Can anyone stop Surrey?

Cricket's County Championship begins on Friday with Surrey aiming to win their fourth title in five years.

Can anyone stop Surrey running away with the title?

Surrey could be even more of a threat this season as they should be able to call on their international players more often.

Simon Mann's season preview

Lancashire, Warwickshire, Kent and just possibly a Stuart MacGill-inspired Nottinghamshire are likely to be their main rivals.

But Surrey have such a strong squad that it is difficult to see anyone else taking the title.

Send us your predictions for the 2003 County Championship season.

Can anyone stand in the way of Surrey?

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Surrey I have just one thing to say, watch out for Waseem and his men.
Ghazanfar, Houston, Tx, USA

Surrey have got the same depth in the bowling and batting as the Australians. Their players have a very professional approach to the game. They're good enough to challenge and possibly beat any international side, let alone Lancashire and Kent. There is no way anyone can stop them!
Zainub, Pakistan

Notts will surprise everybody this year!

Nicky, Nottingham

Surrey have got the god of off-spinning - Saqlain. He will create huge problems for batsmen in the County Championship.
Hammad, St Louis, USA

Let's not forget Glamorgan. They are a very talented side and can cause upsets. They should give Surrey a run for their money.
Santosh, Dubai

Surrey might be the team to beat but I think Nottinghamshire have got the goods to do it. We have the best overseas duo in MacGill and Cairns, future England stars in Kevin Pietersen, Chris Read, Bilal Shafayat and Paul McMahon, a good group of talented batsmen and one of the best seam bowling attacks in the Championship.

I believe Jason Gallian is tactically one of the best captains around and Mick Newell has been revolutionary since taking over from Clive Rice - a superb advertisement for English managers. Notts will surprise everybody this year!
Nicky, Nottingham

With experience and youth Surrey are the perfect team

Hanif, Texas

Don't count out Kent this season, I think they will be Surrey's biggest rivals this year and will run them close. I'm not just saying this because I am a Kent fan, I'm saying this because Kent look strong and Saggers and Sheriyar could rip through any order and the batting seems strong and has depth and will be even better when Fulton returns from injury. Come on the Kent.
Ben Hughes, Rochester, Kent

Surrey are unbeatable!! No one can ever beat them even with all the competition around them. Their team is really strong, making them the ideal contenders for the title.
Ennagha, Norway

It is very hard to stop them, they are very confident and now they play like true champions. Adam Hollioake is a great leader and a very strong individual. I think he is the perfect man to lead England in the limited over version of the game.
Kash Mohiuddin, Dallas, Texas

In a word, No. All round strength and a decent wicket give Surrey the edge in Div 1. Good luck to the brown caps, hold the trophy till Somerset come back to claim it!
Andrew Coate, Oxford

I can't see Leicester doing anything this year, what with all their troubles. But who knows, what with that man Daffy DeFreitas in charge perhaps experience will help us through to next. I think the glory days of the Foxes have long gone, but I'll be at Grace Road this year to support them through thick and thin. What with Mr Lineker helping out the football club, I hope Mr Agnew can help the cricketers out too!
Craig Match, Leicester

I definitely do not think Surrey can be beaten yet, with experience and youth they are the perfect team. Ramprakash, Alex Tudor, Alec Stewart and Saqlain Mushtaq will provide them more depths in batting and bowling. Plus if Graham Thorpe and Adam H make it back they will be unbeatable. They play really good in Oval and with the fan support they might also win the 20 overs cup. Watch Out!
Hanif, Houston, USA

I'm a life long Bears fan. I can't see them beating Surrey this year. Perhaps we stand a chance with one of the one-day competitions? I think it will be a very exciting season. The very best of luck to all the teams in the competition. Come on you Bears.
Wendy Candle, Birmingham

It's such a shame we can't thrash Yorkshire this season. With everyone available, we have a formidable pace attack with Jimmy Anderson, Freddy Flintoff, Chapple, Pete Martin and Hoggy. The Turbanator is a class bowler, Murali took a hatful for us and so will Harbhajan!
Tom Bennett, York, UK

Surrey have by far the greatest strength in depth and will be very hard to stop

Bill, Bristol

I think my team, Essex, will benefit hugely from Andy Flower's undivided attention. However, our main problem may well be bowling sides out. We have to hope that the young Aussie paceman Branty comes up with the goods!
Justin Goodrich, Edinburgh, UK

Despite last year and the troubles with some of their top stars, I firmly believe this will be Yorkshire's season. McGrath is a good choice for skipper and he can control the innings from safe in the middle order.

Everyone forgets they have the best youth policy around and it's time for the young guns to show that they're good enough for a shot in the England team. They've all got grit and bottle, and importantly, most of them are still Yorkshiremen to the core!

Come on the Yorkies, I'll be following you all the way to victory.
Andrew Hudson, Edinburgh

Surrey have by far the greatest strength in depth and will be very hard to stop. It will be difficult, but Lancashire have the best chance to stop Surrey. England call-ups for Flintoff and Anderson will, however, severely dent their hopes. The opening match could be the decider!
Bill, Bristol