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| |  Thursday, 12 April, 2001, 12:03 GMT 13:03 UK Essex rely on team spirit  Paul Grayson: On the fringe of England's one-day side Stability sometimes proves to be one of the keys to success and there have been few changes over the winter at Chelmsford. The players who finished second in Division Two last season will be given another chance. With Surrey, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Leicestershire again likely to be competing for the top four places in the First Division, Essex's task will be to finish out of the relegation places. Their only signing is a gamble. Spinner Michael Davies has joined from Northamptonshire after a troubled season in which he was badly affected by every slow left-arm bowler's nightmare, 'the yips'.
Davies finished top of Northamptonshire's bowling averages in 1999 with 39 wickets at 18.58 but played only four matches last summer. Captain Mathew Hayden lost confidence in his ability and Northamptonshire felt they had no alternative but to let him go. Essex have one of the best and most experienced coaches in the country in Keith Fletcher and it will be a significant achievement if he can help restore Davies' confidence and ability to land the ball in the right place. There is a vacancy for him, if he can get it right. Essex do have spin-bowling options but they would benefit from more quality.
Peter Such was left out for six games last summer and is 37 in June; his replacement, Tim Mason, only managed 14 wickets and all-rounder Paul Grayson a mere 10. Bowling teams out in the First Division could be the biggest problem. The seam attack of Ashley Cowan, Mark Ilott, Ronnie Irani and Ricky Anderson is useful but can lack penetration. On the batting front, Essex are likely to see even less of Nasser Hussain, who played only three Championship games last season and freely admits that his county duties are a low priority. "Our boys look upon themselves as England players first and foremost whereas a year ago we were county players who occasionally got called up to play for their country," he says. "'I'd like us to stick together and a few county games might be missed, unfortunately more than last season." With Hussain away, Ronnie Irani starts his second season as captain and the job obviously brings out the best in him.
Only Lancashire lost fewer championship matches last summer and Irani's personal form was exceptional. He scored 1,175 runs at an average of 55.95 and took 42 wickets at 24.00. It is asking a lot to expect the same again but the step up is unlikely to prevent Stuart Law continuing his mastery of county bowlers. Five Championship centuries helped produce an average of 56.33 last season. It says a lot for Australia's batting strength that he has only played one Test match. Law and Irani need more support from the rest of the batting line-up. The form of Paul Prichard, Stephen Peters and Darren Robinson was patchy last season, while James Foster, who toured the Caribbean with England A, could put pressure on regular wicket-keeper Barry Hyam. Championship prediction: A determined fight against relegation | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Other top Essex stories: Links to top Essex stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||
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