Who are the players to watch? Who’s in the squad? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? What is the fixture list? Your questions answered
Coach: Anthony McGrath
Captain: Tom Westley
Overseas players: Simon Harmer (South Africa), Peter Siddle (Australia)
Ins: None
Outs: Rishi Patel (Leics)
Fixture list: April 8 – Worcestershire (h); April 15 – Durham (h); April 22 – Warwickshire (a); April 29 – Worcestershire (a); May 6 – Nottinghamshire (a); May 13 – Derbyshire (h); May 20 – Warwickshire (h); May 27 – Durham (a); June 3 - Nottinghamshire (h); July 11 - Derbyshire (a)
Remind me what happened last year?
Essex took the Bob Willis Trophy, but it didn’t all go smoothly, thanks to the skimpy format of the tournament and the vagaries of the English weather.
They had to beat Middlesex at Chelmsford in the last match. Ultimately their bowlers swatted them aside to reach the final at Lord’s, however.
Things seemed to be going to plan when Somerset slumped to 94 for 4, but a challenging 301 was posted. It needed Sir Alastair Cook to make it safe, his 172 securing the all-crucial first-innings lead. Simon Harmer struggled on the benign surface, and ultimately Essex had to produce a final day of the Test-style rearguard to avoid defeat, and see them finish red-ball top dogs for the third time in four years.
Ryan ten Doeschate still plays a major role for Essex
What’s happened over the winter?
Derek Bowden left as chief executive at the end of last season, leaving chairman John Faragher running the ship. The former Ford motor maestro is going to stick an ‘executive’ in front of his title and try to negotiate Essex through another awkward summer of Covid, with the recruitment of Bowden’s replacement postponed until next winter. The cricket committee remains unchanged, with Ronnie Irani as its chair, and Graham Gooch, Keith Fletcher and David Acfield also on board.
Bowden said £1.4m was lost from match receipts last year, and £1m from commercial, so Essex will be excited to allow crowds in from June 21.
Treasurer Ian Patterson says the club’s finances are “very robust”, and the club “weathered the storm far better than they had expected last spring.”
Essex cannot flush all the pandemic problems away, of course, hence they have installed 10 new loos to help with social distancing. They will also see if they need more entrances and exits to the ground, with the river gate a potential problem. The club also plan to continue streaming matches, promising an upgrade on last summer’s service.
Essex are keen to show off their new floodlights. They now have similar ones to those at Taunton, four of them.
Who’s arrived and who’s left?
There’s been little transfer activity, and they will be delighted that Peter Siddle will be back to boost their already potent attack. The brilliant Harmer will also play as an overseas now.
Who will be the key men in 2020?
The late great Douglas Adams wrote a book called Last Chance to See, about endangered species, and it could apply to two greats at Essex. Cook and Ryan ten Doeschate are contracted for one more summer only.
Of course there is a chance they could stay on, but unless news arrives to that effect, take this chance to watch them a final time.
Cook, 36, averaged 53 and 56 in 2019 and 2020 respectively, scoring two centuries in each campaign, and he is still Essex’s main banker in red‑ball cricket; and former captain Ten Doeschate, who turns 41 on June 30, has been an Associate colossus, and wonderfully loyal servant to Essex.
What can we expect from this team this season?
There is no reason why they will not be favourites again, with their attack appearing to have little weakness, except blistering pace, which is rarely needed. Jamie Porter and Sam Cook are a deadly duo domestically.
Captain Tom Westley, 31, had a poor campaign last time, averaging 17, and has been working hard this winter to rectify that, no doubt. Paul Walter, 26, was handy last summer, and Dan Lawrence, 23, will hopefully be emboldened by his England adventures in the winter, even if Chelmsford in May and Ahmedabad in February are not so much continents as universes apart. Cook’s protégé Nick Browne, 29, needs to rediscover form after a tepid campaign.
One to watch
The talented and attractive-to-watch Feroze Khushi, 21, will be looking to build upon last year’s progress, when he made 66 against Surrey at Chelmsford.
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