With the new season just around the corner, let’s take a look at the Rothesay County Championship Division One teams, highlighting overseas signings, key players from last season and wildcard picks to keep an eye on.
This Part One preview will focus on Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Somerset.
Part Two will feature Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Durham
Captain: Alex Lees
Head Coach: Ryan Campbell
Overseas: David Bedingham (South Africa), Brendan Doggett (Australia)
2024 finish: 5th
2024 leading run-scorer: David Bedingham (1,331)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Matt Potts (33)
Championship titles: 3 (most recent in 2013)
The big question: Can Durham’s new signings help them kick on?
Key players from last season: Ollie Robinson, right-hand wicketkeeper batter (871 runs at an average of 48.38) Matthew Potts, right-arm pace bowler (33 wickets at an average of 25.39) and David Bedingham, top order right hand batter (1131 runs at an average of 78.29).
Wildcard watch: Signed from Derbyshire last summer on a two-year deal, Sam Connors could be in for an exciting year with Durham. After originally making his debut in 2019, Connors’ breakthrough season came in 2022, when he took 50 wickets in Division Two. This led to an England Lions call-up for the Nottingham-born seamer, who went on to claim figures of 4/25.
Final thought: With Durham’s new signings for the 2025 season alongside their England stars, many are suggesting that the team could secure their first Division One title since 2013.
Essex
Captain: Tom Westley
Director of Cricket: Chris Silverwood
Overseas: Simon Harmer (South Africa)
2024 finish: 4th
2024 leading run-scorer: Dean Elgar (1,144)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Jamie Porter (56)
Championship titles: 8 (most recent in 2019)
The big question: What impact will a change at the top have?
Key players from last season: Sam Cook, right-arm pace bowler (43 wickets at an average of 17.30) Jordan Cox, right-hand wicketkeeper batter (918 runs at an average of 66.57) and Jamie Porter, right-arm pace bowler (56 wickets at an average of 19.25).
Wildcard watch: A star boy who climbed through the age groups, pathway, and academy at Essex Cricket, Charlie Allison is one to watch this season. The 20-year-old made his List A debut in 2023 and his T20 debut in 2024, with batting averages of 38.80 and 59.50, respectively. Allison’s next goal is to break into the red-ball team and continue his growth into the professional game, after opening the batting for the Eagles during pre-season friendlies.
Final thought: Essex Cricket has a new look off the pitch, with new CEO Dan Feist and Director of Cricket Chris Silverwood. Fans are hopeful that these two will deliver the club their first County Championship since their double-winning season six years ago.
Hampshire
Captain: Ben Brown
Head Coach: Adi Birrell
Overseas: Kyle Abbott (South Africa), Jack Edwards (Australia)
2024 finish: 2nd
2024 leading run-scorer: James Vince (986)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Kyle Abbott (55)
Championship titles: 2 (most recent in 1973)
The big question: How will a James Vince-less Hampshire fare?
Key players from last season: Liam Dawson, right-handed middle order batter & left-arm spinner (956 runs at an average of 59.75 and 54 wickets at 25.14) Kyle Abbott, right-arm pace bowler (55 wickets at an average of 20.36) and Nick Gubbins, left-handed batter (895 runs at an average of 55.93).
Wildcard watch: A tall 23-year-old seamer, John Turner could be someone to watch this summer. While Turner hasn’t played frequently in the red-ball format, in the few matches he has featured in, he has taken 14 wickets in three games at an average of 19.85. He was part of the England Lions squad over the winter and claimed three wickets in a match earlier this year against an Australia XI. With Mohammed Abbas moving to Nottinghamshire, this could present an opportunity for Turner to showcase his red-ball skills.
Final thought: It’s been over 50 years since Hants last won the County Championship, and fans will be hoping this is the year they break the drought, following their runners-up finish last season.
Nottinghamshire
Captain: Haseeb Hameed
Head Coach: Peter Moores
Overseas: Kyle Verreynne (South Africa), Fergus O’Neill (Australia), Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)
2024 finish: 8th
2024 leading run-scorer: Haseeb Hameed (1,091)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Dillon Pennington (31)
Championship titles: 6 (most recent in 2010)
The big question: Where do Nottinghamshire go from here?
Key players from last season: Haseeb Hameed, right-handed top order batter (1091 runs at an average of 51.95) Ben Duckett, left-handed top order batter (323 runs in three matches at an average of 53.83) and Dillon Pennington (31 wickets at an average of 23.80).
Wildcard watch: After being named to the England U19s squad as a 15-year-old for the U19s World Cup last year, Farhan Ahmed went on to make his Nottinghamshire debut at 16. Playing away at Essex, Ahmed took three wickets, followed by six wickets at Kent and three more in the final game of the season against Warwickshire. Ahmed spent the winter playing for the England U19s in a series against South Africa U19s. The young right-arm off-spinner starred in a Test match, where he claimed nine wickets in total, alongside a score of 90 and 21 while batting at seven.
Final thought: After a challenging campaign last season, finishing eighth, Notts will be wanting to steer clear of relegation threat in 2025.
Somerset
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Head Coach: Jason Kerr
Overseas: Riley Meredith (Australia, possible), Matt Henry (New Zealand), Migael Pretorius (South Africa)
2024 finish: 3rd
2024 leading run-scorer: Tom Lammonby (941)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Jack Leach (45)
Championship titles: 0
The big question: Will the hurt of last season spur Somerset to a first Championship title?
Key players from last season: Jack Leach, left-arm spinner (45 wickets at an average of 22.77) Tom Abell, right-handed batter (658 runs at an average of 50.61) and Lewis Gregory (31 wickets at an average of 24.87).
Wildcard watch: Archie Vaughan – another young talent on the scene. The son of Michael Vaughan, Archie made his debut for Somerset last year and has since been a regular fixture in their side. The all-rounder impressed with a match-winning performance against Surrey, taking 11 wickets, including a career-best 6/102. He is also capable with the bat, averaging 33.71 in the four matches he played last season. Vaughan represented England U19s over the winter, where he put in a standout performance, collecting 6/19 against South Africa U19s.
Final thought: Somerset consistently find themselves in the top half of the County Championship table and reached two white-ball finals last season. Fans will be hoping that the leadership of Lewis Gregory and Jason Kerr will propel them back into trophy contention in 2025.
