Essex need win to keep promotion hopes alive (From Gazette)

Essex need win to keep promotion hopes alive

11:05am Tuesday 23rd August 2011 in Essex County Cricket Club news

ESSEX start their Championship run-in today hoping to claim the first of three wins which could secure promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

The county host Derbyshire today, and are currently fifth in the table and 27 points behind second-placed Middlesex, who also have a game in hand.

League leaders Northamptonshire have a 49 point advantage over Essex with three games remaining.

Essex coach Paul Grayson said: “We are aware that if we win all three of our remaining matches then we have a chance of promotion, particularly if Middlesex slip up.

“We are playing some good cricket at the moment, the side is playing with confidence, so we are looking forward to a tough four days against Derbyshire.

“Everyone is in good form. And although it was a shame the rain denied us the opportunity to beat Gloucestershire, we’ve been saved by the weather earlier in the season so we can’t have any complaints.

“The pressure games keep coming and we’ve got a bit of ground to make up in the Championship.

“But if we can get a winning run going, you never know what might happen.”

Essex have added Reece Topley to the squad which drew with Gloucestershire in Colchester last week.

Essex squad: Foster, Godleman, Westley, Shah, Mickleburgh, Wheater, ten Doeschate, Napier, Masters, Chambers, Topley, Craddock.