Napier's heroics are rewarded (From Gazette)

Napier's heroics are rewarded

10:28am Friday 11th July 2008 in News

Graham Napier's one-day heroics will be rewarded with his first LV County Championship appearance of the season against Glamorgan at Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium today.

The Essex all-rounder has wowed the cricketing world with his brutal hitting - including a world record 16 sixes in a breathtaking 152 not out against Sussex on June 24 - and wicket-taking seam bowling in the Twenty20 Cup and Friends Provident Trophy.

But so far, the 28-year-old's talents have been overlooked in four-day cricket, with the Colchester-born player's last championship appearance coming against Middlesex at Chelmsford last September.

But, with South Wales falling victim to the unseasonably wet weather, Essex look set to leave out off-spinner James Middlebrook in favour of an extra paceman.

"We've brought Graham Napier into the squad for obvious reasons because his confidence is sky-high," confirmed first-team coach Paul Grayson.

"There is a strong chance we may only play one spinner, so if James doesn't play, Graham will be in as the extra all-rounder."

Essex, who go into the match having reached the Friends Provident Trophy final and Twenty20 Cup finals day in the past week, have also recalled former England Under-19 batsman Varun Chopra to their side.

The Barking-born 21-year-old has scored three centuries in his last five Second XI Trophy matches and will replace Alastair Cook, who is on England duty.

On-loan Kent batsman Neil Dexter is also included and will hope to end a poor run of just 27 runs in his last seven innings.

Meanwhile, Middlebrook is struggling with a right elbow injury, while all-rounder Tim Phillips (knee), seam bowler Tony Palladino (abdomen) and Tom Westley (hip) are all approaching full fitness and could feature in the Second XI Trophy match against the MCC Academy at Billericay today.

Opponents Glamorgan come into today's clash rock-bottom of Division Two with just one win and three defeats from six matches.

David Hemp's side have lost their last three four-day games and were beaten twice by Essex last summer.

In a bid to put things right, 24-year-old batsman Richard Grant has been called into the squad, as has seamer James Harris and spinner Dean Cosker.

It is 11 years since the Dragons beat Essex at Cardiff in the championship, with the Welsh side's last victory coming in September 1997 on route to the club's third County Championship win.

Glamorgan: (from) Hemp (capt), Grant, Rees, Powell, Dalrymple, Wallace (wkt), Wharf, Harris, Croft, Gillespie, Harrison, Cosker.

Essex: (from) Pettini (capt), Gallian, Chopra, Dexter, Bopara, ten Doeschate, Foster (wkt), Napier, Masters, Danish Kaneria, Chambers, Middlebrook.