We are still in with a shout of promotion despite only drawing with Sussex last week.

Australian star Michael Bevan, who really is a top player, played a big part in it for them and the score that they set for us was always going to be difficult to reach.

But we certainly gave it a go although when it was out of our grasp, after Stuart Law was dismissed in fact, we thought it best to play the match out for a draw.

You've got to try and win every game but we thought, at that time, that we had to settle for a draw.

Paul Grayson played very well, though, and Stephen Peters and Darren Robinson have certainly been in good touch - we have to look to maintain our high standards.

We're going for win in summit collision

This is a very big week for Essex as we take on top-of-the-table Worcestershire at Chelmsford.

We are only four points off the lead, which probably means that two wins will take us top, and we've got to go out there to beat them.

Everyone's playing pretty well in the squad at the moment, and we're going to have to be to cope with the threat of Glenn McGrath.

He is probably the best fast bowler in the world at the moment. He is coming to town and we've got to take him on.

He can only bowl so many overs in one day and so we've got to go all out and get a good result.

It's as good as a semi-final for us and I'll be telling the players that these are the games we've got to go out and win.

Me and Paul Prichard won't be saying anything to our batsmen before they face McGrath. Paul is very experienced against quick bowling. He has played against them all in the past.

Paul Grayson is in a good run of form too at the moment, so they will have their own game plans.

Personally, I've never played against McGrath but I'm certainly looking forward to it.

We've got one or two injury problems, with Stuart Law, Ashley Cowan and Stephen Peters, but they've got to dig deep at this vital stage of the season.

We've bought teenager Andrew McGarry into the side for the game, though, as a result of Ashley's injury.

I hope he can learn quickly and make the grade - he certainly did well on his debut against Sri Lanka last season when he took four wickets.

We haven't got a massive squad so it's players like Andrew that could make all the difference come the end of the season.

He is keen and really wants to make it, and will certainly play if Ashley can't.

Time to test Marcus

England are doing the business in the one-dayers, which is great to see.

My tip, Marcus Trescothick, is doing very well and I have to say I think the time is right to put him in the Test team.

I reckon he should open with Mike Atherton with Nasser going in at number three and Michael Vaughan at four.

Trescothick is technically sound with no real faults in his technique - I don't believe he will set the world on fire but I do believe he will do well.

It's the same with Vaughan - he isn't flamboyant but his technique is very good, exactly what you need in Test cricket.

It's been a good summer so far internationally and the form of lads like Vaughan, Trescothick - and other up-and-comers like Northants' David Sales and Durham's Steve Harmison - give cause for a lot of optimism.

I think we will beat Zimbabwe in the one-day final at the weekend - they are a top one-day side but on home ground and with the form England are in, I'm tipping them to do it.

My work's never done

I like to relax on my days off and there's nothing I like more than taking the dog for a walk - and watching EastEnders!

This week, on my day off on Monday, I went and did some work with the bowling machine and Keith Fletcher and then went and watched the under-17s play at Felsted School.

Then, on Tuesday, I was at a charity match played at Hadleigh and Thundersley's ground - you pick up these engagements as captain of the county.

I managed to watch a bit of the Grand Prix at the weekend and heard about the David Cup defeat which was disappointing - I didn't even think they played tennis in Ecuador!

Ronnie Irani was In conversation with STEVE LEWIS

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