering they’ve signed South Africa’s Dale Steyn.
County Championship Division One Current Best Odds
Essex 7/2, Lancashire 9/2, Surrey and Yorkshire 11/2, Nottinghamshire 7/1, Hampshire 8/1, Somerset 16/1, Worcestershire 20/1
