Essex star Reece Topley is riding high as the second highest aggregate wicket-taker in domestic cricket.

The 19-year-old, who plays his club cricket for Colchester & East Essex, has claimed 81 wickets so far this season – 43 in the LV= County Championship, 17 in the YB40 competition and 17 in the Friends Life t20 competition.

Essex team-mate Graham Napier is fourth, with 74 wickets in total, while Glamorgan’s Michael Hogan is leading the way with 95.

Jeetan Patel, of Warwickshire, is third, with 76, in the statistics just released by the Professional Cricketers’ Association.

And Topley’s dad, former Essex hero Don, has hailed his son’s “phenomenal” progress in 2013.

“It’s a great achievement and I’m very proud,” said Topley senior. “Reece has taken every challenge head-on, ever since he started playing first-class cricket at the age of 17.

“In that time he’s done fantastically well and no-one can doubt his ability.

“He’s shown a mature head and worked extremely hard, both on and off the pitch.

“Now, thankfully, he’s really getting his rewards and he’s always performed brilliantly well whenever he’s played for Essex.

“He’s beginning to look a little jaded now but there’s no denying that this season has been a phenomenal success.”

Topley hopes Reece – currently in Essex action against Kent at Canterbury – can go on to secure a half-century of Championship wickets.

And he believes his son has the pedigree to go on and enjoy future success, hopefully on the international stage.

The left-arm swing bowler has already shone at England Under-19 level and been tipped as a future Test star by former Ashes-winning skipper Michael Vaughan.

“Reece has high aspirations of playing at the highest level,” said former spin king Don.