Will Yorkshire retain Championship title? Who will win the T20 Blast?
Thursday 21 April 2016 16:57, UK
Will Yorkshire win the County Championship for a third season in a row?
We asked Sky Sports experts Bob Willis, David Fulton and Mark Butcher whether they think Jason Gillespie's men will rule four-day cricket again or if another team will prevent the Tyes from going back-to-back-to-back.
Our pundits have also predicted who will drop into Division Two, who will be promoted, and which sides will land this term's limited-overs trophies, plus they gave us tips on which batters and bowlers to look out for...
BOB WILLIS
County Championship winners: Yorkshire - they are the best all-round side by far and will make it three in a row.
Relegated: Somerset and Lancashire - Somerset's bowling is not strong enough and neither, with Ashwell Prince retiring, is Lancashire's batting.
Division Two champions: Worcestershire - some shrewd overseas recruits will see the Pears continue to yo-yo between the divisions.
T20 Blast champions: Birmingham Bears - they are excellent in short-form cricket with guys like Rikki Clarke and Jeetan Patel.
Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Nottinghamshire - with Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Samit Patel, they are long overdue some one-day success.
Batsman to watch: Joe Weatherley - I like the look of this young Hampshire batsman and hope he gets a run in the side.
Bowler to watch: Mason Crane - Weatherley's county colleague is a super leg-spinning prospect who should go from strength to strength.
Best overseas signing: Brendon McCullum - the Middlesex man's international days are over but he has plenty to offer any team.
DAVID FULTON
County Championship winners: Warwickshire - they have Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott to shore up the top order and a formidable bowling attack of Chris Woakes, Keith Barker, Chris Wright and Boyd Rankin followed by Patel and Clarke. Yorkshire are favourites but three in a row is hard to do.
Relegated: Lancashire and Durham - these are two very good sides but this is the toughest Division One I've seen. Lancashire will miss Prince, while Durham might find themselves inserted a lot at home under the new toss rules on pitches which traditionally do a bit early on.
Division Two champions: Sussex - they have a lot of pedigree with players used to playing in Division One. I'm backing them to go straight back up, although Essex will push them close.
T20 Blast champions: Somerset - With Chris Gayle and Mahela Jayawardene as overseas players and James Allenby, Peter Trego and Craig Overton offering their all-round skills, plus James Hildreth, Roelof van der Merwe and Yasir Arafat in tow, this team is dynamic in the extreme.
Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Hampshire - James Vince is a popular captain and will lead from the front again, while the coming-of-age Liam Dawson and Adam Wheater will be backed up by senior pros Sean Ervine and Michael Carberry and new signing Reece Topley.
Batsman to watch: Daniel Bell-Drummond - the Kent star could be ready to open in Tests alongside Alastair Cook come the Pakistan series. He is good enough to cement a spot, too, as he is strong off the back foot, technically sound and has a good mind.
Bowler to watch: Mark Footitt - it will be fascinating to see how he steps up to Division One cricket with Surrey after switching from Derbyshire. If Footitt takes wickets on flat Oval pitches an England Test bow is still a possibility but time is running out.
Best overseas signing: Matt Henry - if the seamer stays fit he could be a real handful early season in Division Two and propel Worcestershire's promotion charge. For the T20 Blast, look no further than Gayle. He is loved in Somerset and smashed it all over Taunton last year.
MARK BUTCHER
County Championship winners: Yorkshire - it's hard to look beyond the reigning champions, though I do think they will be pushed by Warwickshire.
Relegated: Lancashire and Somerset - like, Bob, I think the former's batting and the latter's bowling are a tad weak.
Division Two champions: Sussex - they have a strong squad, with Ross Taylor around early season, and fresh management, too.
T20 Blast champions: Surrey - Jason Roy will lead a quality batting attack and there is power in the bowling as well.
Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Warwickshire - Ian Bell will add middle-order class to an excellent bowling attack.
Batsman to watch: Rory Burns - the Surrey man is a tough and talented opening batsman. He will continue to grow this year.
Bowler to watch: Mason Crane - leg-spinners are a very useful commodity and Hampshire have a really good one.
Best overseas signing: Dwayne Bravo - he bowls excellent slower balls, hits boundaries and takes catches. Surrey will benefit in the T20 Blast.
