Off-season sale

The county season is at an end, but off the field the activity is intense as a clutch of big-name players are look out for a new club over the winter.

BBC Sport looks at the biggest names looking for a move, and the clubs in need of their services.

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Up for grabs

Kevin Pietersen

Right-hand bat, off-spinner Age: 23 Tests: 5 Team in 2003: Nottinghamshire First-class record: 3945 runs at 51.23 48 wkts at 45.47

Named in England's Academy squad this winter, although he will not qualify to play for his adopted country until September 2004, Pietersen is at odds with Nottinghamshire.

With a year to go on his contract, the South African could simply be throwing his weight around by criticising the quality of wickets and practice facilities at Trent Bridge.

But other counties will be salivating at the combination of big-hitting batsman, electric fielder and useful off-spinner.

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Ryan Sidebottom

Left-arm pace bowler Age: 25 Tests: 1, ODIs: 2 Team in 2003: Yorkshire First-class record: 179 wkts at 24.74 624 runs at 11.34

Sidebottom was over-looked by Yorkshire in favour of England bowlers Darren Gough and Matthew Hoggard for much of the second half of the season.

But his position fifth in the first-class averages for 2003, shows just how valuable an addition he could be to a county attack.

He failed to impress when given previous chances by England but remains the most highly-rated left-arm pace bowler in the country, so future call-ups cannot be ruled out.

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Usman Afzaal

Left-hand bat, slow left-arm bowler Age: 26 Tests: 3 Team in 2003: Nottinghamshire First-class record: 6692 runs at 32.48 66 wkts 50.71

An aggressive left-hander who played three Ashes Tests for England in 2001, Afzaal endured a difficult season with Nottinghamshire and has been told he is free to leave.

His first aim will be to gain regular first-team cricket once more, after playing just seven Championship matches this term, but he must also harbour hopes of a Test return.

Afzaal says he is looking for a coach who will help him improve his game, and gave credit to former Notts boss, South African Clive Rice for his early success.

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Situations vacant

Hampshire

A poor 2003 saw pace bowlers desert the Rose Bowl in droves, with Wasim Akram and Ed Giddins retiring mid-season and Chris Tremlett struggling for fitness.

Batting depth has also been lessened by Robin Smith's retirement and Australian Simon Katich's decision not to return.

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Northamptonshire

Northants must replace opening batsman and captain Hussey

Newly-promoted to Championship Division One, Northants are looking to strengthen all facets of their side.

Spin bowling carried them to second-place in the second division, and pace bowling must be a real concern.

Captain Mike Hussey, an opening batsman who was the second-highest run-scorer in the country this term, has already said he will not be back for 2004.

But geography and the presence of South African coach Keplet Wessels both count in favour of the Wantage Road side.

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Somerset

Taunton witnessed a poor 2003 season, Mike Burn's first season as captain seeing the side finishing second-from-bottom in the National League and third-from-bottom in the Championship.

Somerset have already voiced the possibility of offering Ward the captaincy, highlighting trouble at the top of the order, where Australian Jamie Cox suffered a poor season.

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Sussex

If they are to maintain the success that brought the Championship to Hove for the first time ever in 2003, Sussex know they must continue to recruit.

IAN WARD Left-hand opening bat Age: 31 Tests: 5 Team in 2003: Surrey First-class record: 6923 runs at 40.01 3 wkts at 65.66

And they have wasted no time in signing former England batsman Ian Ward from Surrey.

Ward said he needed a fresh challenge and new motivation if he was to revive his international career.

Despite their four-day dominance, no batsman stood out throughout the season, and opener Murray Goodwin is reportedly unhappy at being offered a one-year contract only.

Spinner Mushtaq Ahmed carried the attack while the pace corps was hit by injuries and England call-ups, making James Kirtley and left-armer Jason Lewry unavailable at times.

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Warwickshire

Blessed by a talented young batting line-up, the Bears relied on overseas players Waqar Younis and Corey Collymore to form the basis of a pace attack.

Injury-prone Melvyn Betts was then released at the end of the season, and the South African cricket board denied Makhaya Ntini permission to play at Edgbaston next year.