County Championship Division 1: Pre-Season Preview
Will Jackson 
Surrey are looking to make it four County Championship titles in a row this year, a feat no one has acheived since Surrey themselves in the 1950s.
The return of the county game on Friday kick-starts the domestic cricket season in the UK after a winter feast of white-ball cricket, and it's no surprise that without a ball bowled, the reigning champions are already favourites to go all the way once again with various betting sites.
In fact, they it's pretty much a foregone conclusion at this stage so I've had a little look at the runners and riders in County Championship Division One this season.
Durham
There is a lot to like about Durham at the moment, both on and off the pitch.
On it they have had a very impressive couple of years, embracing the Bazball approach when getting promoting before establishing themselves in the top tier last season all while bringing through a hugely exciting crop of youngsters.
Matthew Potts will feel like he has a point to prove to the England management after not quite establishing himself as an international, but eyes will really be on Ben McKinney and James Minto and their progress this season - in McKinney I think they have someone who could easily be opening the batting for England this time next year.
Alex Lees will captain after Scott Borthwick stood down and they have undoubtedly strengthened with the likes of Wil lRhodes and Emilio Gay joining, but it's maybe still a bit early to expect them to challenge right at the top of the table just yet.
Give some of the youngsters a couple more years experience and there's no reason why they can't win a title, but it's a little too soon for that now.
What would help is a standout season for one of the bowlers. The batters did their share of the lifting last season, but Potts was the leading wicket-taker with 33 in the red-ball game. If he can improve on that, they should be a good shout for a top-half finish.
In: Emilio Gay (Northants), Sam Conners (Derbyshire), Will Rhodes (Warwickshire), Neil Wagner (Overseas), Daniel Bedingham (Overseas), Brendan Doggett (Overseas), Zak Foulkes (Overseas)
Out: Michael Jones (Lancashire), Jonathan Bushnell (Released), Brandon Glover (Released), Oliver Gibson (Released), Ben Swarshius (Worcestershire), Ashton Turn (Lancashire)
Essex
It's been a winter of change in some ways for Essex - chief executive John Stephenson left for a role with Western Australian, head coach Anthony McGrath left for Yorkshire alongside bowling coach Mick Lewis - but in many ways, it's as you were.
Chris Silverwood comes in to head things up as McGrath's replacement, but even that has some familiarity to it as he returns to a role held previously.
But with no players brought in - Shardul Thakur had been signed but got a late offer to join the IPL - and a couple of players moving on, there's not really much to be gleamed from their winter activity.
Simon Harmer is as reliable an overseas as you can get, but the main intrigue will be on the availability of Sam Cook. For a long time Essex supporters have groaned at his lack of international recognition, but if he does finally get the call it could leave a dent in the new ball attack.
Keep an eye on Charlie Allison with the bat, an England youngster who has it in him to catch a few headlines this season, but if I was going to give out a cricket betting tip for this division, it would be on a safe top-half finish for the Eagles.
In:
Out: Ben Allison (Worcestershire), Aaron Beard (Retired), Feroze Khushi (Released), Daniel Sams (Nottinghamshire)
Hampshire
The most obvious difference at Hampshire this season will be the absence of James Vince, with the former England batter opting for a white ball only contract and moving to Dubai.
He seems to have gone with the well wishes of the club and supporters after a difficult year personally, but he will leave a big hole in the championship team - he will still be around for the white ball stuff - after years of dedication.
I'm looking forward to seeing how someone like Tom Prest steps up in his absence. He's a talented player who took real steps towards fulfilling his lofty potential last season and I think could be around for years to come, but he has big boots to fill.
Elsewhere there's been a lot of noise around Sonny Baker and there's a lot to like about the quick bowler who has an England development contract, but I would be surprised if he really pulls up any trees this season and fill the absence of Mohammad Abbas - who is just as big a loss as Vince.
Hampshire finished second last year but I'd be surprised if they repeat that this year, but it looks like we could have a very dry summer which should only increase the role for Liam Dawson, probably the best county player pound-for-pound in recent years.
