English county cricket 2014 - All that you need to know

County Cricket – this is where cricketers turn from ‘good’ to ‘stars’

Domestic cricket is the stepping stone for every cricketer to achieve what they’re set to achieve. To be precise, this is where players turn from ordinary to extraordinary and go on to represent their respective national sides. And if there’s one country where domestic cricket is given the relevant important that it should, it’s the English country. For years now, English county cricket has been THE standard for the country cricket of every other cricketing nation to follow.

The followers of English cricket give great importance to the quality of cricket, played in county cricket. The standard of cricket keeps on improving every year and this is because from the club cricket level, the cricketers are trained with such infrastructure that by the time they reach the level of county cricket, they’re ready to play at the best of their game and this is what makes English county cricket stand out from the domestic cricket of other cricketing nations.

The English county season began just a few days back and therefore, this article will help you to know about the teams that performed the best among the 18 teams that play in English county and further, I’ll also be emphasizing on certain ‘outstanding performers’ from the last season, on whom the English selectors will have a keen observing eye.

The defending champions – Nottinghamshire

Will they be able to defend their title?

LV 40 – This is the very team that has players like Lumb, Hales, David Hussey, Voges, James Taylor (bright future), Samit Patel, Chris Read, Shahzad, Broad – with such a strong line up, this has to be THE team to watch out for in this year’s county season. Particularly for limited overs, this side has got the perfect mix of all rounders, pure batsmen and pure bowlers. Given the fact that majority of these players are locals i.e. from England and only 2 are foreign i.e. David Hussey and Adam Voges, this makes the Nottinghamshire’s side even more dominant. Watch out for this side!

LV T20 – This team is the perfect example of how a side can win in spite of not being dependant on one particular player. The top-order gave a solid platform in the early overs in every match, on which the latter batsmen could capitalize; these players were Cameron White, Richard Levi and Kyle Coetzer. These 3 players’ consistency helped them finish as 4th, 7th and 11th in the top run scorers stats of last year’s LV T20 championship.

Durham (County Championship Division One)

To start off, Durham’s successful season’s secret goes to Graham Onion’s consistent performance with the ball, clinching 70 wickets for Durham and therefore, becoming the highest wicket taker for the county season – 2013. Apart from Onions, it’s players like Borthwick, Stokes, Collingwood and Mustard that strengthen the middle order. Their season campaign began with 2 back to back home losses but they regained their confidence and flourished through the group with ease and won the championship – division one.

Lancashire (County Championship Division two)

Simon Katich, Ashwell Prince, James Anderson – 3 big names that delivered for Lancashire in the matches they played for them. Lancashire has been a team that has never depended on one particular individual to win them matches, especially in the last few years.

Lancashire have quality all-rounders in Chapple, Kerrigan, Hogg – which give the side the much needed balance that it requires. Look out for these players this season – this is one of the most balanced sides of the county circuit and hence why, it won the county championship division two last year.

County Season 2014

The county season for 2014 has begun and is still in it’s starting stage. It’s a fact that local players in English county have the best chance of improving on their cricket because this is the very platform, where foreign players love come as ‘foreign players’ into the side and either play a few matches or the whole season and alongside improving upon their own game and they surely serve as the perfect ‘guide’ to the local players, by sharing valuable tips and lessons.

Moreover, it’s the foreign players that give the league ‘the fan base’ that it requires. This county season will be no exception. Let’s talk about some foreign hat will make this year’s county season all the more exciting.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul: Someone who has been a regular, especially to the county championship. He’ll be seen playing for Derbyshire this year, helping them gain a ‘legend’ in their ranks, stabilizing their middle order. With very little cricket under his belt in the last few months, Chanderpaul will be keen to make amends during this year’s county season.

Graeme Smith: The father-like figure for South African cricket, who led them for over 100 matches in Test cricket, will be seen playing for the Surrey this year. Surrey is already considered a very strong side, for its strong base of local players and Smith will be an asset to this side – giving them the much needed leader that every side needs.

Saeed Ajmal: The spin-maestro from Pakistan, will be making the batsmen dance with his off-spinners and cheeky doosras. Ajmal will be a deadly combination with Worcestershire’s (team he’ll be representing) bowling line-up.

T20 Star Players

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 17:  Glenn Maxwell of Australia bats during the second game of the One Day International Series between Australia and England at The Gabba on January 17, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia.  (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Glenn Maxwell is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world

Richard Levi will be representing Northants in the T20 cup (all matches) and 8 one-day games. Levi is known all throughout the cricketing globe for his explosive and dynamite batting. He is the record holder for the fastest century in T20Is, which came against New Zealand. He’s a match-winner and you might just see him winning matches for Northants with ease – courtesy of his hard-hitting batting.

Glenn Maxwell: If the last 2 IPL matches are to prove something, it’s that this guy may look thin but don’t you make aspersions, this guy can hit a ball as hard as any other cricketer in the world can. With a 95 and 89 already to his name, his IPL has begun on an excellence note and this will give him a much greater confidence, coming into the LVT20 championship in England. No doubt the pitches of England will be a little tricky as compared to UAE and India but for players like Maxwell, no pitch can stop them ‘on their day’.

Yasir Arafat: He may have not played for Pakistan in as many games as he would’ve liked but he is certainly making amends in county cricket, especially in the T20 format. He’ll be playing for Sussex and his team will be hoping for him to continue from his performances in the last few years. Arafat will hold the key for Sussex in the death-overs (16-20) where the batsmen have the license to go for the big shots and this is where, Arafat’s variations come into play and get the team the much needed BIG wickets.

Aaron Finch: First look at him and you know that this player can hit the ball hard, and he CAN. If there’s one player that has made a significant name for himself all throughout the cricketing world for his big hitting, it’s him. He’s been fairly consistent in the T20 matches that he’s played and besides, when he plays – the opposition really has no answer. Just last year, he torn apart the English bowling and scored a 150 – in a T20 match, which says a lot about this batsmen’ potential. Yorkshire will have their hopes very high from Finch this year.

There it is – A preview about the defending champions and some star players that you must lookout for in this year’s county season.

So then, which team are you supporting this year?

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Edited by Staff Editor