County Cricket / Ed Hawkins / 08 September 2008 / 1 Comments

"The Hawkeye View" - Ed Hawkins talks us through the chances of the different candidates in line to win the Division One County Championship, which looks set to go to the wire once again.

When 'Excitement' and 'County Championship' appear next to each other it is usually underneath the word 'oxymoron' in the dictionary. Well, that used to be true anyway. A moratorium of mediocrity, the English domestic game is much maligned but for the second season in the last three, its jewel in the crown - County Championship Division One - is set for a thrilling finish.

Only 15 points separate the top five sides. Nottinghamshire head the table with a lead of four points from their 14 games with Somerset, who have a game in hand in second. Kent, Durham - who crucially have an extra game, too - and Sussex are next. For the full table click here http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/countycricket2008/engine/series/319681.html?view=pointstable.

See, told you it was going to be exciting. Not that there is anything unusual in that. When the old 18 county Championship was replaced by two divisions in 2000, with promotion and relegation, it was done mainly to ensure excitement right until the end of season and banish meaningless matches from July onwards.

The 2005 season went down as one of the tensest in history. Nottinghamshire, perhaps this is a useful formguide, held their nerve to be declared champions by just two-and-a-half points. It was the slenderest margin since Worcestershire trumped Kent in 1988 by one point.

Last year was another dogfight. Sussex, Yorkshire and Hampshire held the top three places at this time last year and Lancashire went six points clear before the final round of games.

It went down to the last ball of the season. Sussex, who had gone top with victory over Worcestershire looked home and hosed until a remarkable Lancashire victory surge at The Oval. Having been set a county record 489 to win against Surrey, Lancashire fell 24 runs short as their last hope, Dominic Cork, was bowled by Murtaza Hussain for 47. Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, described it as the "best Championship season ever". The final top three was Sussex, Durham, Lancashire.

But the finale might not just be exhilarating because it is close. History could be made, too. If Somerset or Durham end up at the head of affairs at 6pm on September 24, they will end long and short waits respectively for their first pennant. Somerset, surprising considering they once boasted Ian Botham, Viv Richards and Joel Garner in the same side, have never won the title while Durham only gained first class status in 1991.

Durham, at [2.32] are favourites to go one better than last year. It is understandable why. With a game in hand against title rivals Somerset starting on Tuesday, they will expect their superior seam attack to make use of a probable bowler friendly conditions at Taunton.

The venue is famous for being good to bat on but this season Somerset have had to leave something in it for the bowlers to get a result. With it tight at the top, Justin Langer, the home skipper, could be satisfied by just trying to take maximum bonus points from the game, especially as Steve Harmison leads a stellar Durham bowling attack.

But for an Australian not going for a win when the pressure is on would be seen as heresy back home Down Under so do not be surprised to see Langer tell his men to 'back their talent'.
Somerset should be capable of avoiding defeat, which could make them the value call with a trip to a demoralised Yorkshire to come and a visit from Lancashire, who could be relegated by the time of the final match.

Wins and losses could be irrelevant, however. With the atrocious weather conditions around the country, the team that pips the rest could be the one that manages to get out on the park long enough to pick up those all-important bonus points. See here http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/312648.html for how they are awarded.

With that in mind, does anyone fancy a fit and firing Kent side at [10.00] to pull off something remarkable? Their last game is against Durham at Canterbury. It's always sunny in the Garden of England and they could do with some excitement, too.