NCL Division Two County Profiles:

The idea of creating a two tier one-day league was to make the game more competitive and few would disagree that it has done just that. With a third of the division promoted to the top flight there will be plenty to fight for right up until the last day of the season. Warwickshire and Surrey could be the teams to beat. The calibre of their players and the history of the two counties gives them the look of big fish in a small pond.

While these two fight it out at the top, county cricket's minnows Durham will be aiming to avoid successive wooden spoons.

Prize Money: Winning Team £20,000; Runner-up £11,000

Dominic Cork

DERBYSHIRE

(Champ 9th, NWT 4th rd, B&H -, NL2 8th).

Derbyshire remain dark horses following their relegation into the championship's second division. They have lost the experience of Phil DeFreitas but have replaced him with Warwickshire's Tim Munton and Australian batsman Michael Di Venuto takes over from Michael Slater as their overseas player. Their chances of success, however, will once again rest heavily on whether captain Dominic Cork can recapture his England form.

Simon Brown

DURHAM

(Champ 8th, NWT, B&H -, NL2 9th).

Tasmanian's overseas replacement Simon Katich has been recruited from Western Australia to strength their hopes of remaining in the top flight. Captain Nick Speak will be looking for consistency from Melvyn Betts and Steve Harmison, two of the most promising young fast bowlers on the circuit, and Simon Brown, who remains one of the best left-arm seamers in county cricket.

Ronnie Irani

ESSEX

(Champ 12th, NWT 3rd rd, B&H -, NL1 9th).

The big question is can Essex overcome the loss of Nasser Hussain, who will be absent for most of the year on England duty. Only time will tell, but after a disappointing 1999, it seems unlikely. Ronnie Irani has been given the captaincy in Hussain's absence - and how he reacts to the extra responsibility will be crucial to Essex's hopes of performing strongly second division. Stuart Law, who contributed 1,833 runs in the championship last season, faces a great responsibility to perform again.

Matthew Elliot (left)

GLAMORGAN

(Champ 14th, NWT q/f, B&H -, NL2 4th).

The arrival of left-handed Australian opener Matthew Elliott as their new overseas player and Jeff Hammond, who established a fantastic reputation at both South Australia and Eastern Province in South Africa, as their overseas coach should help overcome the loss of Jacques Kallis and Duncan Fletcher. They have an experienced captain in Matthew Maynard and a potentially brilliant off-spinner in Robert Croft. One of the main contenders in the championship's second division and may also challenge in one-day cricket.

Alan Mullally

HAMPSHIRE

(Champ 7th, NWT 4th rd, B&H q/f, NL1 8th).

The Shane Warne factor should be vital. If he can maintain consistent top form then Hampshire could be a good bet to land their first silverware in eight years. The addition of left-arm seamer Alan Mullally - who missed out on an England contract - should help their pace bowling resources, and they should be a force both in the championship and one-day arenas. Captain Robin Smith will again shoulder the responsibility for the batting, although Will Kendall passed 1,000 runs last season and Derek Kenway fell just short.

Justin Langer

MIDDLESEX

(Champ 16th, NWT, B&H -, NL2 7th).

Mark Ramprakash, who is likely to be absent most of the summer with England, has been replaced as captain by Australian Justin Langer to replace him. Phil Tufnell and Angus Fraser provide vital experience, while up-and-coming youngsters like Ben Hutton and Owais Shah should be more competitive and consistent than they were during last summer. Langer, though, will be looking for a bigger all-round contribution with the bat after he was the only player to pass 1,000 championship runs last season.

Darren Bicknell

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

(Champ 17th, NWT 4th rd, B&H -, NL2 5th).

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar - the world's quickest bowler - is unlikely to arrive until May, but when he does, Nottinghamshire will be tough to beat. Captain Jason Gallian also has Darren Bicknell and John Morris to strengthen his batting line-up, as well as Paul Franks, one of the most talented young all-rounders in the country.

Graham Thorpe (right)

SURREY

(Champ 1st, NWT s/f, B&H q/f, NL2 6th).

Deserved champions for the first time in 28 years last summer, they should be among the front-runners again this time having lost only Alec Stewart to the England central contracts. Graham Thorpe will be desperate to prove the selectors wrong, as will young fast bowler Alex Tudor after a disappointing tour to South Africa. Perhaps their biggest coup, however, was to persuade Pakistan to do without Saqlain Mushtaq for their tour to Sri Lanka in July, and he will join their title challenge in May.

Nick Knight

WARWICKSHIRE

(Champ 10th, NWT 4th rd, B&H s/f, NL1 7th).

Banished to the second division on the final day of last season, Warwickshire may struggle to recapture their place in the championship's top division. Allan Donald can be relied upon to take his share of wickets, fitness permitting, but a vast improvement is needed in the batting if they are to mount a challenge for silverware after only three players - Nick Knight, David Hemp and Dougie Brown - passed 500 championship runs last season.

Champ = championship,
NWT = NatWest Trophy,
B&H = Benson and Hedges Super Cup (only top eight finishers in 1998 championship were allowed entry),
NL1 or NL2 = National League division one or two.