With the County Championship season starting today ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan has named Surrey as his team for success.
The new County Championship season starts today, as 18 sides over two divisions will battle it out for trophy success, promotion hopes and steering clear of relegation.
With Warwickshire beginning their title defence against Division One new boys Derbyshire, former England captain Michael Vaughan has looked elsewhere for his favourite county side.
Vaughan has picked out Surrey as the team to watch out for, after a difficult close season for the county following the shock death of 23-year-old batsman Tom Maynard.
The ex-Yorkshire skipper believes that the club’s dealings with overseas players puts them a step ahead of their competitors.
“The story of the summer could come from Surrey, and their marquee signings, Graeme Smith and Ricky Ponting,” Vaughan wrote in his Telegraph column.
“I expect them to make a big contribution to the English game. They are two hugely professional men and two experienced captains.”
Ponting and Smith will share captaincy duties this season, with the Australian currently playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and Smith departing for his responsibilities with South Africa later in the summer.
The two stalwarts bring a wealth of experience to the side after Surrey had to replace skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown after he departed the club following best friend Maynard’s death.
Whilst the County Championship starts today Surrey will not actually play their first match until April 17, when they travel to Somerset, due to the fact there is an odd number of teams in the division.
COMMENTS