County coaches these days refer to late August as the sharp end of the season. It’s the time of year trophies are won and teams swap divisions. Personally I always thought of the championship like a 1500 metre race, which means we’re entering the home straight. And just like a slow middle distance race would favour an athlete with a strong kick, a ludicrously wet summer has kept all of division one’s top teams bunched together coming round the final bend.

At the start of the season I predicted spin bowling would be the most significant factor in winning the championship’s top flight. While the damp conditions have kept the seam bowlers interested, I stand by my assertion and predict that the teams with the best spinners will find it easiest to sprint for home.

This week’s round of matches throws up some intriguing battles, none more so than Shane Warne versus Muttiah Muralitharan as Hampshire travel to Old Trafford. Test cricket’s two most successful wicket takers of all time will feature prominently on a pitch bound to take turn and the victor’s team will have realistic title ambitions with a game in hand on leaders Sussex. Lancashire will start favourites at home with Muralitharan, who has taken a mere 45 wickets from 305 overs at 16.20 apiece, ably assisted by Gary Keedy (20 at 23.95). Warne has taken 39 wickets from 336 overs at a cost of 29.41. While winning a Championship pennant has been the priority for both Lancashire and Hampshire, it has taken on even greater importance after their recent failings in one-day finals.

Such is the nature of county cricket that Hampshire barely have time to lick their wounds after their mauling at the hands of Durham in the Friends Provident Trophy final at the weekend. Warne will demand a response from his men but his batsmen haven’t fired as a collective unit all season and the Sri Lankan wizard will expose any frailty be it mental or technical.

The other matches in division one are just as crucial. Sussex, the defending champions will try to extend their lead at the Oval, never an easy place to play especially against a rejuvenated Surrey side, who now boast Harbhajan Singh as their champion off spinner. The prototype, Saqlain Mushtaq will pit his still considerable skills against his former side but it is the other half of the bearded spin twins Mushtaq Ahmed, who will strike most fear into the home batsmen. Mushtaq has already taken 69 wickets in the current campaign and if his record last year is anything to go by – he took 26 wickets in Sussex’s last two matches – he possesses a sprint finish of which Steve Ovett would have been proud.

Kent entertain Worcestershire still smarting from the fact they were denied an opportunity to have a crack at the division’s bottom side in July after Worcestershire’s misguided attempt to stage the reverse fixture at New Road less than a week after flood waters had subsided. As a consequence Kent were sucked into a relegation battle, a situation compounded by two rain-affected contests with Warwickshire and a defeat against nearest rivals Surrey. Harbhajan did the damage in Canterbury week on a pitch Rob Key, the Kent captain, had never seen the likes of before so sharp did the ball turn and bounce. The newly-capped James Tredwell will endeavour to out-bowl Gareth Batty, the former England off spinner, should they discover a similar surface.

Yorkshire, who are fast running out of puff having set the early pace, will bank on Scarborough providing them with a second wind as they host Warwickshire. This fixture last season unearthed the rare gem that is Adil Rashid, who took 6-67 on debut and of whom much will be expected this time.

Division Two

Somerset, not in championship action this week, are 43 points ahead of Nottinghamshire and a whopping 74 points ahead of third place Middlesex at the top of division two. Langer, Trescothick et al have scored the runs but the real hero has been evergreen paceman Andy Caddick, who has taken 61 wickets at 23.95. The real battle is for the silver medal with Middlesex, who have a game in hand on Notts and two on Somerset, in a good position to chase down Stephen Fleming’s men. Ed Smith, the Middlesex captain can call on Murali Kartik, the Indian left arm spinner, while Essex in fourth will believe where there’s Kaneria there’s a way but their current form would suggest they are not serious contenders. The only other possible promotion candidates are Northants, who have just signed Nicky Boje to form one half of a spin alliance with Jason Brown.

Cutting the mustard

Hats off to Durham surely the most popular winners of a domestic trophy since Glamorgan’s victory in the Sunday league of 1993. Under Dale Benkenstein they play an exciting brand of cricket and have got a good balance of young and old, foreign and home-grown talent. It was good to see Otis Gibson to the fore once again for he has been one of the players of the season, and the way Liam Plunkett is fighting his way back to form, for which he and I suspect Gibson deserve much credit.

The other player who served notice of his prodigious talent was Phil Mustard, one of my recent picks as “one to watch”. England are looking for players, who can strike the white ball in the power-plays and Mustard showed he could cut it on the big occasion.

What I did find strange, however, was that Shane Warne had singled him out for special praise before the final. By the end of Sunday he was likening him to Adam Gilchrist, which while a touch premature is one thing, but to build up a player of the opposition before a game, especially if you’re as inspirational a figure as Warne, is only going to send a player’s confidence through the roof.

Transfer watch

It’s the time of year when counties start turning their attention to the make-up of their squads moving forwards. Only one overseas player is allowed in 2008 making domestic signings more important. I expect clubs to be very proactive in the “transfer” market and the signs are this is happening earlier than ever before with Essex announcing their acquisition of Leicestershire’s David Masters on a three year deal.

Expect a huge influx of Kolpak players – deals are allegedly already being lined up for some prominent South African players - and do not put it past Hampshire exploiting Shane Warne’s German roots. Oh, and you never know a county might offer a contract to one of its star academy players. Now that would be back page news.

Explore Cricket

• Counties