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County Cricket 2015: Sky Sports pundits make their predictions

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Will Yorkshire retain their County Championship crown? Will KP fire for Surrey? And who is the best overseas pro?

After an off-season dominated by one-day cricket - and not in a good way (for English interest at least) - the return of red-ball cricket is a welcome one.

Here, the Sky Sports pundits give their predictions for the county campaign ahead.

DAVID FULTON

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James Taylor has put his recall to the England squad down to his county form with Nottinghamshire. He hopes to show he can compete at the highest level

County Championship winners: Nottinghamshire. Mick Newell’s team will have fewer international call-ups than Yorkshire and have the batsmen and seam bowlers to bring home the title. Vernon Philander and Ben Hilfenhaus are shrewd signings, who will share the overseas slot. Will Gidman is a fine acquisition, too, as he is a tremendous all-rounder. As for the batting mix, the likes of Michael Lumb, Alex Hales, Samit Patel, Riki Wessels, James Taylor and the recently acquired Brendan Taylor will ensure plenty of runs.

Relegated: Worcestershire and Middlesex. History suggests the two promoted sides are favourites to go back down but I’m backing Hampshire to outperform Middlesex, who only just survived last summer and don’t score enough runs. Worcester were very reliant on Saeed Ajmal, who is likely to be less effective with his remodelled action when he does arrive.

Division Two champions: Surrey. They should run away with it with KP and Kumar Sangakkara, superstars of the game, in the batting line-up and plenty of fast-bowling talent. But the Oval wickets can be flat and will the dressing room be harmonious? Essex prepared wickets to suit their bowling attack at the end of last season and hit upon a winning formula that will lead them to promotion this time.

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T20 Blast champions: Lancashire. Dangerous one-day outfit who got so close last time and will learn from their T20 campaign.

Royal London One-Day cup champions: Sussex. They have underperformed in white-ball cricket over the last few years but in Luke Wright, Ed Joyce, Mike Yardy and Chris Nash have plenty of one-day experience and runs in them. Watch out for Craig Cachopa, too. Plus, in Chris Liddle, Will Beer and Stefan Piolet, they also have one-day specialists with the ball who are more than useful. I also expect Hampshire and Somerset to go well in this competition.

Batsman to watch this season: James Vince. He has looked like an international batsmen in the making for several years - he has the elegance of Michael Vaughan - and made real strides last term. If he performs in Division One, expect an ODI debut this summer.

Image: Mills: Fulton's bowler to watch

Bowler to watch this season: Tymal Mills. The fast bowler’s move to Sussex could be a stroke of genius – look what happened to Chris Jordan. He’s lightening fast - one of the quickest in county cricket - and strong as an ox but he is raw and needs to learn some craft and consistency to go with his natural pace and hostility. If he can, he could be England’s Mitchell Johnson. Keep an eye on Warwickshire's Keith Barker, too. He is big, tall and can swing the ball.

Best overseas signing: Kumar Sangakkara. One of the legends of the game who is likely to play most of the season for Surrey. He is a brilliant player across all forms but the key will be keeping him motivated in Division Two cricket when it's a bit cold and miserable. Philander, though, is almost your classic English seamer and if the Trent Bridge pitch offers anything, he will exploit it.

BOB WILLIS

County Championship winners: Yorkshire. Easily the best side in the land. They should retain their title despite even more England calls.

Relegated: Worcestershire and Hampshire. Worcester were only promoted because of Saeed Ajmal and they will miss Moeen Ali desperately. Hampshire don't have the bowling strength to stay up, with Fidel Edwards past his sell-by date.

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Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has confirmed Kevin Pietersen will return to the county for the new season in a bid to regain England place

Division Two champions: Surrey. Pietersen and Sangakkara will gorge themselves on mediocre bowling, while Matt Dunn's pace will bother second-division batsmen.

T20 Blast champions: Birmingham Bears. Brendon McCullum will help them retain their title. They also possess a good all-round bowling attack.

Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Somerset. Shrewd close season signings will help their campaign and Marcus Trescothick is still one of the best.

Batsman to watch: Joe Weatherley. Hampshire youngster should break into first team and impress. England's Under-19 captain could be special.

Bowler to watch: Matthew Dunn. Real pace is so important as we saw at the World Cup. Carefully handled, he could be knocking on England's door.

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Watch New Zealand captain Brendan McCullum hit a car with a six in a dominant batting display.

Best overseas signing: Brendon McCullum. Along with AB de Villiers, he is the world's best one-day batsman.

MARK BUTCHER

County Championship winners: Sussex. Boosted by further bowling resources with Tymal Mills and Ajmal Shahzad, an already strong squad has just got stronger.

Relegated: Worcestershire and Middlesex. Worcester are a bit of a yo-yo-club between the divisions and with the loss of Moeen Ali to England, expect no different. At Middlesex, losing Chris Rogers and replacement overseas pro Adam Voges, both to Australia, will be a big blow.

