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 5
Division One
Durham vs Hampshire – 11:00 BST
Kent vs Somerset - 11:00 BST
Lancashire vs Surrey – 11:00 BST
Nottinghamshire vs Essex – 11:00 BST
Warwickshire vs Worcestershire – 11:00 BST
Division Two
Derbyshire vs Gloucestershire – 11:00 BST
Middlesex vs Glamorgan – 11:00 BST
Sussex vs Northamptonshire – 11:00 BST
Yorkshire vs Leicestershire – 11:00 BST
Warwickshire vs Worcestershire – 11:00 BST
An exciting Bears vs Pears match-up begins the season at Edgbaston, but the contest itself is expected to be one-sided. Worcestershire are overwhelming favourites to go straight back down after being promoted as Division Two runners-up in 2023. The top flight has always proven a step too far for a historically small club in Worcestershire and once again, their squad both with bat and ball just doesn’t appear to be at the level of their fellow Division One counties. Warwickshire should dominate on their own patch and win this one, provided rain doesn’t wipe out too many overs across the four days.
Prediction: Warwickshire draw no bet
Kent vs Somerset – 11:00 BST
Whilst Kent could spend the season fighting relegation, the likelihood of England star Zak Crawley being available in the opening rounds should greatly benefit them on the batting front. Somerset meanwhile, have seen their pre-season preparations hit by the news that overseas all-rounder Will Sutherland has pulled out of his planned stint at the club through injury. Such a blow can adversely impact the entire balance of the Somerset team, which may see them struggle on the road especially. Therefore, a smart play is to be back a Kent win via the safety of the draw no bet market.
Prediction: Kent draw no bet
Yorkshire vs Leicestershire – 11:00 BST
Yorkshire will rightly be seen as the team to beat in Division Two and any outcome other than promotion would be seen as an outright failure for a county of their stature. Leicestershire are a perennial Division Two team who lost key players such as Colin Ackermann and Callum Parkinson across the off-season (both have joined Durham). Scoring runs shouldn’t be an issue for Yorkshire’s line-up in the second tier, the challenge will be to take 20 wickets per game. But playing in what is likely to be four days of chilly, grey April weather, the White Rose are well worth backing to get the better of the Foxes, again via the draw no bet market with rain a potential factor.
Prediction: Yorkshire draw no bet
