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Leeds United correspondent Graham Smyth has provided an update on winger Ian Poveda and a return to Blackburn Rovers.

The Lowdown: Poveda’s Leeds career

Poveda was brought to the club by Victor Orta back in 2020 and has gone on to make 20 appearances for the first-team at Elland Road, 14 of which came in the Premier League last season.

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The 22-year-old was sent on loan to Blackburn Rovers for the 2021/22 campaign, however, he has been out through injury since November.

The winger has been recovering at Thorp Arch in recent months, but now looks set to make a return to Ewood Park.

The Latest: Smyth’s post

Smyth took to Twitter on Monday to provide an update regarding Poveda and a return to Blackburn.

He confirmed that Poveda will ‘return’ to Blackburn ‘this week’, labelling it as a ‘trial of sorts’ with Tony Mowbray to decide if he wants the Leeds man around for the final three Championship games.

“Ian Poveda will return to Blackburn Rovers towards the end of this week for a trial of sorts, to see if his loan spell can resume.

“A chance to finish the season on a high, after a lot of potential and promise was dashed by injury.”

The Verdict: Caution needed

Poveda has returned to the grass in recent weeks but hasn’t played competitively in 2022, so there could be a risk of a new injury occurring if Rovers overload the winger in the coming weeks.

However, you can see why Blackburn want to see Poveda in action, especially as they have continued to pay a percentage of his salary while he has been sidelined.

Blackburn’s playoff hopes are also fading quickly as they are without a win in five, so they may see Poveda’s return as a welcome boost as they look to turn things around and finish in the top six.

In other news: Leeds and Orta want ‘extraordinary’ ace in Bosman move; same agent as Bamford. 

Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, who had a poor tour of India, has been replaced by the Canterbury’s uncapped Reece Young in New Zealand’s 13-member squad for the two-Test home series against Pakistan that begins on January 7

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Dec-2010Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, who had a poor tour of India, has been replaced by Canterbury’s uncapped Reece Young in New Zealand’s 13-member squad for the two-Test home series against Pakistan that begins on January 7. Offspinner Jeetan Patel and top-order batsman BJ Watling are the other players to be dropped from the Test side. Daniel Vettori will return to lead the team after missing the three Twenty20 matches that kick off the tour, beginning on Boxing Day, as he recovers from a back injury.”We have kept faith with the majority of the squad who performed well in the Test matches against India and want to build on the positive steps the team took in that series,” Mark Greatbatch, who was replaced as the team’s coach by John Wright, and took over as the chief selector, said. “One new face is wicketkeeper Reece Young who gets a chance after performing well over a number of seasons at domestic and the New Zealand A-level. It’s disappointing for Gareth Hopkins who misses out on selection.”In Vettori’s absence, Ross Taylor will lead an inexperienced Twenty20 side that includes three new faces – Dean Brownlie, Luke Woodcock and Adam Milne, who is 18 years old. Brendon McCullum, whose participation in the early phases of the tour was in doubt following a back injury, has been included despite doubts over his match-fitness. Peter McGlashan is in the T20 side as a stand-by wicketkeeper, giving New Zealand the option of playing McCullum as a specialist batsman, as he has been doing in Tests for a year now.”Dean Brownlie and Luke Woodcock have both enjoyed very good domestic form over the last couple of seasons and richly deserve their opportunity,” Greatbatch said. “Adam Milne is a promising young bowler and we are keen to give him some early exposure in international cricket. He is a young up-and-comer with the potential to have a big impact in international cricket for many years. Twenty20 is the ideal format for the new guys to get some international experience and exposure.”Brendon is keen to play and we are monitoring his recovery closely. He will undergo fitness testing later this week and we will make a call, closer to the start of the match.”Following the Twenty20s and the Tests, the teams will also play six one-dayers as their final preparation for the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent.Test squad: Daniel Vettori (capt), Brent Arnel, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Andy McKay, Tim McIntosh, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Reece Young (wk)Twenty20 squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Dean Brownlie, Ian Butler, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (wk), Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan (wk), Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Luke Woodcock

Rangers defeated Motherwell 3-1 in what could be a crucial win as the race for the Scottish Premiership title continues into the final month.

Rangers started brightly and opened the scoring via an own goal from Motherwell keeper Liam Kelly, cruelly denying Scott Wright the opener.