In: Sonny Baker (Somerset), Mark Stoneman (Middlesex), Kyle Abbott (Overseas), Brett Hampton (Overseas), Lhuan-dre Pretorious (Overseas), Dewald Brevis (Overseas)
Out: Mohammad Abbas (Nottinghamshire)
Nottinghamshire
It would not surprise me at all to see Nottinghamshire struggle this season.
They avoided relegation last season by 21 points and I'm just not sure they've strengthened enough to make a significant difference, while also losing the effective Dane Patterson.
Mohammad Abbas should be a good signing when available - which isn't a whole lot - while Josh Tongue might get some welcome game time after an injury-hit year last year, but there are a few punts in there.
Kyle Verreynne could be a very effective addition. His first-class record is very good but I've never been convinced by his technique and he'll be tested by the swinging ball but could be a good attacking addition to the middle order.
They rely a lot on Haseeb Hameed at the top of the order and if Joe Clarke and Ben Slater can back-up good years then they should be okay, but I'm not convinced they will and its the batting I can see struggling- especially with Ben Duckett unlikely to see much county action.
In: Travis Holland (Youth), Sam Seecharan (Youth), Tom Giles (Youth), Conor McKerr (Surrey), Daniel Sams (Overseas), Mohammad Abbas (Overseas), Kyle Verreynne (Overseas), Fergus O'Neill (Overseas)
Out: Luke Fletcher (Released), Tom Loten (Released), Toby Pettman (Retired), Fateh Singh (Worcestershire), Jacob Duffy (Worcestershire), Alex Hales (Released), Dane Paterson (Middlesex)
Somerset
Somerset haven't made any domestic signings over the winter, but they have still made two of the most high-profile moves in bringing in Matt Henry and with Will Smeed coming out of red-ball retirement.
The Henry deal is a no-brainer. He's had success in this country before and is one of the best new ball bowlers in world cricket. He will play the first couple of months and in that time expect him to clean up.
If Somerset are to finally win the championship, they'll need a big couple of months from the New Zealander but don't bet against it.
In terms of Smeed, he is a hugely talented player who was seduced by franchise cricket around the world. After a quiet couple of years - and perhaps seeing the success of Tom Banton last year - he has decided to play red ball this year and while he'll have to go some to break into the side, it's an exciting move and certainly one to keep an eye on.
With Jcak Leach available all year and Archie Vaughan another very exciting youngster, Somerset have a lot going for them and I think they'll likely be Surrey's closest challengers.
In: Migael Pretorious (Overseas), Matt Henry (Overseas)
Out: Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Ned Leonard (Glamorgan), George Thomas (Sussex), Roelof van der Merwe (Released), Ben Green (Leicestershire, loan), Shoaib Bashir (Glamorgan, loan)
Surrey
To be totally honest, there's not much to say about Surrey that hasn't already been said.
The strength in depth they have is ludicrous and means that when England come calling for the likes of Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and who knows who else, they can replace with the likes of Matt Fisher, Ollie Sykes - one to watch out for this season - Jamie Overton and Tom Lawes.
If you could pick on one thing, maybe they didn't score as many runs last season as you'd expect but they should get a full summer out of Dan Lawrence which will make a big difference.
But with Dan Worrall, Nathan Smith, Kemar Roach, Atkinson, Fisher, Lawes, Overton and more, they have the seam attack to win the league at a canter, again.
In: Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Nathan Smith (Overseas) Mitch Santner (Overseas), Kemar Roach (Overseas)
Out: Conor McKerr (Nottinghamshire), Amar Virdi (Released), Ben Geddes (Middlesex)
Sussex
Paul Farbrace has decided to keep the faith with the squad that got Sussex promoted last season, but I think they'll find it a bit of a step up this season - probably more so than Yorkshire.
They'll lose the runs and experience of Che Pujara and I think its with the bat where they'll come unstuck. John Simpson had a big year last year but can he do it in a higher division? I'm not sure.
Daniel Hughes is a wily signing but they'll need the likes of Tom Haines and Tom Alsop to kick on if they are going to survive.
There's not much to worry about with the bowling. Ollie Robinson has a point to prove and Jayden Seales is a really good bowler, while Jack Carson could be an Ashes bolter if he performs well in Division One.
