Top Ten: 2011 County Championship Prospects
Ben Duggan
Posted on: 14 April 2011 - 09:00
Cricket
After yet another poor England World Cup showing, the usual cries of ‘there’s no talent coming through from the counties’ can be heard from all quarters. Whatever you do, don’t listen, as that’s garbage, in fact it’s the complete opposite. There is in fact some seriously impressive cricketing talent lighting up the ‘Shires.
With the ODI side now back at the drawing board stage and just the hint of one or two spots being up for grabs in the Test side, this is a big season for England’s hottest prospects and it’s sure to guarantee some high-class entertainment for the paying public.
One thing that was hard to do, was narrow it down to just ten prospects. There should be honourable mentions for the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Adam Lyth, Reece Topley and Sam Northeast along with Sport.co.uk’s other choices below.
James Taylor / Leicestershire
Having initially burst onto the county scene in 2009, Taylor certainly doesn’t have the surprise factor anymore. What the pint-sized, right-hander does have is staying power and class. After notching a 1,000+ runs in his first season, Taylor returned to do the same last year brushing aside the ‘second season syndrome’ worries.
This season Taylor will hope to help the Foxes put together a promotion push under the guidance of Matthew Hoggard and Leicestershire will hope that potential elevation to the top division, will be enough to keep Taylor out of the clutches of the bigger counties.
Ben Stokes / Durham
The burly all-rounder excelled in 2010 after being tipped for a promising campaign. The New Zealand-born Stokes scored two well-crafted hundreds last season as he topped the batting charts for Durham with 798 runs.
With Paul Collingwood likely to be available for Durham a lot more often this season, Stokes is going to have real competition for his place and that should serve him well By the end of the summer though, it maybe that Stokes has replaced Collingwood not only at Durham but in the England ODI side too.
Danny Briggs / Hampshire
At just 19, Briggs has left an impression on many already with his left-arm spin. Having performed magnificently in last year’s Twenty20 competition, which his side won, Briggs was rewarded with a winter trip to Australia with England’s performance squad. He performed well in recent Lions tour to the Caribbean where he took 33 wickets at 19 in six matches.
With Imran Tahir also at Hampshire this year, Briggs will learn plenty from him and while many people suggest that Somerset’s George Dockrell (previewed below) could go on and play for England, he will certainly have competition from Briggs.
Nathan Buck / Leicestershire
There are high hopes for Buck at Grace Road, and after a haul of 49 Championship wickets last season, it’s easy to see why. Having established a new ball partnership with Matthew Hoggard, Buck belies his tender years and looks to be a genuine threat.
Buck benefited from being called up for the England Lions tour to the Caribbean earlier this year and performed admirably. As ever with Leicestershire, they’ll have to work hard to keep Buck out of the clutches of the bigger counties, they will however, be powerless to stop his seemingly inevitable departure to the England set-up.
Alex Hales / Nottinghamshire
There are big things expected again for Hales this season, with many in the game suggesting that the Nottinghamshire opener could be the natural replacement for Marcus Trescothinck at the top of the England batting line-up.
His big hitting in all formats of the game mean that he is likely to come in to England contention sooner rather than later, but in the meantime, he will be a key member of the side looking to retain their title.
Joe Root / Yorkshire
One of the many youngsters at Yorkshire likely to benefit from the lack of overseas players this season. Root has been compared favourably to former England Captain Michael Vaughan with his calm, fluid and stylish batting.
Having made his debut last year with a knock of 63, Root will be looking to establish himself in a side that is expected to challenge for the Championship. Playing for Yorkshire can add certain pressure to a youngster’s game, but Root seems to have taken everything in his stride. Expect a big season from the Sheffield-born number three.
George Dockrell / Somerset
The young Irishman’s rise to fame continues after his dramatic World Cup for Ireland. He will perhaps find it more difficult on Taunton’s notoriously batsmen friendly wicket, but Dockrell has the composure and ability to produce at the right moments.
After admitting that he would perhaps like to follow Eoin Morgan into England colours, Dockrell will need to impress in the Somerset side and with Murali Kartik back again, the duo could clean-up when wickets turn in the late summer. His left arm spin has proved economical at all levels he’s played and it surely won’t be long before he’s on the England radar.
Stuart Meaker / Surrey
With the possibility of Chris Tremlett getting an England central contract there are high hopes for young Meaker at the Oval. The South African-born bowler is still finding his feet in the first-team but with an extended run in the side, he could leave a trail of destruction in the second division this year.
Much of the talk around Meaker has been the rumoured 96mph bowling speed picked up on a gun at Loughborough, a speed that would make him England’s fastest ever bowler. A glut of early wickets will increase the hype.
Jos Buttler / Somerset
Rather like James Taylor, Buttler is certainly no surprise package as he’s been in the Somerset side now for a while now. Having benefited from Craig Kieswetter’s call up to the England set-up and kept wicket beautifully, it may just be that Buttler could leapfrog Kieswetter into the England fold.
Coupled with his ability with the gloves Buttler possesses a cool temperament with the bat, he’s already notched his first hundred and claimed the man of the match award in Somerset’s Twenty20 semi-final victory last year with an impressive knock of 55 from 23 balls.
James Harris / Glamorgan
The young Welshman has created quite a stir at the SWALEC Stadium and with 63 wickets last season he is going to be pivotal to the Welsh side’s anticipated promotion push under new captain Alviro Peterson.
Not only is Harris deadly with the all in his hand, he is burgeoning all-rounder. His performance with the England Lions in the winter cannot have failed to impress as he performed well with bat and ball and if he continues to mature at his meteoric rate, he’ll be an international player sooner rather than later.