The game was changed massively when Leon Balogun was sent off following a clumsy challenge and the momentum briefly swung in the home side’s favour as Glen Kamara lost the ball when he should have made a simple clearance which gave the Steelmen an opportunity to score, which Graham Alexander’s side duly took.

The Ibrox side came out after the break determined to prolong the title race and goals from Wright and James Tavernier gave the away side a win that looked unlikely after 45 minutes.

The majority of Gers players got pass marks, but Kamara was poor yet again under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The midfielder lost possession eight times during the tie, with one such occasion allowing Motherwell to score, and he looked like a passenger during his 68-minute spell.

In possession, Kamara only had 46 touches, made one long pass, and failed to complete any dribbles, showing his somewhat conservative nature.

With only one tackle and one interception, he was miles off it from a defensive point of view and the 26-year-old would have been expected to take up added responsibility following Balogun’s dismissal – with his returns seeing him earn a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.6.

It was a slack performance from Kamara, with many believing that this could be his last season at the Ibrox side.

The club signed him in January 2019 for a measly fee of £45k from Dundee and has been a key member of the squad which won the league title last season.

This campaign has been markedly different, however, and with former boss Steven Gerrard linked with the midfielder, it may be time for Rangers to cut ties in the summer.

AND in other news: Wilson could land new £13m talent as Rangers plot bid for £180k-rated sensation

Harbhajan Singh may have struggled with his bowling over the last year, but when it comes to a scrap, you want him in your corner

Sidharth Monga at Newlands04-Jan-2011Harbhajan Singh has come in for criticism for his bowling over the last year, not unjustifiably, as his average of 40.69 suggests. However, when it comes down to a scrap, you want him in your corner. And whether he was batting or bowling today, it was a scrap all right. There was no use hanging around with the bat, for Dale Steyn would have surely got him with one of those amazing outswingers, and Harbhajan took the sensible approach, getting his body out of harm’s way and slogging.To the day three years ago in Sydney, in another scrap, he gave Sachin Tendulkar similar support in securing India a first-innings lead. Today, he set South Africa thinking with one four down the ground off Morne Morkel and another huge hook off Lonwabo Tsotosbe that nearly ended up in the Newlands Train Station. That 76-run partnership with Tendulkar, 40 of which Harbhajan scored, set India on the road to sharing control of the game.”I always enjoy my batting,” Harbhajan said at the end of the day’s play. “I don’t have the technique to bat like Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar or Jacques Kallis. This is the way I play my cricket, and I knew [if the ball was pitched in certain] areas, it was going to disappear. I did hit a couple of big sixes today, but I am happy about it. Would have been nice to get another 50-60. I am always greedy.”He spoke about that Sydney partnership too, and how it has been great for him to have batted with Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. “When I have batted with Sachin and Laxman, they have been helpful. In Sydney I batted with Sachin and again today. They have a lot of things to tell me. When I was batting, Sachin told me to play my natural game and counter-attack was the best option. With the kind of technique I have, I could have got hit on my ribs or somewhere else. He told me just to play my shots. I felt I should play my shots, and they would try to do something else. I think that worked, and they didn’t bowl the right line to me.”When India came out to bat, South Africa got off to a solid start, but Harbhajan emphasised his presence with two late wickets. Given the way the pitch has behaved, Harbhajan could be a crucial factor on day four. “There is a bit of bounce, and it’s not even. Some balls are going down and some are bouncing little bit more than you expect. It’s good if you keep on hitting the right areas, you still have a chance of getting good batsmen out, like [Jacques] Kallis and [Hashim] Amla. Those are the two key wickets we need to get, and then we will be in the driving seat.”Another scrap where Harbhajan has been influential is in keeping Sreesanth calm. Sreesanth has courted controversy with his sledging and been taunted by the crowd, but Harbhajan has made a conscious effort to keep him in check. When Sreesanth got Amla’s wicket in the first innings, he seemed to want to run towards the crowd. Harbhajan, though, held him back. Physically. And mock-clapped at the crowd from afar.”Crowd tried booing me in Australia, it doesn’t affect me,” Harbhajan said. “Let them enjoy. They have come to see the game. And obviously Sreesanth is getting more famous with this. I have enjoyed in Australia, let him enjoy here. It is not a bad thing.”Regarding the general heating up of tempers in the series, Harbhajan suggested he was enjoying it. “This is how the cricket is being played. When No.1 and No.2 sides play, there’s a lot of competitiveness, but I think everything is under control. Yes, you have to play with aggression. You can’t just be quiet there and waiting for things to happen. If you feel this is the way to play, why not go out and express yourself? This is Test cricket, not some match in the park. You have to have aggression, and you have to have that thing inside you to win games for your country. They are trying to win games for their country; we are trying for our country. Whatever trouble it takes we will go ahead and make sure we get the result we are looking for.”

