WORCESTERSHIRE Royals are the bookies' favourites to win the Second Division of the newly-named totesport League this season.

They are quoted at 11/5 to take the title and 1/2 to clinch promotion.

The County were relegated last season when they finished bottom of Division One of what was then called the National Cricket League.

totesport have taken over the sponsorship of the competition after agreeing a two-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

New Road skipper Ben Smith, who topped the County's league batting averages last season with 496 runs at 45.09, is priced at 8/1 to be the competition's top run scorer.

His team-mate Graeme Hick is quoted at 11/1.

Full Division Two prices: Worcestershire 11/5, Yorkshire 12/5, Nottinghamshire 13/2, Somerset 7/1, Middlesex 9/1, Leicestershire 10/1, Durham 12/1, Sussex 14/1, Derbyshire 40/1 and Scotland 100/1.

The County open their league campaign with a home game against Sussex Sharks at New Road on Sunday, May 2.