2008 County predictions

[pie_chucker]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

I think we probably will see all 4 seamers play most of the time...

Whilst I agree that would be our strongest attack, my worry is that our 2 backup bowlers Benkenstien and Harmison Jr are also seamers. Away from home we may need to play Wiseman for variation.

If Harmison is fired up (which I fully expect him to be) i would reckon he will average 15-20. I also doubt if the England selectors will let any of the England batsman play against Durham if Harmy plays - theres too much chance of an injury.

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

Davies can average around the 20 mark per wicket even as 2nd change...

I like Davies he's got a good record in the CC and like you say if he stays fit he will do well. If he didn't lack that yard of pace he may well have been touted for England by now.

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

Last year Coetzer showed real promise with the bat, and Mustard will be looking to show more in the CC

Mustard needs a good season an average of about 25 ish last year probably cost him a test place. He needs to do better as does our lower middle order, my fear is once the "big guns" of DeVenuto, Chanderpaul / McKenzie and Benkenstein have gone we may collapse - hopefully we will have 400 on the board when we do though

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

If Harmison is fired up (which I fully expect him to be) i would reckon he will average 15-20. I also doubt if the England selectors will let any of the England batsman play against Durham if Harmy plays - theres too much chance of an injury.

We have an FPT game and a CC game at the beginning of May and Flintoff will be playing for Lancs.

[cantplaycantalk]

Durham vs Lancs That one will be the battle of the bowlers

Harmison, Onions, Plunket and Davies vs Flintoff, Anderson, Mahmood, Chapple and Cork

TASTY GAME

[Notts Exile]

The Notts attack of Sidebottom, Broad, Harris, Ealham and Swann that will take the field early season looks tasty too. Shame it won't be together too often!

[greg]

Durham will win the Championship this year as they won't be hit much by international call ups to their pace attack.They should have Harmison available for the full season and unless Plunkett has a brilliant season i expect he will be a county player for the full year too.When you add Onions and davies to that it looks a formidable attack in county cricket.

Yorkshire,Notts and Lancashire will all lose bowlers at various times so Durham have a big advantage in my opinion.

[Statto]

If only Anderson goes on England duty for the first half of the season we can put Keedy in instead and that will give the side better balance as well. Hopefully Lancs will start with something like:
Horton
Loye
Hodge
Law
Flintoff
Du Plessis
Sutton
Chapple
Cork
Mahmood
Keedy

That looks like an all round side that would take some beating, and even putting Anderson in for Flintoff for the SA series wouldn't weaken the batting too much.

[Aurelius]

The teams I'll be rooting for are Sussex and Hampshire- mainly Sussex, because they've got Murray Goodwin who's a good West Aussie. So's Ervine from Hampshire, and to this outsider it seems to me that both teams will take some beating.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

So's Ervine from Hampshire, and to this outsider it seems to me that both teams will take some beating.

Without Warne's direction I'm not sure how well Hampshire will fare this season. Sussex will be strong as they have been for a good few seasons. Mushy will be the key man, again, without him their Championship challenge may falter.

Lancs must be worth a punt this season, surely? Though its a shame to see them signed Faf Du Plessis on a Kolpak when they have young english batsmen coming through.

Unless Lancs or Sussex run awau with it I suspect we might see another close fought title.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Lancashire are always the bridesmaid never the bride in terms of the County Championship, all I hope for is for Warwickshire to turn it around this season.

[south beds mikey]

2008 predictions?

I predict pain and hurt for my lot as usual!! Seriously we have had a bit of a reshuffle as Noffke has rather inconsiderately been picked by oz. Hope for a decent summer weather wise so the special K can work his magic.

I do howeverexpect Shah to get a shed load of runs and still not be picked for England