Pre-Season Thoughts: County Championship

As alluded to earlier, I'm going to go a little bit more in-depth in my thoughts about what the season might hold. Of course, we're still a good few months away from the season starting, and a lot could change (mainly my thoughts) but seeing as I've started this blog so early I might as well put something up on it.

I'll start off with the County Championship, where Middlesex are a Division One club. (It still feels good to say that). After last year's promotion it's goodbye Wantage Road and The County Ground, Derby and hello Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and the rest. Things are going to be a little different to the last few years, namely in the quality of opposition we'll be up against. Many pundits have spoken of the widening gap between Divisions One and Two, and while there was a feeling that Middlesex were a big fish in the small pond of the second division, we're suddenly back to being mere plankton in the ocean (slight exaggeration). But the point is still the same, we're going to be up against far better teams than the previous few years in the basement; teams with a lot of international and high-level experience packed with players who are capable of some outstanding performances.

But are Middlesex good enough to take them on? Of course they are.

Middlesex were comfortably the best team in Division Two all season long, and but for some dodgy weather would have had the title wrapped up long before that final nervy day. This was a team that bowled Essex out twice in a day. This was a team that decimated the runners-up of the division home and away in comprehensive wins. This was a team that handed out the first ever 24-0 defeat in the history of the county championship. Middlesex were superb last year, and with the signings that have been made so far, have only got stronger.

In terms of the batting, Middlesex's line-up could go toe-to-toe with any in the country. The expected top five have it all. Sam Robson, Joe Denly and Chris Rogers will make up perhaps the most solid top three going, with support from Dawid Malan and captain Neil Dexter. In at six will be the still-improving John Simpson, arguably the player of the year. Add to that the all-round talents of Gareth Berg and Ollie Rayner to come, and even against the best attacks on the greenest pitches, chances are Middlesex will make a lot of runs. Taking on the better bowlers of Division One will be a challenge to the batsmen, but one they are all certainly good enough to take. There geniunely isn't a weak link in that line-up, something you can't say about quite a few of the teams around. And that isn't even accounting for the potential inclusion of England captain Andrew Strauss, or even Eoin Morgan (although that is unlikely).

The bowling stocks too are strong. While the change from the Tiflex to the Duke may not help Tim Murtagh, we all know he's good enough to take plenty of wickets when it matters. And the seam-friendly ball will certainly help Corey Collymore, who was unlucky to only pick up 49 wickets in 2011, and if he can remain fit, Toby Roland-Jones, who is a real star in the making. Everyone at Middlesex knows what Gareth Berg can do with bat and ball, and this could be the year that he shows the world just how good he is. And then there's Steven Finn, who has proven his class on every stage, and there will be plenty of Division One batsmen praying that he gets a prolonged run in the England team.

Perhaps the only concern might be spin, as neither Ollie Rayner or Tom Smith have proven themselves consistently with the ball in their relatively short first class careers. Given his extra batting ability, it's likely that Rayner will be given the nod to start off with, and he'll want to get off to a good start at his now permanent home. However, we did see the spinners used more in a containing role last year as the seamers did the damage, and as a naturally more defensive spinner, this will suit Ollie down the the ground (which is a long way for him, because he is very tall).

I'm painting an optimistic view of Middlesex's team, because I know just how strong it is. Of course, I don't want to get too ahead of myself and start talking us up to win it (although two leagues in two years would be nice), as taking on the likes of Lancashire, Durham, Notts and Somerset will be tough, and there will be games where we get battered for four days and get nothing. But, there are teams in this division that we know we are as good, if not better than. Being realistic, survival is the name of the game this year, and staying up by one point will be brilliant, but we're certainly good enough to cause a couple of upsets along the way.

Come on the Middle!