In: Daniel Hughes (Overseas), Jayden Seales (Overseas) Jaydev Unadkat (Overseas), Gurinder Sandhu (Overseas), Nantes Oosthuizen (Youth), George Thomas (Somerset)
Out: None
Warwickshire
Another team who could potentially struggle this season?
The Bears flirted with relegation last season and have tried to respond with some good overseas signings, but the loss of Will Rhodes will hit them hard.
Alex Davies had a brilliant season that earned him a Lions call at the top of the order but I'd say his career record suggests that may have been a one off rather than the new norm, and Tom Latham - while an excellent signing - has suffered an early injury and will miss a bit of action.
They've covered a lot of their bases with the overseas players but I think they're going to be relying on them a little bit too much, and that's not a good thing. They should have enough to survive but don't be surprised if they have a wobble.
Ed Bernard is a good cricketer and I'm surprised he didn't get a bit more attention over the winter, whether it be for the Lions or in franchise tournaments.
In: Tom Latham (Overseas), Beau Webster (Overseas), Hasan Ali (Overseas), Vishwa Fernando (Overseas), Ethan Bamber (Middlesex)
Out: Will Rhodes (Durham), Chris Benjamin (Kent), Michael Burgess (Retired), Amir Khan (Retired), Zak Foulkes (Durham)
Worcestershire
Worcestershire won't be surprised to hear they'll be favourites with a few people to go down this season, but they thrived under that sort of pressure last season.
I think the loss of Joe Leach is a huge blow to them. He has been their main man for years, and a record of 477 wickets at 26.91 is a brilliant effort for someone who came into the game relatively late.
In truth though, they don't have anyone with bat or ball who you would pin your hopes on to win matches for them.
Kashif Ali was a good-news story of last season and it will be good to watch his progress again this year, but without the impact of Nathan Smith to help them along this year, I think we'll see them struggle.
In: Ben Allison (Essex), Fateh Singh (Nottinghamshire), Jacob Duffy (Overseas), Ben Dwarshuis (Overseas)
Out: Joe Leach (Retired), Josh Cobb (Retired), Olly Cox (Released), Nathan Smith (Surrey), Logan van Beek (Leicestershire)
Yorkshire
After a couple of years in the doldrums and plenty of off-field strife, it's welcome back to the big time for Yorkshire.
Anthony McGrath returns to the county as head coach following a successful stint down at Essex, and his appointment should be a huge boost to a club who has struggled for good news stories in recent years.
Jonny Bairstow's appointment as red ball captain was probably the biggest or most interesting news to come out of the club ahead of the new season. If he plays a full campaign and is adamant on winning back a Test spot for the Ashes, then other teams should watch out - there's no more dangerous batter on the circuit than Bairstow with a point to prove.
Dawid Malan will play a few games early in the season despite holding a white-ball only contract, while Harry Brook and Joe Root should be available at some point....not bad, huh?
Keep an eye on James Wharton this season, as well as Finlay Bean. Wharton in particular is someone who passes the eye test and if he continues this season the way he finished last year, he could be someone who catches the eye at a higher level.
Clearly with the moves made in the overseas market, there are concerns about the bowling attack. They have recruited well with Ben Sears likely to be available for the whole season and highly-rated players like Will Sutherland and Jordan Buckingham chipping in - Will O'Rourke is a really exciting signing but will probably only play T20 matches - but Yorkshire will be reliant on them.
Matt Fisher never quite played enough to be a big miss, but Ben Coad continues to have injury issues and the back-up seamers have never quite convinced, so Jack White should be a very reliable addition and fans will be hoping he proves as good an acquisition as Jack Brooks.
In: Alex Wade, (Youth), Jawad Akhtar (Youth), Jack White (Northamptonshire), Will Sutherland (Overseas), Will O'Rourke (Overseas), Jordan Buckingham (Overseas), Ben Sears (Overseas)
Out: Matthew Fisher (Surrey), Dom Leech (Northamptonshire), Mickey Edwards (Retired), Shan Masood (Leicestershire)
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