Manchester United have been rejected by Leeds United midfielder and summer transfer target Kalvin Phillips.

What’s the story?

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claimed that the England star will snub a move to Old Trafford this summer out of loyalty for his boyhood club, with the two teams sharing a fierce rivalry.

However, the Whites will listen to offers in the region of £60m for the 26-year-old.

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Ten Hag will be furious

Although the new Manchester United boss has stated that he wants to be left alone by club officials until he takes up his new role in the summer, with his current club Ajax still in the hunt for the Eredivisie title, he will certainly be furious to hear of Phillips’ snub.

The 52-year-old is set to lead a major squad overhaul this summer as part of a serious rebuilding job required at Old Trafford, with numerous players set to leave.

It has already been made clear that the likes of Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata will depart the Red Devils, and plenty more could follow suit.

Therefore, new recruits are vital, and Phillips would certainly have been an excellent addition to the Manchester United squad, with the midfielder now an England regular and a kingpin for Leeds.

In fact, the 26-year-old was named men’s senior England player of the year for 2021 after a breakthrough year which saw him become a key cog in the Three Lions’ run to the final of the European Championships last summer.

However, this season will have certainly been a frustrating one for the midfielder, who has been limited to just 15 Premier League appearances due to a hamstring injury keeping him out of action for almost four months.

Whilst Phillips was on the sidelines, fan favourite Marcelo Bielsa was sacked as Leeds manager with the Yorkshire club’s top-flight status in serious jeopardy, with American coach Jesse Marsch coming in and subsequently steadying the ship at Elland Road.

Whether or not the England midfielder – who was labelled a “baller” by Nigel de Jong – will want to be a part of the 48-year-old’s long-term plans in Yorkshire next season is still to be learned.

What does seem certain, though, is that Phillips’ rejection of Manchester United will leave Ten Hag furious ahead of taking the reins at Old Trafford.

AND in other news: “Made contact…”: Journo drops huge MUFC transfer update, supporters will be buzzing 

Leeds United have been dealt a huge setback ahead of their upcoming Premier League meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via Evening Standard), Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed that Ben White, who missed Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over West Ham United last weekend due to a hamstring injury, is now back in contention for the clash against Leeds tomorrow afternoon.

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Regarding the current condition of the centre-back, the Spaniard said: “Ben White is still in contention. He needs to train [on Saturday] to make sure that he is available to play.”

Marsch will be gutted

Considering how just how important it is for Jesse Marsch and his side to pick up a positive result from their trip to north London on Sunday, coupled with how impressive White has been for the Gunners this season, the news that the England international is in contention to feature against Leeds is sure to have left the American gutted.

Indeed, over his 31 Premier League appearances this term, the £36m-rated defender has been extremely solid in the heart of the Arsenal backline, helping his side to keep 13 clean sheets, along with making 1.4 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 3.1 clearances and winning 4.4 duels (at a success rate of 59%) per game.

These returns have seen the £120k-per-week talent average a SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as Arteta’s joint 10th-best player in the top flight.

As such, it is clear  to see that the return of the former Leeds loanee would come as a huge blow to the Whites’ chances of leaving the Emirates Stadium will a decent result on Sunday afternoon – with a loss potentially seeing Marsch and his side fall into the relegation zone with just three matches left to play.

AND in other news: Leeds now plotting bid for “fabulous” £45k-p/w target, Orta should “take him all day”

England and Australia will play each other in ten consecutive Tests across two series home and away in 2013-14, after it was confirmed by Cricket Australia that the dates of the next Ashes series Down Under have been brought forward by a year

