UNDER new sponsors, Specsavers, division one of the county championship will be dominated by the counties with Test grounds this season.

Somerset are the only exception following the promotion of Lancashire and Surrey, but Durham will have two visits to outgrounds.

They will visit Southport for the first time to play their four-day match against Lancashire, starting on July 16, and will take their Royal London Cup game against Warwickshire to South Northumberland on July 27.

Stockton had hoped to stage one of the 50-over matches as part of their 200th anniversary celebrations, but without local council backing they felt they would be unable to recoup the asking price of £10,000.

Further evidence of the domination of Test match counties can be seen from winter recruitment, with the fact that Surrey have led the way suggesting they are unlikely to return straight to division two.

They have Kumar Sangakkara as their main overseas man, with Dwayne Bravo, Aaron Finch and South Africa's Chris Morris signed for T20 cricket, although only two can play at once.

Favourites for relegation will be Lancashire, who have not strengthened significantly, and Hampshire, although they will doubtless benefit from Dale Benkenstein's influence in his third season as coach.

The main challenge to champions Yorkshire is likely to come from Warwickshire, especially with Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott joining the highly-rated Sam Hain in a strong middle order.

Most pundits expect Durham to finish nearer the bottom than the top, but the same applied ahead of their third title in 2013. The spirit forged from a common North-East bond can be very uplifting.