New South Wales
Last year: Sheffield Shield - 1st, Ford Ranger Cup - 6th
In: Peter Nevill (Victoria)
Out: Aaron O'Brien (South Australia), Tom Copper (South Australia), Craig Simmons
(Western Australia), Matthew Nicholson (retired)
Watch for: Phillip Hughes. The teenage opener is a Test opener in the making. Made 559 runs at 62.11 last season but must overcome second-year blues.
Analysis: As it is every season, the Blues are unlikely to be able call upon their international stars for the bulk of the summer. The Blues' depth will be tested even further this year should Simon Katich, last year's leading run-scorer in the competition, see more international action. Big things are expected from precocious 19-year-old Hughes, who earlier this year became the youngest player ever to score a ton in a Shield final. Dale Smith can expect competition from Peter Nevill, who has headed north from Victoria, for the gloves when Brad Haddin is away. Doug Bollinger and Mark Cameron will be the lynchpins of the bowling attack in the absence of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken. And the duel for the spinner's role between Beau Casson and Nathan Hauritz will be an intriguing sub-plot. The Blues will also be hoping to improve their one-day cricket.
Victoria
Last year: Sheffield Shield - 2nd, Ford Ranger Cup - 2nd.
In: Chris Rogers (Western Australia), Damien Wright (Tasmania)
Out: Michael Klinger (South Australia), Allan Wise (South Australia), Gerard Denton (Tasmania), Peter Nevill (New South Wales), Mick Lewis (retired)
Watch for: Andrew McDonald. The red-headed all-rounder had an injury-interrupted summer in 2007-08 but finished the season strongly. Reliable with the bat, though needs more massive scores, and can move the ball. A Test smokey.
Analysis: At one stage last summer, the Bushrangers seemed a strong chance to take the triple crown but lost both the four- and one-day finals, the second in heartbreaking manner. The promotion of David Hussey and Cameron White to international ranks in recent months will put the Bushrangers batting line-up under more pressure than ever. Much will again depend on run machine Brad Hodge, who will be desperate to prove to national selectors he's not washed up at 33. The arrival of Chris Rogers helps and there will be more opportunities for promising types Rob Quiney, Lloyd Mash and Aiden Blizzard. The departures of pacemen Allan Wise, Gerard Denton and Mick Lewis, while all very good players, won't hurt as much as it appears on paper. An attack consisting of Peter Siddle, Shane Harwood and Bryce McGain should take plenty of wickets. Adam Crosthwaite and Matthew Wade will again battle to make the wicket-keeper's berth their own.
Western Australia
Last year: Sheffield Shield - 3rd, Ford Ranger Cup - 5th
In: Mitchell Johnson (Queensland), Craig Simmons (New South Wales)
Out: Chris Rogers (Victoria), Adam Gilchrist (retired), Justin Langer (retired), Brad Hogg (retired), Darren Wates (retired), Mathew Inness (retired)
Watch for: Aaron Heal. A clever left-arm spinner who will get more opportunities following Brad Hogg's retirement. May struggle in Perth where the WACA Ground wicket is reportedly back to its old fast and bouncy self.
Analysis: This is shaping as a rebuilding season for the Warriors, who have lost several stars in the winter to retirement. Those losses have only been marginally offset by the arrival of Mitchell Johnson, who is expected to spend much of the summer on international duty. The absence of Rogers and Langer will test the Warriors' batting but Shaun Marsh, Luke Pomersbach, Adam Voges and Marcus North form a strong backbone to the line-up. Marsh and Voges both need big seasons to further their Australian claims. The Warriors' bowling is under-rated. Brett Dorey, Steve Magoffin and Ben Edmondson all had very good seasons last summer without getting the recognition they deserved.
Tasmania
Last year: Sheffield Shield - 4th, Ford Ranger Cup - 1st
In: Gerard Denton (Victoria), John Rogers (ACT)
Out: Damien Wright (Victoria), Michael Di Venuto (retired)
Watch for: Ben Hilfenhaus. Dropped off last year after being voted Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2006-07. Not overly quick but boasts a wicked out-swinger which can trouble even the best in the land.
Analysis: Not much movement at the station for the Tigers, who have won silverware in each of the past two summers. Ricky Ponting aside, the Tigers are an even team with few, if any, weak links. But one batsman the Tigers will be looking for a lift from is Travis Birt, who has had serviceable but unspectacular seasons since bursting onto the scene in 2005-06. George Bailey, Dan Barsh and Michael Dighton are all seasoned first-class batsmen who can be depended upon to score runs. Young all-rounder Luke Butterworth, who starred in the 2006-07 Pura Cup final, will be looking to bounce back after an indifferent 2007-08 summer. The return of Denton back home will further enhance the development of Hilfenhaus and Brett Geeves, who are within reach of national honours. Jason Krejza and Xavier Doherty will again head the Tigers' spin ranks. More silverware is on the cards.
South Australia
Last year: Sheffield Shield - 5th, Ford Ranger Cup - 3rd
In: Younis Khan (Pakistan), Allan Wise (Victoria), Michael Klinger (Victoria), Aaron O'Brien (New South Wales), Tom Cooper (New South Wales)
Out: Ryan Harris (Queensland), Shane Deitz (Wellington), Darren Lehmann (retired), Matthew Elliott (retired), Jason Gillespie (retired)
Watch for: Dan Cullen and Cullen Bailey to bounce back after forgettable summers which saw them lose their Cricket Australia contracts. More runs to defend from a stronger batting line-up can only help.
Analysis: The Redbacks were the most active of all the six teams during the off-season and have landed the biggest fish of all - Pakistan batting ace Younis Khan. Khan will be called upon to lift what has in recent seasons been a brittle line-up. After heading west, former Bushranger Michael Klinger will get more opportunities to show he belongs at first-class level. The riot act has already been read to Mark Cosgrove, whose weight has been a talking point for much of his career. He was left out of South Australia's sides for several pre-season matches and will have to work hard to win his spot back. The retirement of Jason Gillespie and departure to Queensland of Ryan Harris are blows to the bowling attack, but the return of Shaun Tait to first-class cricket is a huge bonus.
Queensland
Last year: Sheffield Shield - 6th, Ford Ranger Cup - 4th
In: Ryan Harris (South Australia)
Out: Mitchell Johnson (Western Australia), Michael Kasprowicz (retired), Jimmy Maher (retired)
Watch for: Andrew Symonds. No player on the domestic scene will have the spotlight on him as much as Symonds, one of the game's most recognisable faces. While it will be his attitude which determines whether he wins a national recall, a bucket of runs and wickets won't hurt either.
Analysis: After dominating for so long, the Bulls fell back to earth with a thud last summer as their stars headed into the twilight. The bowling, for so long the Bulls' strength, was weakened last summer by injuries to Andy Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz, who has since retired. The move west by Mitchell Johnson to be with his partner only exacerbates the problem. But Bichel has recovered from shoulder surgery and Ashley Noffke will be out to vent his anger at his omission from the national squad. The retirement of Jimmy Maher will be keenly felt by the Bulls, not just for his ability to score heavily at the top of the order. Maher was not only their on-field leader, but his exuberance and outgoing personality also made him the king of the dressing room. Ben Cutting, Nathan Reardon, Grant Sullivan and Chris Swan were amongst those who should benefit from the opportunities afforded to them last summer. They'll be a force when their Test and one-day stars are available, but searching questions on their depth will be asked once the international summer kicks off.