Below you can find picks for Round 1 of the County Championship season from The Stats Zone’s top Cricket tipsters. All times given are based on UK start times.
Friday, April 12
Division One
Essex vs Kent – 11:00 BST
Hampshire vs Lancashire – 11:00 BST
Nottinghamshire vs Worcestershire – 11:00 BST
Surrey vs Somerset – 11:00 BST
Warwickshire vs Durham – 11:00 BST
Division Two
Glamorgan vs Derbyshire – 11:00 BST
Gloucestershire vs Yorkshire – 11:00 BST
Leicestershire vs Middlesex – 11:00 BST
Northamptonshire vs Sussex – 11:00 BST
Essex vs Kent – 11:00 BST
Essex were the only Division One team to emerge victorious from the opening round of County Championship fixtures, beating Nottinghamshire by 254 runs. Such a result was a statement from last season’s second-placed county and they’ll be expected to back that up with another positive result against a weak-looking Kent at Chelmsford. Without Zak Crawley for the second round of fixtures, Kent’s batting line-up could prove cannon fodder for the trio of Sam Cook, Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer, with Cook taking a hat-trick at Trent Bridge. Essex boasts a strong recent record over their biggest rivals, thrashing them in this fixture last season and are well-placed to triumph again in 2024.
Prediction: Essex draw no bet
Hampshire vs Lancashire – 11:00 BST
Although Lancashire’s match at home to Surrey was heavily affected by rain, the Red Rose found themselves on the back foot against the champions, having been dismissed for 202 in their first innings. Hampshire meanwhile, didn’t even get on the pitch as their away fixture at Durham was abandoned without a ball bowled across the scheduled four days. They’ll be desperate to get out and show what they can do and with a pace bowling attack of Kyle Abbott, Mohammad Abbas and Keith Barker, Lancashire may be in for an uncomfortable experience. That bowling unit may just swing things in Hampshire’s favour here in Southampton.
Prediction: Hampshire draw no bet
Surrey vs Somerset – 11:00 BST
Somerset to their credit, impressed in their draw vs Kent, doing the vast majority of heavy lifting to try and force a result despite rain wiping out a significant chunk of overs across four days. The same can be said for Surrey, whose spin-bowling all-rounders Cameron Steel and Dan Lawrence skittled out Lancashire for just over 200 in the most notable action at Emirates Old Trafford. But at the Oval, expect Surrey’s quick bowlers to take charge and for the likes of Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Lawrence in his first home appearance for the reigning champions, to rack up the runs. Back Rory Burns’ side to gain their first victory of the new season over the Cidermen.
Prediction: Surrey draw no bet