| All but promoted............ 15:28 - Sep 8 with 835 views | gerry_us |
Sorry,not the U's (yet) but Essex County Cricket Club.
Great for the county and a bit of a sickener for various of the 'star' younger players who sought another county. Interesting to see Chopra and Wheater already wanting back.
Some very good young players in the squad already. Lawrence and Porter and not forgetting Browne who is still "youngster". |  | | |  |
| All but promoted............ on 17:19 - Sep 8 with 826 views | noah4x4 |
Gerry, the younger players that left were probably told by ECB to switch to a Division One Club or forget a potential (or current) England place. Promotion into the top tier is great news for Essex CCC as regards the retention of young talent!
It's the same in the Essex League. Unless you are playing for a SNEL Premier League club you probably won't play for Essex. It is perfectly logical as the best emerging talent must play at the highest challenging level if aspirational of playing even higher. Had Chingford been relegated (as seemed likely for most of the season) one suspects that young Dan Lawrence and Jamie Porter might possibly have had to switch to another SNEL host club. Most Essex players still have such local club affinities; particularly the younger players (other examples; Napier; Colchester, Zaidi; Ilford, Velani & Nijjar; Wanstead; Beard; Chelmsford; Moore & Walter; Hornchurch etc.). Most people underestimate the talent regularly on display upon every other summer Saturday in Castle Park when Essex have a blank day.
In addition to a Second XI, Essex has a super youth set-up, plus an Academy and also a Development XI comprising of a wider group of young players drawn from the Essex League (with a few from the East Anglia Premier League). There is a great pipeline of talent and the future for Essex looks promising. My tip; watch out for Feroze Kushi (merely age 17) who is already in the England Development set up (as is Dan Lawrence).
Colchester & East Essex CC has been well represented in senior Essex circles this season by Jack Hebron; Ollie Bocking, Greg Stephens and Ben Allison whilst numerous local youngsters have Essex caps at under 13 to under 17. To see the best Essex under19's in action, get down to Billericay CC this Sunday which is hosting the U19's T20 finals (first match 10:30; final 15:00). |  | | |
| All but promoted............ on 17:36 - Sep 8 with 821 views | Leadbelly |
It would now take such an extraordinary set of events for Essex not to secure promotion that even a pessimist like can't see it happening.
Chopra is returning and I think Wheater is available on loan. Those more knowledgeable than me will correct if I'm wrong. |  |
| |
| All but promoted............ on 17:51 - Sep 8 with 815 views | gerry_us |
| All but promoted............ on 17:19 - Sep 8 by noah4x4 |
Gerry, the younger players that left were probably told by ECB to switch to a Division One Club or forget a potential (or current) England place. Promotion into the top tier is great news for Essex CCC as regards the retention of young talent!
It's the same in the Essex League. Unless you are playing for a SNEL Premier League club you probably won't play for Essex. It is perfectly logical as the best emerging talent must play at the highest challenging level if aspirational of playing even higher. Had Chingford been relegated (as seemed likely for most of the season) one suspects that young Dan Lawrence and Jamie Porter might possibly have had to switch to another SNEL host club. Most Essex players still have such local club affinities; particularly the younger players (other examples; Napier; Colchester, Zaidi; Ilford, Velani & Nijjar; Wanstead; Beard; Chelmsford; Moore & Walter; Hornchurch etc.). Most people underestimate the talent regularly on display upon every other summer Saturday in Castle Park when Essex have a blank day.
In addition to a Second XI, Essex has a super youth set-up, plus an Academy and also a Development XI comprising of a wider group of young players drawn from the Essex League (with a few from the East Anglia Premier League). There is a great pipeline of talent and the future for Essex looks promising. My tip; watch out for Feroze Kushi (merely age 17) who is already in the England Development set up (as is Dan Lawrence).
