10:04am Tuesday 7th July 2009
By Ian Oxborrow
IF Essex win promotion to division one of the LV County Championship this season, Hashim Amla is likely to have played a crucial role.
The South African batsman is only expected to be with the county for the next month, but, such is Essex’s lack of runs in four-day cricket, he is going to have to bring about a remarkable transition in their performances.
Mark Pettini’s side welcome Glamorgan to the Ford County Ground today for a game which will go a long way to dictating Essex’s season.
They currently sit in fifth place – 17 points off second placed Kent.
Should they lose, Essex could drop as low as second from bottom come next week, but a victory will truly ignite their season.
And Amla could, and should, be the man to do it.
Having arrived in Essex yesterday, he will make his debut today, with skipper Pettini hinting his new overseas player will bat at number three.
Essex are the only team in division two which has amassed a total of batting bonus points in single figures.
With Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara preparing for the battle of their lives in the Ashes, it would be easy to lose focus on what has been happening at Essex.
On the batting front, with the exception of Pettini’s century against Kent in the previous championship match, the answer is not a lot.
Pettini will be hoping his overdue return to form lasts, while the rest of the Essex batsmen – Varun Chopra, Matt Walker, James Foster and Ryan ten Doeschate, will not need telling that Essex’s chances of promotion hinge on their ability to score some centuries.
Chopra and Walker in particular are averaging in the twenties in four-day cricket this season, although Chopra’s one-day form has been impressive.
Danish Kaneria’s departure to the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka is an obvious loss.
However, swapping him for a Test class batsman could work in Essex’s favour, provided either James Middlebrook or Tim Phillips are able to provide the spinning penetration offered by Kaneria.
For Phillips, there is the feeling he is in the last chance saloon.
It is a decade since he made his Essex debut, but he has played only 48 First-Class matches since, with his 84 wickets coming at an average of 47.
However, the ability to turn the ball away from the bat may give him the nod over Middlebrook in the coming weeks.
Coach Paul Grayson said his side are ready for action again after a nine-day break.
He said: “It is good to get back to Championship action. We have ten games still to play, we now have this as our main focus.
“Yes we have been knocked out of a couple of competitions, however, gaining promotion to the top league is our main priority.
“We have the players to do it and we have some important games coming up.
“I am delighted to welcome Hashim Amla to the side. He is not only a top-class players but also a top man.
“We look forward to seeing him play in an Essex shirt.
“For the time we have Amla, we have some crucial games not only in the County Championship but also in the NatWest Pro40.
“The team are very focused on the challenges ahead and look forward to getting back to playing.”
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