Friends Life T20 Competition 2012

So it’s that time of the year again in County Cricket circles when the County Championship is pushed to the background and the crowds take cover as the counties biggest tournament gets under way. In this post I’m going to look at 4 teams that I think have a fantastic chance of going on to big things in this competition and could definitely be there come finals day.

Somerset

Always the bridesmaids and never the brides they seem to spend most of the last few seasons doing really well and getting to the big final occasions and then losing repeatedly. They have a fantastic team (even without injured skipper Marcus Trescothick) and will look to players such as Jos Buttler and the spin duo of Max Waller and George Dockrell to lead the charge. They have such a fantastic team and so much raw talent that I honestly think that they will win it this year.

Surrey

Another team that has a young squad that is full of talent and they should do very well. Obviously they have been the victim of a terrible tragedy in the last few days and without a doubt they will want to make sure that this season they do their utmost to wind something so they can dedicate the victory to Tom Maynard. Unfortunately I think they will need another year or two before they become the side that everyone else is trying to beat.

Essex

A brilliant one day team that is ridiculously hard to beat at Fortress Chelmsford as they know the angles of the ground so well for both the batting and fielding aspects and play fantastic cricket there. The biggest problem Essex seems to have is when they go away from home they seem to struggle a lot more. When you consider that they have a fantastic team and they are so good at one day cricket you wonder how they haven’t won more but for me I think they will lose in the Semi-Finals this year.

Nottinghamshire

Another fantastic team with the likes of Alex Hales and James Taylor (two young players that have played for the England team and are very highly rated for the future). When you add in to this team people like Michael Lumb and Samit Patel you have a fantastic team that should do very well. As long as the groups work out and the next round draw I think that they will lose in the final to Somerset.