County preview - 12 players to watch in 2010 (Part 1: 12-7)

The new English domestic cricket season gets into full swing on Friday with the first round of county championship matches. As usual and despite the annual MCC-County Champions match decamping to Abu Dhabi, the start of the season will be low-key. Talk of pink balls, floodlights and sheikhs did create a ripple of interest but the focus of the cricket world is now firmly on the IPL, whilst England obsesses about football and the forthcoming General Election.

 

To mark the start of the season, we at the Reverse Sweep have been busy compiling our view on the players and teams to watch. Today, we name the players who fill positions twelve down to seven in our dozen cricketers to look out for this domestic season. Players six to one will follow tomorrow, with our tips for the main county prizes bringing up the rear at the end of the week.

 

The cricketers we have selected range from youngsters to former England players looking to return to national colours, but the common denominators are that they are all qualified to play for England plus we believe they will make a mark once the action starts on Friday.

 

12. Scott Borthwick, Durham

Our first selection is a bit of a punt, as 19 year old Borthwick has only played two first-class games to date. But he is a leg-spinner and we at the Reverse Sweep love leg spinners; especially English ones. Borthwick was one player who did enjoy the pink ball and the conditions in Abu Dhabi, taking match figures of 8/84 as Durhamthrashed MCC.

 

11. Sam Northeast, Kent

Old Harrovian Northeast was a child prodigy who once scored 19 hundreds in a term when only 13. He got some game time for Kent as an opener towards the end of last summer when Joe Denly was away with the England ODI squad. Northeast took his chance with some aplomb and will be looking to secure a permanent spot in the 1^st XI this summer. We’ll stick our neck out now and predict that Northeast is an England player of the future.

 

10. David Wainwright, Yorkshire

Whilst all the attention has been focused on Adil Rashid, David Wainwright has developed under the radar at Headingley. With two first-class centuries to his name and his consistent slow left-arm bowling, Wainwright is just the sort of multi-dimensional player that the England hierarchy love; and apparently he impressed them during his time with the Lions over the winter.

 

9. Ravi Bopara, Essex

Bopara is too good a player to not come back from his disappointing Ashes series last summer. He wintered in New Zealandand has started the IPL in fine fettle for Kings XI Punjab, and was deservedly picked for the World T20 squad. Expect him to score a mountain of runs for Essex in the Championship and to be knocking on the door of the test side come the end of the summer; although hopefully not as a test match number three.

 

8. Chris Tremlett, Surrey

The short move from the Rose Bowl to the Oval could be a career defining moment for Tremlett. He looked the part when he played his three tests against India in 2007, but injuries, poor form and the underlying belief of many that he lacks the killer instinct has kept him out of the test side since. Tremlett possesses all the attributes needed to succeed on Australian pitches with his height, natural bounce and accuracy. And with Steve Harmison now out of favour, a good season for Surreycould see Tremlett rival Steve Finn for this crucial role in the side.

 

7. Alex Hales, Nottinghamshire

We at the Reverse Sweep have been singing Hales’ praises even since we saw him blast a superlative 150 not out off only 102 balls in a Pro 40 match against Worcestershire last summer. He also got into the Notts championship side towards the end of last summer and did well. If he kicks on, the tall right-hander could prove a suitable successor to Marcus Trescothick at the top of the England order in time.

 

Tune in tomorrow for numbers six to one.

Comments

[ceejaypee]

What about.... Dawid Malan, awesome striker of a ball and useful leggies, Joe Gatting down at Sussex should get a long run in the side too. Michael Lumb in One day cricket.
Struggling to find any bowlers that I think will break through in LVCC though, possibly Boyd Rankin, Steve Finn and if fit and firing Simon Jones still should knock on Englands door.

[The Reverse Sweep]

That's funny as both Malan and Gatting were on my shortlist but didn't make the cut. The heart said to go for Simon Jones but the head said no. You might find one of the players you mention in the top six tomorrow...

[Thiru Cumaran]

I do hope you put James Taylor of Leicesters in, great prospect, he is!

Also, could Matty Hoggard be in the list as well? I just have a gut feeling that he might be a great TLC captain and might even possibly take Leicesters to 1st Division! :D

BTW, do you know any good place to follow country cricket, or, more specifically, Leicesters cricket?

[The Reverse Sweep]

Thanks for the comments Thiru. You'll have to wait until later to see if Taylor makes the top six! As for Hoggy, you could be right about his captaincy credentials and his bowling will certainly help LCC next season. Pongo Cricket is a good site for English County Cricket as during the season there are normally a number of articles focussed on the county game.

[greyblazer]

I think Northeast has a bright future ahead of him. Griffiths also may do well this season. As far as Tremlett is concerned I always thought that Tremlett bowled too short and of course isn't fit enough.

Please have a look at my cricket blog.

http://greyblazerr.blogspot.com/

[The Reverse Sweep]

Thanks for the comments. Let's hope that Northeast fulfils both of our expectations! I've taken a quick look at your blog and it looks pretty good - I've added it to my favourites!

[smileysi]

What about young Bairstow of Yorkshire? I think Jones of Worcestershire will be excellent.Finn of Middlesex should be exeptional this year.

[The Reverse Sweep]

Thanks for the comment SmileySi. I agree with you on Bairstow. A good player. He just failed to make the cut as I wrongly assumed that he wouldn't be a regular this season for Yorks.