With the Bob Willis Trophy set to begin on August 1, Michael Rudling takes us through the South Group sides competing in this one-off first-class competition.
Essex
2019 form: Essex won their second Championship title in three years in 2019, pipping Somerset in a clash between the two sides at Taunton on the last day of the season.
Key player: Jamie Porter
A glaring absence from England’s 55-man training group, Porter has already hinted that he may be somewhere near his best, taking four wickets in a warm-up game against Kent.
One to watch: Sam Cook
Porter’s partner-in-crime perhaps goes unappreciated at times, but his CV is mighty impressive for a 22-year-old, boasting two County Championship wins and 87 first-class wickets at 24.
Kent
2019 form: Considering they were a newly promoted side, Kent performed admirably in 2019, finishing fourth in the Championship and producing some resounding wins.
Key player: Darren Stevens
The evergreen all-rounder is 44 now but last season was one of his finest yet, and his nagging medium pace could be lethal against batsmen lacking game time.
One to watch: Matt Milnes
He has a tendency to slide under the radar, but Milnes had a great season for Kent last year, taking 55 wickets at 25 in his first season in Division One.
Hampshire
2019 form: Hampshire finished comfortably third last year in Division One, but never really challenged for the title.
Key player: Sam Northeast
After being snubbed by England yet again, Northeast will be keen to continue the red-ball run plundering that has made him a key player in the Hampshire middle order.
One to watch: Felix Organ
Organ broke into the Hampshire side last year as a solid top-order bat but stole the show with the ball against Surrey, taking 5-25 at the Ageas Bowl. His all-round exploits may be handy in the early absence of Liam Dawson.
Middlesex
2019 form: Middlesex’s freefall that began after they won Division One in 2016 continued last year, as they finished eighth in Division two.
Key player: Nick Gubbins
One of the few players who can honestly claim to come into this tournament in any kind of form, Gubbins made a hundred in a pre-season friendly against Surrey.
One to watch: Miguel Cummins
Cummins failed to make a significant impact in his three games at Middlesex last year, but the Bajan Kolpak is blessed with genuine pace and could add some bite to a samey seam attack.
Surrey
2019 form: Surrey’s defence of their 2018 County Championship title was underwhelming to say the least. They finished sixth and would have been close to relegation had it not been for the reshuffling of divisions.
Key player: Rikki Clarke
Another veteran all-rounder, Clarke took 47 wickets in his third Championship season back at The Oval, winning him a raft of accolades at the club’s awards night.
One to watch: Will Jacks
Jacks made headlines last year with a 25-ball ton in a pre-season match against Lancashire in Dubai, and whilst he didn’t quite light up totally in the summer, he did make a maiden Championship hundred.
Sussex
2019 form: It was a muted performance for the men at Hove last year with a sixth-place finish in Division Two.
Key player: Ben Brown
A reliable presence with the bat and behind the stumps, Brown impressed last year, averaging 43 with the bat in the Championship, the highlight being a brilliant hundred to rescue his side from 68-6 to 377-6 against Northamptonshire alongside Chris Jordan.
One to watch: Ollie Robinson
Having been released from the England Test bubble, Robinson will be keen to add to his incredible first-class record (he took 63 Division Two wickets at 16 last year) and keep himself in the reckoning for future opportunities.
Bob Willis Trophy Fixtures – South Group
Group Slot Start Home Away Venue
South 1 01-08-2020 Essex Kent The Cloud fm County Ground
South 1 01-08-2020 Surrey Middlesex Kia Oval
South 1 01-08-2020 Sussex Hants The 1st Central County Ground
South 2 08-08-2020 Essex Surrey The Cloudfm County Ground
South 2 08-08-2020 Kent Sussex Canterbury
South 2 08-08-2020 Middlesex Hants Radlett
South 3 15-08-2020 Hants Surrey Arundel
South 3 15-08-2020 Kent Middlesex Canterbury
South 3 15-08-2020 Sussex Essex The 1st Central County Ground
South 4 22-08-2020 Hants Essex Arundel
South 4 22-08-2020 Middlesex Sussex Radlett
South 4 22-08-2020 Surrey Kent Kia Oval
South 5 06-09-2020 Essex Middlesex The Cloudfm County Ground
South 5 06-09-2020 Kent Hants Canterbury
South 5 06-09-2020 Surrey Sussex Kia Oval
