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 Two preview will focus on Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Part One featured Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Somerset. Click here for Part One.
Surrey
Captain: Rory Burns
Head Coach: Gareth Batty
Overseas: Nathan Smith (New Zealand), Kemar Roach (West Indies)
2024 finish: 1st
2024 leading run-scorer: Rory Burns (1,073)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Dan Worrall (52)
Championship titles: 23 (most recent in 2024)
The big question: Can anyone dethrone the back-to-back-to-back champions?
Key players from last season: Rory Burns, left-handed top order batter (1073 runs at an average of 53.65) Dan Worrall, right-arm pace bowler (52 wickets at an average of 16.15) and Jordan Clark, right-arm pace bowler & right-handed batter (38 wickets at an average of 25.97 and 467 runs at an average of 33.65).
Wildcard watch: Surrey strengthened their bowling lineup for this season with the signing of Matthew Fisher, who joined from Yorkshire at the end of last season. The seamer took 27 wickets in seven matches last year at an average of 22.25, helping Yorkshire secure promotion back to Division One. Fisher played for the England U19s at just 15-years-old and made his Championship debut at 17.
Final thought: Many are predicting Surrey will defend their County Championship title again this season due to the number of international stars they possess, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to many fans up and down the country if they completed the four-peat.
Sussex
Captain: John Simpson
Head Coach: Paul Farbrace
Overseas: Daniel Hughes (Australia), Gurinder Sandhu (Australia), Jayden Seales (West Indies), Jaydev Unadkat (India)
2024 finish: 1st in Division Two (promoted)
2024 leading run-scorer: John Simpson (1,197)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Jack Carson (50)
Championship titles: 3 (most recent in 2007)
The big question: How will Sussex fare on their return to Division One?
Key players from last season: John Simpson, left-handed wicketkeeper batter (1197 runs at an average of 74.81) Tom Haines, left-handed top order batter (819 runs at an average of 40.85) and Ollie Robinson, right-arm pace bowler (39 wickets at an average of 25.53).
Wildcard watch: Sussex’s youngest-ever debutant at 16 years old, James Coles, impressed when he took the wickets of Rory Burns, Ben Foakes, and Jamie Smith back in 2020. The 21-year-old played in all 14 of Sussex’s Division Two fixtures last season, helping them clinch the title. The all-rounder scored 707 runs at an average of 39.27 and took 18 wickets.
Final thought: It’s been 10 years since Sussex were in Division One. With Mark Robinson rejoining the Sharks under the leadership of Paul Farbrace, the Sussex faithful will be hoping for a promising return to the top division.
Warwickshire
Captain: Alex Davies
Head Coach: Ian Westwood
Overseas: Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Vishwa Fernando (Sri Lanka), Tom Latham (New Zealand), Beau Webster (Australia)
2024 finish: 7th
2024 leading run-scorer: Alex Davies (1,115)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Oliver Hannon-Dalby (50)
Championship titles: 8 (most recent in 2021)
The big question: Will a change in coach revitalise Warwickshire’s fortunes?
Key players from last season: Olly Hannon-Dalby, right-arm pace bowler (50 wickets at an average of 22.28) Ed Barnard, right-handed middle order batter & right-arm pace bowler (840 runs at an average of 40 and 25 wickets at an average of 36.40) and Sam Hain (430 runs in eight games at an average of 39.09).
Wildcard watch: England U19 captain, Hamza Shaikh, made his first-class debut in an England Lions tour match against Sri Lanka at Worcester last year. The 18-year-old right-handed batter played a handful of first-class games for Warwickshire at the back end of last season before heading off with the England Lions during the off-season.
Final thought: Warwickshire’s new head coach, Ian Westwood, played in over 250 matches for the team before retiring in 2017. The Bears’ lower mid-table finish last season should motivate them to finish higher this year and potentially bring the Division One trophy back to Edgbaston for the first time since 2021.
Worcestershire
Captain: Brett D’Oliveira
Head Coach: Alan Richardson
Overseas: Jacob Duffy (New Zealand)
2024 finish: 6th
2024 leading run-scorer: Kashif Ali (767)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Nathan Smith/Tom Taylor/Joe Leach (all 27)
Championship titles: 5 (most recent in 1989)
The big question: Can Worcestershire kick on in their second top flight season?
Key players from last season: Kashif Ali, right-handed top order batter (767 runs at an average of 42.61) Jake Libby, right-handed top order batter (710 runs at an average of 32.27) and Tom Taylor, right-arm pace bowler (27 wickets at an average of 21.48).
Wildcard watch: Tall, right-arm pace bowler Ben Allison officially made the switch from Essex to New Road last September, following a loan spell with the Pears. During the loan period, Allison featured in two matches and took seven wickets at an average of 20.28. More than capable with the bat as well, the 25-year-old will be looking to help cement Worcestershire’s position in Division One following their promotion in 2023.
Final thought: Stalwart at New Road, Joe Leach, retired at the end of last season following a a solid mid-table finish last season for Worcestershire. Could Worcestershire kick on and finish amongst the best this season?
Yorkshire
Captain: Jonny Bairstow
Head Coach: Anthony McGrath
Overseas: Will Sutherland, Jordan Buckingham (both Australia)
2024 finish: 2nd in Division Two (promoted)
2024 leading run-scorer: Adam Lyth (1,215)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Ben Coad (56)
Championship titles: 32 (most recent in 2015)
The big question: How disruptive will newly-promoted Yorkshire be in Division One?
Key players from last season: Ben Coad, right-arm pace bowler (56 wickets at an average of 15.80) Adam Lyth, left-handed top order batter (1215 runs at an average of 57.85) and Jordan Thompson, right-arm pace bowler (32 wickets at an average of 30.78).
Wildcard watch: 24-year-old James Wharton could be a name to watch this season. He has been part of the Yorkshire setup since the U14s level, having captained both the academy and Second XI during their Championship-winning season in 2022. Last year, Wharton scored 833 runs at an average of 64.07, and he’ll be looking to produce similar—or even better—numbers now that the club is in Division One.
Final thought: Yorkshire have appointed former Essex Cricket duo Anthony McGrath (head coach) and Mick Lewis (bowling coach) as part of their revamped backroom staff. With McGrath’s successful track record at Essex, the Yorkshire faithful will be hopeful that the team’s return to Division One will be a successful one at Headingley.
