Any sign of a London revival?

Usman Khawaja could prove a clever signing for Derbyshire if he can adapt to conditions © Getty Images Enlarge

Derbyshire

(FLt20: North Group; CB40: Group A)
Captain Luke Sutton Coach John Morris Overseas Usman Khawaja (Aus), Martin Guptill (NZ)

It was a tough time for Derbyshire in 2010 as they battled limited resources along with injuries and loss of form for key players. Luke Sutton, who rejoined his former club from Lancashire, was named captain during the winter and has a tough job although the club have been shrewd with their overseas signings. Usman Khawaja, especially, will be fascinating to what as he adapts to early-season English conditions after his Test debut in the Ashes. However, their bowling resources appear very thin with a huge amount resting on the experienced Steffan Jones. Andrew McGlashan

Player to watch Greg Smith: important with bat and ball (both offspin and medium pace) but contract talks stalled in the winter so his future is in some doubt.

Prospects Tough to see them maintaining a promotion challenge unless some of the younger players develop rapidly.

Essex

(FLt20: South Group; CB40: Group C)
Captain James Foster Coach Paul Grayson Overseas TBC

After one season in the top flight, Essex were dumped back into the second division of the Championship in 2010, but if Alastair Cook starts the new campaign with the same drive that he showed in the Ashes, they could go a long way to bouncing back before the end of May. He will be available for the first six Championship fixtures after a long break since January, and with the new signing Owais Shah (post-IPL) slotting in alongside Ravi Bopara and the new captain James Foster, Essex certainly have the batting to make an impact this season. The loss of Danish Kaneria leaves them short of a quality spinner, and a replacement overseas player has been hard to come by, amid rumours of a call-up for the Afghan Hamid Hassan. But with a £75 million redevelopment plan in the offing as well, optimism seems the order of the day out east. Andrew Miller

Key man Ravi Bopara: Cook's presence will be a coup for the early weeks of the season, but Bopara is the real king-pin at Chelmsford. After breaking into the World Cup squad as a replacement, he knows he's back in favour with the selectors, but that's all the more reason to turn in a command performance for his county.

Prospects With a threatening range of strokemakers in the middle-order, Essex ought to be right in the mix in all competitions.

	Alviro Petersen has a tough job at Glamorgan after a winter of discontent © AFP Enlarge

Glamorgan

(FLt20: South Group; CB40: Group C)
Captain Alviro Petersen Coach Colin Metson Overseas Alviro Petersen (SA), Mark Cosgrove (Aus - t20)

After slugging through a traumatic off-season, Glamorgan's players will be relieved to finally get on the field again. It has been a shambolic winter. Out went last-season's captain Jamie Dalrymple when he learned that Alviro Petersen had been recruited and installed in his position. Following him went coach Matthew Maynard, when he learned Colin Metson had been made director of cricket. Unamused with the whole shambolic process, president Peter Walker quit. Finally Tom Maynard, the promising batsman, followed his dad through the 'out' door, furious with what had happened. Somehow Petersen will have to unite the dressing room and stiffen the resolve of a shaky top-order. Sahil Dutta

Player to watch Michael Powell: suffered a life-threatening blood clot two years and struggled last season on his return. But he remains a talented batsman - once on the fringes of England - and Glamorgan need him to prosper.

Prospects Having missed on promotion on the last day of the season Glamorgan will be keen to go one better. Worcestershire showed that anything is possible but it's difficult to see Petersen galvanising the troops to mount a serious challenge.

Gloucestershire

(FLt20: South Group; CB40: Group C)
CaptainAlex Gidman Coach John Bracewell Overseas Kane Williamson (NZ), Muttiah Muralitharan (SL - t20)

Having spent the first half of the winter banging the dour drum of austerity, Gloucestershire suddenly announced enough savings had been made to allow spending spree. John Bracewell reached for the county credit card and signed Muttiah Muralitharan for the FPt20. His presence, injuries-permitting, will be a lift but resources remain slim and Alex Gidman has a young side to try and guide through the season. Sahil Dutta

Player to watch Kane Williamson: the focus on youth was very much apparent in his signing. It's also a product of John Bracewell's close links to New Zealand but 20-year-old Williamson is a serious prospect. He has a Test hundred already and proved an excellent player of spin. But so early in his career will he or the county benefit more from the experience?

Prospects A challenge for promotion in the Championship looks unlikely so a competitive in the shorter-formats is the best Gidman can expect from a youthful squad.