Andrew Miller28-Jan-2011England and Australia will play each other in ten consecutive Tests across two series home and away in 2013-14, and that could be followed by a further five-match series in 2015, after it was confirmed that the dates of the next Ashes series Down Under have been brought forward by a year.The situation, which last occurred in 1974-75, has been forced upon the two boards by the competing demands of the 2015 World Cup, which is also scheduled to be held in Australia and which, had the 2014-15 Ashes gone ahead as planned, would have required England’s cricketers to remain in the country for five months.A proposal to bring England’s next home series, in 2013, forward by a year was thwarted by the competing demands of the London Olympics. England’s subsequent home Ashes summer is now expected to take place in 2015, a year earlier than the 2016 date originally proposed, with the traditional four-year home-and-away rotation expected to kick in from then on.”It’s always been our aim to break that cycle of two huge events in the same winter,” Steve Elworthy, the ECB’s marketing director, told ESPNcricinfo. “To ensure that the teams have better preparation time for the World Cup, this is the only solution, but I also think it’s absolutely manageable. I believe the brand is strong enough, as we’ve seen this year. The home series is critical from our perspective to make sure our grounds are full, but when England head Down Under, they will be trying to replicate the performance that they’ve just produced.”Although the new dates have yet to be included into the Future Tours Programme, the proposed shift of England’s home series to 2015 is potentially significant, as it takes the series away from the competing interests of football’s Euro 2016 tournament, which would overshadow the build-up in June and July. Instead, the only other major sporting event in 2015 is the Rugby World Cup, set to take place in England at the end of the cricket season in October.A major consideration for CA was the prospect of a new round of TV rights negotiations, as the current deal is set to expire in May 2013. With India due to tour in 2011-12, followed by South Africa, England and the World Cup, the board is anticipating four consecutive seasons of high-quality international cricket.”The Ashes have an x-factor element that excites the Australian public,” CA’s spokesman Peter Young told The Sydney Morning Herald. “The Ashes make turnstiles spin and they drive the ratings up. In terms of the next media contract, it’s an ideal starting point because it’s a lucrative blue chip series and all the networks would give their eye teeth to get hold of it.”

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has said that Sri Lanka need to strengthen their middle-order batting if they are to be successful in the upcoming World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-2011Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has said that Sri Lanka need to strengthen their middle-order batting if they are to be successful in the upcoming World Cup. Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 World Cup, picked India and Sri Lanka as his favourites for the tournament but said Sri Lanka needed to re-look at their batting order.”We have an all-round side. The bowling looks really good with [Muttiah] Muralitharan and [Lasith] Malinga,” Ranatunga told . But the middle-order batting is a concern for me.”Kumar [Sangakkara] and Mahela [Jayawardene]should not be batting at No. 3 and 4. One of them has to come down to No. 5 to bolster the middle order. Maybe they should send [Chamara] Kapugedera up the order to No. 4.”Sri Lanka usually have Thilan Samaraweera and Kapugedara at No. 5 and 6, with allrounder Angelo Mathews to follow. Samaraweera and Kapugedara have strike-rates of 68.75 and 72.86 respectively, while Mathews, who is yet to play a World Cup game, has a much healthier strike-rate of 80.92. Mathews was Sri Lanka’s second-highest run-scorer in their three-match ODI series against Australia in November last year, with a strike-rate of 92.79, the best among their frontline batsmen. But Ranatunga says that Mathews alone cannot solve Sri Lanka’s middle-order problems.”Angelo is a very good player but he is still very young. It will be too much pressure on him.”Sri Lanka open their World Cup campaign on February 20 against Canada in Hambantota.

All that is heard on the day of a big match are soundbites meant to fling challenges at the opposition and when the West Indians went into their nets at the Ferozshah Kotla practice area, they went down another route

