Cricket County Championship 2009
A brief review of the season
Woeful Worcester
Worcestershire were rank bottom all season, with strive on and off the season affecting the New Road club. Having a ground which is constantly flooded does not help, but the departures during this year of Simon Jones, Steven Davies and possibly Kabir Ali all meant that coach Steve Rhodes was left with a constant headache. But the biggest shock was the relegation of Sussex who were last champions in a thrilling 2007 season. Losing ebullient captain Chris Adams to Surrey last year did not bode well, and with Matt Prior and Luke Wright playing for England on a regular basis meant that a young side could not cope with the pressure late on. Batting collapses against a Matthew Hoggard inspired Yorkshire and against runners up Nottinghamshire sealed their fate, but the likes of Rory Hamilton-Brown and Ed Joyce should find Division 2 easier in 2010.
Mid-Table Mediocrity
The big names did not perform for Yorkshire until the very end, Jacques Rudolph especially disappointing, but youngsters David Wainwright and Shazad look to be very useful all rounders, with both scoring heavily as well as being canny bowlers. As usual Lancashire flattered to deceive, the much publicised arrival of former coach Peter Moores failing to deliver another trophy. The overseas picks were a lot better for Lancashire this time with Laxman and Prince consistent in performance, but Glen Chapple was again the star performer. Another couple of seasons is needed from the evergreen all rounder to gel his young squad for another title tilt. Messrs Trescothick, Kieswetter and both averaged nearly 60 and above, but the Taunton pitches were too good for the home bowlers to force positive results.
Durham-County Champions
Will Smith led his dynamic team to a comfortable defence of the title. Having a powerful line up in the seamer stakes helps, especially with Steve Harmison, who whilst finding test wickets hard to come by, still managed to take 51 county wickets, and Graham Onions, whilst bringing tears to Australian eyes, averaged 15 in a golden season. Add to this the likes of Mark Davies, Mitchell Claydon, Liam Plunkett and Gareth Breeze, it is no wonder that when Harmy and Onions were playing for England, Durham still won at a canter often. Of course, having Dale Benkenstein, Phil Mustard and a certain Shiv Chanderpaul helps to increase the total whatever the state of the pitch.
Kentish Pride
One of the best captains in the league is Rob Key, and Kent benefited from his experience and tactical know how. The large support at Canterbury got great value for money, as Key, Joe Denly, backed up by the wayward but fiery bowling of Amjad Khan, and canny slow bowling of James Tredwell were key in the southern county returning to the top flight. Ryan Mclaren is an exciting performer at county and one day level, and the runs and safe hands of Geraint Jones meant that nicks were mostly taken.
Derbyshire Declaration
Credit to Derby, whose last game declaration meant that Essex chased down a last innings total of 350+ to pip a luckless Northants by a point for promotion. Derbyshire were chasing third place, which after several years of the wooden spoon, would have been some achievement. But Ryan Ten Doeschate's amazing century, backed up by James Foster, Alastair Cook and Mark Pettini, meant that the latter had led his team to an unlikely victory. Honest seamer Chris Wright and the guile of Danish Kaneria kept taking wickets, and 2010 should prove to be a better season if Ravi Bopara returns to the ranks, and Graham Gooch stays on as coach. Consolation for Northants came in the form of a 20/20 semi final berth.
A Surrey Tale
Surrey and Middlesex could not string enough wins to mount a challenge for promotion, despite Mark Ramprakash and Uzman Afzaal taking advantage of fine Lord's and Oval pitches. Wooden spoonists however were Leicester, who after reeling from the defection of England star man Stuart Broad to Notts, have not recovered in the couple of seasons since. Veteran Paul Nixon, who finished his season with a career best 173 not out, must rally his troops and make sure they better their two wins this term.
Will Smith hitting out for his team
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