Colchester & East Essex CC has been well represented in senior Essex circles this season by Jack Hebron; Ollie Bocking, Greg Stephens and Ben Allison whilst numerous local youngsters have Essex caps at under 13 to under 17. To see the best Essex under19's in action, get down to Billericay CC this Sunday which is hosting the U19's T20 finals (first match 10:30; final 15:00). |
Interesting points you make Wessex but playing in the second division doesn't seem to have held Cookie back.
Seems that we have been right up there in providing England captains..Fletcher, Gooch (I think) Hussein and now Cook. Not sure if Trevor Bailey actually captained England. Can remember watching him at Castle Park, must have been around 1960 when Gilbert 1st XI were given an afternoon off at the cricket during festival week.
Did actually turn out for C & EE 2nds for a couple of seasons but "powers that be" obviously missed my extraordinary talent.  | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 00:31 - Sep 9 with 794 views | noah4x4 |
| All but promoted............ on 17:51 - Sep 8 by gerry_us |
Interesting points you make Wessex but playing in the second division doesn't seem to have held Cookie back.
Seems that we have been right up there in providing England captains..Fletcher, Gooch (I think) Hussein and now Cook. Not sure if Trevor Bailey actually captained England. Can remember watching him at Castle Park, must have been around 1960 when Gilbert 1st XI were given an afternoon off at the cricket during festival week.
Did actually turn out for C & EE 2nds for a couple of seasons but "powers that be" obviously missed my extraordinary talent. |
Delighted to be confused with my blood brother Wessex but a hema test would reveal that the common cells in our veins are merely alcohol.
Cook and Bopara are legends from an earlier era. The modern game is placing vastly greater demands on the current youngsters breaking through. You can't imagine how much cricket some are playing. The financial strain must be massive for those without a paid contract. But praise also to the Essex coaches. Many supporting the youngsters are volunteers that give up huge amounts of their time. | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 09:53 - Sep 9 with 778 views | thrillseeker |
| All but promoted............ on 17:36 - Sep 8 by Leadbelly |
It would now take such an extraordinary set of events for Essex not to secure promotion that even a pessimist like can't see it happening.
Chopra is returning and I think Wheater is available on loan. Those more knowledgeable than me will correct if I'm wrong. |
Chopra - has a gambling problem, has played for the sh!t and is currently at Alloa Athletic I believe
Wheater - never fulfilled his so called potential and currently at Bolton
I don't think we have much chance of signing them  | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 13:24 - Sep 9 with 769 views | burnsieespana |
Without a doubt the Div 1 and in particular the Test Grounds can afford to pay a lot more hence reason Topley, Mills, Foakes and Wheater have moved in recent seasons although I will also agree playing for a Div 2 side makes it harder to gain recognition.
If Essex go up I just hope we can keep it going next season and I have been impressed by Silverwood and McGrath this year and hopefully they wont be tempted back to Yorkshire in the winter. |  | | |
| All but promoted............ on 16:59 - Sep 9 with 755 views | gerry_us |
| All but promoted............ on 00:31 - Sep 9 by noah4x4 |
Delighted to be confused with my blood brother Wessex but a hema test would reveal that the common cells in our veins are merely alcohol.
