Napes is ready to take Essex back up (From Gazette)

Napes is ready to take Essex back up

2:10pm Thursday 19th January 2012 in Essex County Cricket Club news By James Colasanti

GRAHAM Napier says Essex are desperate for promotion back to the top flight this year and believes they’ve got the emerging talent to go for glory in all formats of the game.

The all-rounder admits the club were bitterly disappointed with last year’s campaign, but says they learnt valuable lessons.

“It is difficult to put your finger on exactly what went wrong last year,” he said.

“But where we really need to be strong this year is in getting off to a good start in the championship.

“We want promotion because we are too big a club to be playing second division cricket for too long.

“And that’s where our focus will be – on the four-day game.”

Napier’s bad luck with injuries continued this winter when a spell with Central Districts in New Zealand was cut short when he tore a tendon in his right elbow joint while bowling in a season-opening loss to Otago. He said: “It was not a major injury, but it was quite a serious one.

“But the medical team at Essex and at Chelmsford Medical Centre have been brilliant, and I’m hoping to begin bowling again next week.”

Napier expects teenage batsman-wicketkeeper Ben Foakes to make a big impact this year, and remembers when he broke through.

He said: “When I started, the likes of Peter Such and Mark Ilott were all players I looked up to and seeing them reach benefit years made me realise that was the pinnacle of being a county player.”

Napier’s benefit year kicks off with a Valentine’s Ball at Boreham House, Chelmsford, on February 11. For more information visit www.grahamnapier.com