Essex batsman Stephen Peters has been playing with two stress fractures in his back - yet intends to carry on playing through the pain barrier.

Peters, 21, said;, "I've had the problem for a couple of years although it's been getting progressively worse.

"I get more problems with it when I'm fielding which is why I haven't been at the bat-pad position so frequently of late. I don't really know when the problem first started, one day it just seemed to be there. I've been told it's down to wear and tear."

It was the stubborn resistance offered by Peters in the second innings against Sussex that allowed Essex to avoid defeat and record their sixth draw in nine championship matches as he finished unbeaten on 22 to add to his stylish 46 in the first innings.

He admits that he is not too inconvenienced when batting, explaining, "I don't have too much of a problem then although the back does stiffen up afterwards.

''But I'll carry on playing and take a few painkillers and then probably have an operation at the end of the season which will involve putting two screws into the back.

''A couple of our players have had the operation carried out in the past and told me that they've not had any trouble since."

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