By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Middlesex's playing staff now includes the grandsons of Dennis Compton and Sir Len Hutton and the son of Sir Viv Richards - if only they had the real thing.

Most teams have found it hard to maintain First Division status in the championship after being promoted and they are unlikely to be an exception.

Phil Tufnell's decision to retire on the eve of the season is a significant setback.

Last season was not his best but he still played his part with 45 wickets at 30.88 from 515 overs. He provided control as well as wicket-taking potential and will be hard, if not impossible, to replace in the short-term.

Ashley Noffke has given the bowling attack a cutting edge it has lacked for several seasons

Last season's success was built on a strong batting line-up which, benefiting from excellent pitches at Lord's, racked up 61 bonus points.

That was more than any side in the country, including Surrey who won the First Division by the enormous margin of 44.75 points.

Bowling sides out was not an absolute priority because under the current points systems several high-scoring draws can be very rewarding.

That system plays to Middlesex's strength and in a tight relegation struggle could prove decisive.

It is no surprise that Middlesex have tried to address the imbalance in their team by filling their overseas slots with two bowlers.

Abdul Razzaq and Ashley Noffke played six and eight games respectively for the county last season. This time, they can play together.

Noffke, in particular, was a revelation during his limited time at the club. He took 45 wickets, giving the bowling attack a cutting edge it has lacked for several seasons.

He will be missing at the start of the summer after being selected for Australia's tour of the West Indies and fellow Queenslander Joe Dawes will act as cover until he arrives.

MIDDLESEX 2003 Coach: John Emburey Captain: Andrew Strauss Overseas players: Abdur Razzaq, Ashley Noffke (Joe Dawes as cover) Main players in: Mali Richards, Ben Gannon Players out: Aaron Laraman

Dawes is also a pace-bowler with an impressive record in Australia's domestic competition - 175 first-class wickets at 22.78.

Razzaq is only likely to miss two weeks of the season when Pakistan come to England for a three-match one-day series.

Middlesex have also signed Ben Gannon, who played only six matches for a struggling Gloucestershire side last season.

They must have either seen something Gloucestershire did not or have been guilty of wishful thinking.

There is little doubt that First Division bowlers will provide a stiffer test for the batting line-up.

Captain Andrew Strauss, Ed Joyce, Owais Shah, Sven Koenig, Paul Weekes and David Nash all averaged over 40 last season.

How they deal with the likes of Shane Bond, Harbhajan Singh, Stuart MacGill and the all-round threat posed by Surrey and Kent will probably decide if the club makes a swift return to Division Two.

At least the team will be a settled one. There is a possibility that Strauss and/or Shah might receive some form of international call-up but this is not the 80s when Middlesex had a team of stars.