Sharda Ugra in Delhi 23-Feb-2011All that is heard on the day of a big match are soundbites meant to fling challenges at the opposition and all that is seen is the strutting-around of the obviously confident. When the West Indians went into their nets at the Ferozshah Kotla practice area, they went down another route.They gathered around in a circle, listening to their coach Otis Gibson speak. Some had arms around a team-mate’s shoulder and even the imperious Chris Gayle looking deferential. After a while the circle drew closer and the heads were bowed, the voices quieter. It was as if the men in maroon had gathered together in prayer. The West Indies may be confident, given a chance one or two of them would love to provoke their opposition but what they tried to gathered together today in that circle of comrades, was something more elemental: belief.It is the one word that crops up in all their conversations leading up to their first World Cup match where, like the Bangladeshis who now precede them in the ICC’s ODI rankings, they are up against a far stronger adversary.South Africa are favourites here, not just because they have beaten them 11 times in a row, with two consecutive 5-0 thrashings at home and away. The last time the West Indians defeated South Africa was also the last time the two teams met in India, in the semi-finals of the 2006 Champions Trophy in Jaipur. Four of the top six West Indian batsmen who chased down 258 that night will still find their way into the line-up tomorrow. It was the last ICC event played in India and the West Indies made the final.It is why the West Indians must have belief; in terms of sheer providence, they are back in the same country where they last made a World Cup semi-final and the last ICC event final. In terms of the cricket, if this is to be a batsman’s World Cup, the West Indies are as well stacked in that department as any of the other teams who are thought of as the events leading contenders.What the West Indies seek, as captain Darren Sammy said at his pre-match media session, was not the flamboyance of their batting stars but the unit’s overall consistency. If their batsmen can churn out a chunkful of runs, as opposed to breathtaking cameos, it will give their fairly unregarded bowling attack something to go at. As the light of a Delhi spring faded by 6pm, the team came onto the centre of the Kotla ground and had a brief bowling run-in on the wicket two strips away from the one for tomorrow’s match. The medium pacers were managing to hit something just below the keeper’s knee roll and only the quicker men, like the deceptively small, wiry Roach, were able to land the ball into the keeper’s gloves near shoulder-height.Spin is going to be every team’s calling card at this tournament and it is here that the West Indies find themselves without the range that is available to their opponents tomorrow. With two left-arm spinners in Sulieman Benn and the raw Nikita Miller, Gayle’s off-spin that will have to go from part-time to full throttle. To succeed, the West Indian medium pacers would do well to borrow what Sammy calls the information available to them from Dwayne Bravo’s IPL experiences, Gibson’s bowling nous as well as the ODI record of non-Asian bowlers in India.Two of their own, Winston Benjamin (36 wickets at 33.5 from 23 ODIs) and Courtney Walsh (35 wickets at 28.5 in 32 ODIs), lead the pack in terms of wickets. The most impressive of the non-Asians happens to be Australian left-armer Nathan Bracken (33 wickets at 20.96 in 18 ODIs) and Allan Donald (28 wickets at 19.47 in 15 ODIs), who is now signed up as bowling coach with New Zealand.The South Africans have been shown due respect to them being an all-round, thorough, completely professional team with small reminders from two of the West Indies’ leading men. Dwayne Bravo said yesterday: “They have a bad history as far as the World Cup is concerned but they are a very good team and you can’t take that away from them.”On his weekend ruminations, Gayle said the West Indies will have to: “Be on their A-game against the South Africans and once we get a sniff in, we try to capitalise on it as much as possible.” He paused and went on: “Give and take, they are beatable, all teams are beatable, we just have to try and be discreet going about our business.” The West Indians have been so discreet that no one is giving them a chance. Sammy’s reminded everyone dreaming of an upset that, “Cricket is played on the day. It does not matter whether you are No. 1 or No. 9 [in the world], you still have to go out there and do what you have to do, in order to come out victorious.”There could be no better time or place for the West Indies to put their annus horribilis behind them than at the Ferozshah Kotla, named after an medieval fortress that is now in ruins. The team has been in touch with the men who built the Caribbean cricketing citadel. Sammy said he had got messages from the man he called “Sir Viv” and had spent time chatting to Clive Lloyd. Amidst the talk of a fraying legacy and a shrinking demographic, Sammy offered a different, wider vision. He spoke of the pressures of being the only St Lucian in the team and why handling the captaincy was one of the privileges of the job. Cricket, he reminded everyone, “is the one uniting force for the Caribbean people”. He said all the fans wanted was to wake up early on Thursday morning, and seeing “that fight, that passion we had back in the 80s. We have to go out and execute properly – so that the fans who would be waking up early in the morning could be happy with our performances”.

Nottinghamshire clinched the County Championship on a thrilling final day last September but it will be tough work to defend the title

