The 2008 County Championship is underway and this year's title battle looks wide open. It is early days in the Division One betting, with punters leaning towards last season's successful outfits.

The two-tier county system has been criticised for having little discernible difference in quality between the two divisions - Somerset finished bottom of Division Two in 2006, won it last year and are expected to go well in the top flight this campaign.

Despite this, Sussex are on the verge of becoming the dominant force in domestic cricket. They start as favourites to claim their fourth Division One crown in six years and will be tough to beat, as long as Mushtaq Ahmed continues to wreak havoc.

Just 12 points separated the top three last season, with Lancashire missing out on the title in a final day run chase against Surrey. The pressure to deliver will therefore be intense at Old Trafford, which might mean Mark Chilton's men come up just short again.

Durham nicked second spot last time around and look well-equipped to go one better. Steve Harmison should make up for the loss of Ottis Gibson - the England reject took 34 wickets in his seven appearances in 2007 - and will make a dangerous pace trio with Graham Onions and Liam Plunkett.

Dale Benkenstein and Michael di Venuto virtually guarantee big runs and in-form Test stars Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Neil McKenzie will cash in as well. The Riverside outfit have a well-balanced side and know how to perform under pressure, having won last year's Friends Provident trophy.

If Durham do break their championship duck, they need only to look to Sussex for inspiration; the men from the south coast won their first ever title five years ago and have not looked back since.