Essex Go Back To School
Looking for form
By Dave Buxton
April 11 2003
Essex go back to school over the weekend to play Cambridge UCCE, as they face their last test before the season starts for real, with the Championship opener next Friday. The match is taking place at Fenner's & more will be known of what XI will start next Friday. Read on for the preview....
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After 3 days of games against Middlesex, the first-class season starts tomorrow, with a series of county vs uni matches and Essex are involved in one of those, by travelling to Fenner's to play Cambridge UCCE, between Saturday 12th and Monday 14th. They lost the boat race last Sunday, so will be hoping their cricket side fairs better against an Essex team wanting to get fighting fit for Middlesex in the Championship opener, which starts next Friday.
Essex have named 12 men for the match at Fenner's, which looks like this:
D.D.J. Robinson
It looks likely that the first 11 names above will play, with Andy Clarke 12th man. I would also expect this to be the XI that takes to the field at Chelmsford next Friday also.
The batting line-up picks itself really. Andy Flower is back and should bat 4, with Larry Grayson dropping down to 3 to allow the excellent Will Jefferson to open with Robbo.
James Foster has the gloves and will bat 7 and with Jon Dakin and James Middlebrook at 8 and 9 respectively, it shows again just strong our batting is.
Scott Brant makes his first-class debut in this country and will probably share the new ball with Jon Dakin. Ronnie Irani and Andrew McGarry (who impressed vs Middlesex in the week) will be the other two seamers and Midders and Larry completing a good line-up with some spin.
All the lads look in good form, except Paul Grayson. The Essex vice-captain will be looking for some valuable time in the middle, while Scott Brant will want a decent first serious bowl in England.
In truth, this game is just another run out for the lads, although they will be taking it seriously to try and hold their place for next week. The only guys who might break into that 11 are Clarke and Joe Grant, so McGarry will be looking to impress again.
Whether the seam bowling looks light is an issue that we'll know over the course of the season, but for this match, it will be too strong for the students.
Last season this same fixture was Essex's first meaningful outing of the summer and we comfortably disposed of the students by 258 runs, with Larry, Robbo, former staffer Richard Clinton and Affy all in the runs, the first three scoring tons. Joe Grant took a 5-for in the 2nd innings, but he won't feature this season at Fenner's.
Expect a similar result and more importantly, clues for the XI to play the seaxes. Vital practice will be had though.
WEATHER: Turning warmer, which is a bouns after Wednesday! Temps will top 17oC on the final day of Monday and 13oC over the weekend. Sunny intervals throughout, although Sunday will be mainly cloudy.
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Date: 11/4/03
W.I. Jefferson
A.P. Grayson
A. Flower
A. Habib
* R.C. Irani
+ J.S. Foster
J.M. Dakin
J.D. Middlebrook
S.A. Brant
A.C. McGarry
A.J. Clarke