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2011Comeback trail: Graham Onions hasn’t played for 15 months but is on course for a return during the early stages of the season•Associated PressDurham (FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group B)
Captain Phil Mustard Coach Geoff Cook Overseas David Miller (t20)
A hat-trick of Championship challenges was too much to ask, especially when injuries took a severe toll coupled with uncertainty over the captaincy situation when Will Smith stepped down mid-season. Phil Mustard took charge and has the reigns again, which is a tough workload for the keeper. However, the well-run structure that brought trophies to the North East remains in place and the club will feel they can’t have such bad luck with injuries for another summer. Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett and a potentially fit-again Graham Onions remains the most potent pace attack in the country. They will also have Paul Collingwood available for much more of the season to boost the batting line-up, while Ben Stokes is hugely talented. Andrew McGlashanPlayer to watch Graham Onions: shows the depth of English pace bowling that the national team haven’t missed him. Is a high quality performer if he can fit who’ll want to remind the selectors what he can do.Prospects If their fitness woes are behind them they’ll be in the Championship race but will need runs on the board. Should also push for one-day honours.Hampshire ( FLt20: South Group; CB40: Group B)
Captain Dominic Cork Coach Giles White Overseas Imran Tahir (SA), Shahid Afridi (Pak- t20)
An ambitious county, whose maiden Test will take place against Sri Lanka in mid-June, Hampshire are desperate for more silverware to add to the t20 Trophy they lifted at the Rose Bowl last season. They haven’t had their mitts on the Championship since 1973, despite boasting such luminaries as Marshall, Smith and Greenidge down the years, so whether the new captain Dominic Cork can outdo those greats is a moot point. Nevertheless, his team’s blend of youth and experience is as promising as that of any county, and when Imran Tahir recovers from his broken thumb, they will once again possess one of the prime sources of wickets in the whole of the county circuit. Andrew MillerPlayer to watch Michael Carberry: one of the forgotten men of English cricket, having toured Bangladesh in March 2010 and made his one and only Test appearance at Chittagong. His open-faced style is arguably a liability at the highest level, but he is good for another four-figured Championship season.Prospects It is the 50th anniversary year of their maiden Championship title in 1961, so what better way to commemorate it? It could be that a retention of the t20 crown is a better bet, however, especially with Johann Myburgh and Shahid Afridi on their books for that competition.Lancashire (FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group C)
Captain Glen Chapple Coach Peter Moores Overseas Farveez Maharoof (SL)
A vital, and potentially club-saving, boost appeared to come a month before the season started when Lancashire won their latest legal battle against Derwent Holdings who were trying to block the White City development plans that incorporate the regeneration of Old Trafford. However, further legal challenges threaten to derail the project and this remains a nervous time for the club as they aim to secure a 2013 Ashes Test. Due to the rising legal costs around the rebuilding plans Peter Moores and Mike Watkinson have had little money to spend so there has been no recruitment over the winter. Farveez Maharoof was late acquisition but it will be down to some of the club’s younger players to develop quickly. Andrew McGlashanPlayer to watch Simon Kerrigan: a left-arm spinner who impressed with 30 Championship wickets in first full season. Forms a strong spin attack alongside Gary Keedy.Prospects Batting looks too weak to mount a Championship challenge and the bowlers will need to fire to avoid a relegation fight. Twenty20 offers a more likely path to silverware.Luke Fletcher will need to make up for the loss of Ryan Sidebotton’s wickets at Trent Bridge•Graham MorrisNottinghamshire (FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group C)
Captain Chris Read Coach Mick Newell Overseas David Hussey and Adam Voges (Aus)
After finishing second in the previous two seasons, Nottinghamshire secured the Championship pennant in the dying moments of campaign when they claimed three Lancashire wickets to deny Somerset. A repeat performance will depend largely on how they replace Ryan Sidebottom and how dry the summer is. If the pitches turn, their lack of a frontline spinner (with Graeme Swann away with England) could be a problem. In their favour they have two consistent overseas players, could see more of Stuart Broad early season than expected, and have a solid core of players build around Chris Read. Mick Newell, the coach, is highly regarded and was handed the England Lions role in the winter. Andrew McGlashanPlayer to watch Samit Patel: too unfit for England and seemingly unable to change, but the county – whether rightly, or wrongly – is more forgiving. Can win matches in all formats.Prospects If they can back early-season victories when the seamers dominant they can push to retain the title. Otherwise, a one-day trophy may need to be the route to success.Somerset (FLt20: South Group; CB40: Group C)
Captain Marcus Trescothick Coach Andy Hurry Overseas Murali Kartik (Ind), Ajantha Mendis (SL), Kieron Pollard (WI – t20)
