Sir Alastair Cook is back and Essex should expect a title challenge

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: Though the final year of his England Test career was lean in terms of runs, at Championship level Cook should be a real asset at the top of the order

Ins: N/A

Outs: James Foster (retired), Ashar Zaidi (released), Callum Taylor (released), Matt Dixon (released)

Fixture list: April 5 – Hampshire (a); April 11 – Surrey (a); May 14 – Nottinghamshire (h); May 27 (h) – Kent; June 3 – Yorkshire (a); June 16 (h) Hampshire; June 23 – Somerset (h); June 30 – Nottinghamshire (a); July 7 – Yorkshire (h); July 13 – Warwickshire (a); August 18 – Kent (a); September 10 – Warwickshire (h); September 16 – Surrey (h); September 23 – Somerset (a)

Remind me what happened last year?

Though few would deny Surrey were worthy of what was their 19th outright title, the Chelmsford club will be wondering what could have been after a dose of misfortune saw them relinquish their Division One crown. The evergreen Peter Siddle, 2017’s leading wicket-taker Jamie Porter and the reliable Simon Harmer contributed 152 wickets between them, but the weather disrupted the start of their campaign.

Rain-affected draws at Yorkshire – where a ball wasn’t even bowled – and Hampshire early in the season laid the foundations for a run of just three wins in their opening nine Championship matches. But Anthony McGrath’s side enjoyed an Indian summer, prevailing in three of their last four including in a thriller against champions Surrey on the final day of the campaign.

^{Essex enjoyed an excellent second half to the 2018 Championship season}

What’s happened over the winter?

The off-season began with a raft of new contracts for important squad players. Captain Ryan Ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara, Adam Wheater, Aron Nijjar and Harmer were among those players to commit their immediate future to the club; a suggestion the team are at least going in the right direction.

Off-the-field, Dimitri Mascarenhas departed as assistant coach and bowling lead after the decision was taken not to renew his contract. A familiar face in the form of ex-South Africa paceman Andre Nel – who had two spells at Essex as a player – has come in to fill the void. Siddle meanwhile has earned an international recall with Australia, which could yet impact on the 2019 domestic season with the World Cup looming.

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Who’s arrived and who’s left?

Cameron Delport, who left Leicestershire mid-way through his two-year contract in November, is the only fresh face however he will only play in the T20 Blast competitions over the next two seasons.

With over 4,500 runs to his name in the shortened format he is likely to be a threat at the top of the order when he joins from July 1 – though Essex will not be calling on him in the red-ball game. His last first-class outing came nearly two years ago.

One-county man James Foster has departed after 18 years at Essex, entering retirement as one of the most valued players in their recent history across all formats. Ashar Zaidi, Callum Taylor and Matt Dixon have all departed after a quiet 2018.

Who will be the key men in 2019?

Newly-knighted Sir Alastair Cook will play a full county season for the first time since 2005 and requires little introduction. Though the final year of his England Test career was lean in terms of runs, at Championship level he should be a real asset at the top of the order.

Meanwhile, few have bowled better than Porter in the last two seasons and if one of England’s established fast bowlers were to break-down he is surely the next cab off the rank. The 25-year-old averaged below 25 last term with the ball and the displays - as with any championship challenge - of Essex’s premier seamer will be key.

What can we expect from this team this season?

It remains to be seen how Cook re-adapts to life away from the bright lights of international cricket. Though the standard is clearly a rung below where the 34-year-old has been plying his trade in recent years, there is no guarantee he will automatically assert his dominance. The Dukes ball will not suddenly become easier to play.

If he does hit the ground running then Essex have the balance in their squad capable of making a challenge for the title. Ten Doeschate and Bopara remain reliable campaigners, Tom Westley continues to harbour England ambitions while 21-year-old Dan Lawrence will be eager to prove his 2018 displays were merely a blip en route to the summit of the sport.

Prediction: 2nd