Division Two champions: Surrey. Too much talent, especially with the additions of KP and Sangakkara, not to get promoted this year.

T20 Blast champions: Birmingham Bears. Last year’s champions have only got stronger with the addition of the highest scoring T20 batsman in world cricket, McCullum.

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James Vince hopes to impress the England selectors following his impressive performances for the Lions and being named Hampshire captain.

Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Nottinghamshire. They won it a couple of years ago and are consistently in the shake-up for trophies.

Batsman to watch: James Vince. Making the step-up to Division One as a batsman, and a captain, will go a long way to supporting calls for an England opportunity.

Bowler to watch: Tymal Mills. Arrives on the south coast in much the same way as Chris Jordan, a prodigious talent who struggles for form and fitness. Can he similarly fire?

Best overseas signing: Brendon McCullum. Arguably the biggest draw for the World Cup, will provide plenty of entertainment at Edgbaston.

DOMINIC CORK

County Championship winners: Yorkshire. They have a good squad and the best coach in Jason Gillespie.

Relegated: Worcestershire and Sussex. Worcestershire do tend to struggle in Division One, while I just feel Sussex are going through a period where they will find it hard in the longer form of the game.

Division Two champions: Lancashire. Ashley Giles is a decent coach, the batting is strong with Ashwell Prince and Alviro Petersen, and Nathan Buck is a good bowling acquisition. Surrey will push them close, though.

T20 Blast champions: Hampshire. They are the best T20 side in the country with the likes of Michael Carberry and James Vince. Chris Wood is crucial with his left-armers, too.

Alex Hales of England plays a shot during the ICC Cricket World Cup warm up match between England and Pakistan
Image: Alex Hales of England plays a shot during the ICC Cricket World Cup warm up match between England and Pakistan

Royal London One-Day cup champions: Nottinghamshire. A very dangerous team full of big hitters such as James Taylor, Michael Lumb and Alex Hales. Their bowling isn't bad either.

Batsman to watch this season: Wayne Madsen. A very talented batsman who doesn't get the plaudits he deserves because he's at Derbyshire.

Bowler to watch this season: Mark Footitt. He is the best left-arm seamer in the country and my tip for an England call-up.

Best overseas signing: Cheteshwar Pujara. An excellent batsman who wants to bat long periods of time. Yorkshire will need him, especially with England call-ups affecting them.

NASSER HUSSAIN

County Championship winners: Yorkshire. They’ve got enough depth to cover any kind of England call-up and are well led by Andrew Gale – plus they have a good mix of senior and younger players. The Headingley wicket offers a bit to bowlers, so results are possible. They’re a major threat.

Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan celebrates winning the Division One County Championship with team-mates during day four of the LV= County Championship Division One
Image: Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan celebrates winning the Division One County Championship with team-mates during day four of the LV= County Championship Division One

Relegated: Worcestershire & Middlesex. Of the two teams that went up last season, Hampshire are strong enough to stay up but I have my doubts about Worcestershire; Sachithra Senanayake is a good short-term signing but they rely heavily on Daryl Mitchell’s runs. Given the way they ended last season Middlesex will need to start well to survive.

Division Two champions: Surrey. Not only have they signed well in Kevin Pietersen and Kumar Sangakkara but they’ve a number of players who either have England experience or are on the fringes of the England set-up like Stuart Meaker, Jade Dernbach and Jason Roy, who could well be in England’s one-day plans.

T20 Blast champions: Hampshire. Brendon McCullum’s arrival is brilliant for the competition as well as Warwickshire. I was well chuffed when I saw that. I’d also throw Hampshire and Surrey into the mix, given their strength in depth. Hampshire know the formula – they are always there or thereabouts.

Royal London One-Day Cup champions: Warwickshire. The 50-over competition is a harder one to call as it is so spread out but historically Warwickshire have a good one-day record and I like they mix within their squad. Yes, they lost to Durham in last year’s final but there’s a great team spirit at Edgbaston and they’ll mount a strong challenge again, especially if England let them have Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott when available.

Batsman to watch this season: Alex Lees and Cheteshwar Pujara. Lees is a very mature cricketer who has had two very good years but England have plumped for Adam Lyth ahead of him so I’ll be keeping an eye on him to see how he progresses. I think Pujara is a fantastic cricketer – if he can cope with English conditions then it will be great for the development of his game.

Bowler to watch this season: Tymal Mills. After England’s display in the World Cup there is a lot of chat about left-armers and pace and rightly so. Looking at Mills’ record so far, no-one should expect too much but the move to Sussex might just be the making of him. The bottom line will be ‘is he getting wickets?’

Best overseas signing: Brendon McCullum. I like Pujara but my eyes lit up when I saw that the man of the World Cup had signed for Warwickshire. We need world-class players in our domestic Twenty20 competition and that lad – in T20 especially – is an incredible talent.

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