The best team of 2010 ended cruelly empty-handed as they finished second to Nottinghamshire on the last day of the Championship season, lost out on a tie to Somerset in the t20 and lost under lights in the CB40 final. The winter has been spent making sure nothing goes amiss this time around. Ajantha Mendis will be dangerous in the FPt20 (never mind Kieron Pollard as well) while Steve Kirby has been signed to bolster the pace attack. They are again the best team in the country, led superbly by Marcus Trescothick, surely this time they’ll reap the rewards? Sahil DuttaPlayer to watch James Hildreth: in the lead-up to every new county season his name crops up as one to keep an eye on. Finally, last year, he converted his undeniable talent into runs. Serious runs: 1440 at 65.45 in the Championship, 627 at 69.66 in the CB40 and 459 at 32.72 in the FPt20. If he can match that again the England selectors will come calling.Prospects Anything less than a Championship title will be a disappointment. No reason why at least one of the limited-overs crowds couldn’t be theirs as well.Sussex (FLt20: South Group; CB40: Group A)
Captain Mike Yardy Coach Mark Robinson Overseas Rana Naved (Pak), Wayne Parnell (SA – T20)
Another county that has been busy with redevelopment work during the winter, with the construction of a new 1700-seater stand on the South-West corner of the ground. On the field, the signing of Amjad Khan from Kent will reinforce a seam attack that will miss the steadying influence of Corey Collymore, now of Middlesex, with Wayne Parnell and Rana Naved set to share the overseas duties. International calls will limit the availability of Matt Prior and Luke Wright, while the progress of their captain, Michael Yardy, will be closely monitored following his depression during the World Cup. Andrew MillerPlayer to watch Monty Panesar: had big boots to fill when he moved from Northants last season to replace the legendary Mushtaq Ahmed, but a winter in Mushtaq’s company during the Ashes means that numerous tips for thriving at Hove will have been passed across.Prospects The serial Championship winners of the 2000s may struggle to launch the 2010s in a similar manner, but they are a stronger side than the one that was relegated two seasons ago.Chris Woakes is developing into a fine allrounder and has already shown his nerve on the international stage•Getty ImagesWarwickshire (FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group B)
Captain Jim Troughton Coach Ashley Giles OverseasTBC
Warwickshire hovered precariously over the trap door in Division One last year before a late surge took them safe and they then delivered a spirit-raising CB40 title. The off-season has brought a new captain in Jim Troughton and the good signing of William Porterfield from Gloucestershire. He will have a key role in shoring up a top-order that is flimsy without its England stars, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott. Chris Woakes leads a sparky pace line-up alongside Boyd Rankin, which could be a potent mix. Sahil DuttaPlayer to watch Chris Woakes: took 50 wickets last year and impressed with a calm temperament in his brief international outings over the winter.Prospects The Championship title looks beyond reach but a decent challenge is a must. The CB40 is more realistic though they will desperately miss Imran Tahir who back at Hampshire.Worcestershire (FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group A)
Captain Daryl Mitchell Coach Steve Rhodes OverseasSaeed Ajmal (Pak), Damien Wright (Aus), Shakib Al Hasan (Bang)
Confounded expectations by being promoted back to Division One on the last day of the season last year. Avoiding an immediate drop back down would be even more surprising as the county battles dwindling financial resources and a thread-bare pace attack. There is plenty of experience in Alan Richardson, Matt Mason and Damien Wright but not the quality to prise out Division One batsmen on the better Division One pitches. The batting will rely heavily on Vikram Solanki but Shakib Al Hasan will hope to offer runs as well as wickets. Sahil DuttaPlayer to watch Moeen Ali: passed 1000 runs last season and his flashing wrists and style was an icon of a promising season. Will enjoy the better pitches but can he survive the better bowlers a division higher?Prospects Anything but relegation will be a major success in the Championship. A tilt at one-day success is more possible but the lack of an outright wicket-taker makes silverware unlikely.Yorkshire(FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group A)
Captain Andrew Gale Coach Martyn Moxon OverseasTBC
They exceeded expectations last year by making a push for the Championship title until the final round of matches, plus a consistent CB40 campaign. Andrew Gale, a very impressive captain, and Martyn Moxon have formed a cohesive squad with a strong balance of youth and experience. They need to cover likely England-based absences for Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad plus maybe Adil Rashid, so the return of Ryan Sidebottom is a significant boost in that regard. Gale and Adam Lyth have both represented England Lions this winter and will lead the batting alongside an evergreen Anthony McGrath. Andrew McGlashanPlayer to watch Adil Rashid: had a terrific all-round 2010 after being sent back to the county game. England will come calling again, but until then he’s a matchwinner for YorkshireProspects If Sidebottom fires they’ll be competitive but they appear a quality batsman short after Jacques Rudolph’s departure.