Half-way through as near as dammit is to swearing. So who are the surprise packages, the surprise douche bags, and the likely winners of the competitions on offer?

I can't see past Lancashire for County Champions - they are putting nore faith in their younger players and being rewarded for it.

As for Division 2: Surrey, Worcestershire and Essex in that order. Don't see that changing frankly.

The C&G is a shadow of its former self - no wonder the sponsors have pulled out. Adding semi-finals next year won't help much. Better to give it the format of the old Benson and Hedges: that should at least greatly reduce the number of dead games.

County championship - Agree. Sussex aren't helped by losing rana and if Mushie goes, then they'll have no chance of catching Lancs. I think Yorkshire will finish strongly and send Notts and Middlesex down.

Surrey are virtually up already, they have such a strong batting line up. Not sure about the second spot. Worcs have the players but if they get a few injuries then its quite open.

C&G - Very strange reformat. They should have put in a semi finals stage at the very least. Sussex vs Lancs. I'd probably tip Lancs.

20/20 - I think Essex will win it. I've been impressed with the tight bowling of Bichel, Gough and Napier.

There haven't been many surprises really, except perhaps the speed with with age has caught up with Nottinghamshire's side. Lancashire, Sussex and Hampshire were reasonable pre season favourites and it'll probably run to the wire - I don't see Lancashire as clear favourites because their spinner, Gary Keedy, is comfortably below Mushtaq and Shane.

As for D2, Surrey and Worcestershire are in the box seats for me.

What else have we learnt? That the Aussies have some more good young batsmen coming through - Cosgrove and Birt have been particularly impressive and I'd give Thornely, who I've previously bagged on here, a lot of credit for his tenacity - but that their bowlers continue to tail off.

As for England, there have been some good performances from the younger generation - Bopara, Chopra and Pettini at Essex, Smith and Hogg at Lancs, Davies at Worcs, Broad and New at Leicester.

quote:

Originally posted by Carpet Monster:
County championship - Agree. Sussex aren't helped by losing rana and if Mushie goes, then they'll have no chance of catching Lancs. I think Yorkshire will finish strongly and send Notts and Middlesex down.

Much as I'd love for you to be right, I really don't see it - there is a general malaise about the side having let too many top notch players go and the bowling never seems to know where its next wicket is coming from.

As much as i'm biased i think Essex will strongly contest the 20/20 and pro40 - but the bowling shortcomings will probably stop us getting promotion in the CC.