We examine how 2016 Championship winners Middlesex are shaping up ahead of county cricket 2019 as they look to address their batting woes.

Middlesex County Cricket Club

Captain: Dawid Malan
Last season: CC2: 4/10; RL50: 6/9 South Group; T20: 9/9 South Group
Transfers in: AB de Villiers (SA, T20), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afg, T20)
Transfers out: James Fuller (Hants), Ravi Patel (released), James Franklin, Nick Compton (both retired), Tom Lace (Derbyshire, loan)

Stick on: Tim Murtagh

After a comparatively quiet 2017, the 37-year-old bowled as well as he’s ever done last year, taking 58 Championship wickets at 15 – his biggest haul for five seasons.

Wildcard: Tom Helm

Described by Andy Flower as an England star in the making, we’re still waiting for the 24-year-old quick to blossom, largely due to a succession of injuries. Will Middlesex be prepared to drop one of their more experienced seamers and unleash him?

Prediction

CC2: 3/10; RL50: 7/9 South Group; T20: 8/9 South Group

The 2016 Championship winners were expected to return to the top tier at the first time of asking but their batsmen suffered a collective horror show and let the excellent work of their formidable seam attack go to waste. In Stuart Law they have a new coach who knows a thing or two about run-making and failure to win promotion would be considered a major disappointment.

This county cricket 2019 preview was first published in issue 18 of Wisden Cricket Monthly. Subscribe here.