From Graeme Hick, who needs just 10 more hundreds for a century of first-class centuries, to the captain, Tom Moody, who, at his best, can be magnificent. So much so that Western Australian not only topped the county's batting averages but also finished third in the bowling.The old pros will be there: Tim Curtis and Phil Newport, the latter playing in just half a dozen Championship games last season before injury put him out of action, batsman David Leatherdale, Stuart Lampitt, this year's beneficiary Richard Illingworth the England slow left-arm bowler, and wicketkeeper Steven Rhode. All will be expected to dig in for their captain and their county.And they, in their turn, can expect help from the wannabes. Opener Philip Weston improved beyond all recognition under the guidance of the coach, David Houghton Houghton has a crop of burgeoning talent under his care. Batsmen Reuben Spiring and Vikram Solanki and pace bowler Alamgir Sheriyar.
The all-rounder Gavin Haynes is back after a knee injury.The last three seasons have seen them move up from 15th in 1994 to seventh last year. The new season could be one of unprecedented success for Moody and his band.IN: Bobby Chapman (Notts); Maneer Mirza (summer contract); Stephen Price (summer contract); Neil Slade (summer contract); Elliott Wilson (summer contract).OUT: Mohammed Amjad (rel); Matthew Church (rel); James Ralph (rel).OVERSEAS PLAYER: Tom Moody (Western Australia and Australia).YORKSHIRELast season: BAC 6th; SL 3rd; B&H SF; NatWest SF.Captain:David ByasCoach: Doug PadgettThere is little doubt that the White Rose county has a blooming good chance to win something this summer.They may have been thwarted in their bid to get Michael Slater but Darren Lehmann is not exactly a poor substitute with more than 7,000 Sheffield Shield runs and a first-class average of almost 50.Darren Gough's and Chris Silverwood's penetrative bowling will more than likely be needed by England so they need to be made great use of early on, when perhaps pitches should be more helpful. Of course Craig White and Peter Hartley can always be relied on to provide the necessary back- up, having taken 90 wickets between them in the Championship last year. But there is a queue of youngsters ready to take over from these two, Alex Wharf, Gavin Hamilton and Paul Hutchison, who turned out for The Rest last season but is still awaiting his first-class debut with the county, must seize every opportunity as it arises. Spinners Richard Stemp and Michael Vaughan need to be more penetrative.The batting is studded with class.
Vaughan and Anthony McGrath are capable of very big innings, David Byas and Martyn Moxon will have been a little disappointed at missing out on their 1,000 Championship runs last time.IN: James Hood; Ryan Robinson.OUT: Michael Bevan (NSW and Australia); Mark Robinson (Sussex); Christopher Schofield (rel).OVERSEAS PLAYER: Darren Lehmann (South Australia).. Ashley Giles (Warwickshire) Age: 24. Speciality: Slow left arm.One of the many successes of the triumphant England A tour to Australia, where he took 19 first- class wickets. Surrey-born but, having developed into a spinner, automatically entered that county's blind spot in the bad old days Warwickshire debut in 1993. In last season's Championship he took 55 wickets at a respectable 27.81 (64 wickets in all first-class matches) and completed an all-rounder's double by scoring more than 500 runs, including his maiden first-class century. Highly regarded for his guile and variations and should pose a serious challenge to Phil Tufnell for his England place before very long, as well as serious problems again for batsmen this summer.Ben Hollioake(Surrey)Age: 19.