Mark Ilott began the championship match with Sussex last week needing one more victim to complete a tally of 500 first-class wickets for Essex.

He didn't wait long to strike, removing Sussex opener Toby Peirce in his third over of the opening session with a delivery that moved away and saw the batsman edge a catch to the wicket-keeper

He thus becomes the 25th player in the county's history to achieve the milestone, a feat that is unlikely to be matched in the future, given the reduced number of first-class matches that are played.

The left-arm seamer had began the match against Sussex with an overall haul of 582 victims in all first-class matches, a total that included 12 in his five Test match appearances for England.

He has also taken 224 One-Day dismissals since making his debut in 1988, illustrating the marvellous contribution the player has made to Essex cricket.

The Watford born bowler was naturally delighted with his record, saying, "I'm very proud of my achievement.

''I know that you can look at people like Geoff Arnold, who is our bowling coach and who took over 1,000 wickets in his career, but I don't think anyone nowadays is going to match that figure.

''For one reason, there are fewer championship games now and secondly there are more bowlers around to share the workload."

Ilott, who boasts a career best nine for 19 against Northamptonshire at Luton in 1995 admitted that until recently, he was unaware of his approaching milestone explaining, "I passed the 500 figure in all first-class matches in 1998 but it was only when Brian Heald, the club statistician recently wrote to me, that I realised I was on target to get 500 wickets for Essex.

"I'm only 29 now and I'd like to think that I could get near to 900 wickets in my career. I should have another six or seven left in me provided I can steer clear of injuries.

"I had a stress fracture in my back in 1991 and was forced to change my action. If I hadn't done so, than I would have had continuing problems. Fortunately I came back after the operation with no problems."

Asked to recall the victim that gave him most satisfaction, Mark cited that of Phil Simmons in the Benson & Hedges Cup Final when Essex beat Leicestershire, reasoning, "He was the one player that could have turned the game around for them and although we probably would have won anyway, once we got him out, we knew the trophy was ours.

''It's a great to have your own personal memories - for me my Essex debut, being capped for the county, my England debut - but as a team player, the trophies mean more."

Former England Test bowler Geoff Arnold was quick to acknowledge Ilott's achievement, stating, "He's been a very good servant to Essex and I've always been impressed with him. In fact, when I was bowling coach at Surrey and before he linked up with Essex in the late 80's, I tried to get him to sign for Surrey.

''He was a bit unlucky not to have got more than his five Test caps and in the right condition and being a left-armer, he can be particularly penetrative and a match-winning bowler.

''He's performed consistently well and maintained a high level of performance despite being forced to change his bowling action because of injury a few years ago''.

Milestone man: Mark Ilott became the 25th Essex player to take 500 wickets for the county when he dismissed Sussex's Toby Peirce.

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