Week 6. Weighted towards Division One, with teams catching up to play their fifth game. Should be some closer matches than last week.
Division two bowling attacks look unconvincing, so could see some draws there in good weather. Division one games might see a mix of teams batting and fielding at the toss as the sun shines.
Played last week: Glamorgan, Sussex, Kent, Lancashire. Others will be fresher.
Glamorgan vs Sussex – a coin toss between two quite different sides.
Sussex have bowling as good as their batting, with a balanced attack that has two spin options. Glamorgan have some spinners but lack quality in the pace department. Both batting units are of roughly similar quality, and while Northeast and Ingram have 1,000 runs between them, Sussex have six bats with 200+ runs.
Northants vs Gloucestershire – Northants favourites due to slightly better batting.
Northants bowling is somewhat salvaged by LPW coming on loan. Still very reliant on Sanderson. Expect Gloucestershire to recover if they do lose early wickets as they bat deep and Norrthants don’t bowl deep.
Hampshire vs Durham
Expect Hampshire’s attack to be too much for Durham. But cause for concern for Hampshire fans with some real underperformance by Hampshire’s bowlers this year (so far). Still no Barker in the squad.
Kent vs Worcestershire – I hope Worcestershire win given what they are going through.
Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire – Notts look good, plus had a rest last week and are at home.
Horrible start to the year for Lancashire. Bell just about the only bright spot. Last week must have been rather chastening, following-on against Kent.
Surrey vs Warwickshire – It’s the bowling that sets Surrey apart.
Surrey at the Oval with Pope, got to be expecting a big score. Wonder if Surrey would consider moving Pope to four, or if England are having a say.
Both teams have the surprise spinner with a bag of wickets this year (Steel and Yates).
Red Ball Data 