Cook and Bopara are legends from an earlier era. The modern game is placing vastly greater demands on the current youngsters breaking through. You can't imagine how much cricket some are playing. The financial strain must be massive for those without a paid contract. But praise also to the Essex coaches. Many supporting the youngsters are volunteers that give up huge amounts of their time. |
Apologies Noah and Wessex; am on holiday countdown. Well that's my excuse but it could always be age related!  | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 17:34 - Sep 13 with 695 views | mfb_cufc |
ESSEX ARE CHAMPIONS The 5 points from the current game means they can't now be caught. The batting should be strong enough for next season, but with Napier retiring, an overseas bowler will be required. |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| All but promoted............ on 18:38 - Sep 13 with 685 views | gerry_us |
| All but promoted............ on 17:34 - Sep 13 by mfb_cufc |
ESSEX ARE CHAMPIONS The 5 points from the current game means they can't now be caught. The batting should be strong enough for next season, but with Napier retiring, an overseas bowler will be required. |
Made hard work of it but that is a bit of a trait for Essex teams. Excellent season and some good young players coming through the system. One interesting question is who will be keeping wicket next year? I still think Fozzie is the best keeper / batsman in both leagues. Where does that leave Wheater and is he prepared to wait this time? | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 19:34 - Sep 13 with 680 views | mfb_cufc |
I agree with what you say about Foster, Gerry. It has been England's loss. I think it is a certainty that Foster will be wicketkeeper next season. Wheater left originally because he had no chance of the job while Foster was playing, and I believe he was promised by Hampshire to be their wicketkeeper. The fact that never materialised is the reason he has come back. If he is only going to be a batsman he would rather be it at Essex. When Foster finally calls it a day, Wheater may finally get his chance. | |
| |
| All but promoted............ on 13:07 - Sep 14 with 647 views | burnsieespana |
Firstly congratulations to all concerned at Essex.
Napes will be a loss but hopefully enough young bowlers in the pipeline for the future and under Silverwood ( lets not forget Irani as Cricket Chairman) hopefully action has already been taken to effectively replace him.
As regards Foster he has been fantastic for Essex over the years but am not 100% sure he will continue as rumours are he has had to be convinced the last two seasons. | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 16:28 - Sep 14 with 637 views | gerry_us |
| All but promoted............ on 13:07 - Sep 14 by burnsieespana |
Firstly congratulations to all concerned at Essex.
Napes will be a loss but hopefully enough young bowlers in the pipeline for the future and under Silverwood ( lets not forget Irani as Cricket Chairman) hopefully action has already been taken to effectively replace him.
As regards Foster he has been fantastic for Essex over the years but am not 100% sure he will continue as rumours are he has had to be convinced the last two seasons. |
That may explain the return of Wheater then. Personally I would hope Fozzie would give it one more season especially now it will be top division,could he catch the England test team selector's eye?Just mocking although he has been rather unlucky to be overlooked for so long. | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 18:37 - Sep 14 with 628 views | Leadbelly |
Foster still one of the best 'keepers in the country so I really hope he will be playing for Essex in Division 1 next season. If he left along with Napier that would be a lot of experience to lose from a relatively young squad stepping up a level.
As far as further caps for England, I just don't see it. I think many cricket fans would love to see a top quality, specialist 'keeper, especially in the test side, but we haven't had one since Jack Russell. Selectors and management seem to prefer picking someone who can keep wicket a bit and then hope they develop into the real deal. Alec Stewart was the closest they've managed but things seem to be going backwards now. Bairstow is worth his place as a batsman but his performances behind the stumps have been patchy to say the least. | |
| |
| All but promoted............ on 20:04 - Sep 14 with 618 views | wessex_exile |
| All but promoted............ on 00:31 - Sep 9 by noah4x4 |
Delighted to be confused with my blood brother Wessex but a hema test would reveal that the common cells in our veins are merely alcohol.
Cook and Bopara are legends from an earlier era. The modern game is placing vastly greater demands on the current youngsters breaking through. You can't imagine how much cricket some are playing. The financial strain must be massive for those without a paid contract. But praise also to the Essex coaches. Many supporting the youngsters are volunteers that give up huge amounts of their time. |
Equally delighted to be confused with Mr Noah, but what I know about cricket would fit on the back of the proverbial postage stamp. Think the first and last cricket match I attended was the B&H semi-final against Yorkshire back in '79(?). Had a cracking time though, i will readily admit that! |  |
| |
| All but promoted............ on 22:43 - Sep 14 with 604 views | noah4x4 |
I believe Fozzie is taking up a teaching post. Wheater offers experience in the short term, but there some fine young local keepers in the pipeline such as Ryan Vickery (Wivenhoe cc) and Jack Potticary (Shenfield cc). Both are top order batsmen in the Essex Development XI that recently won the East of England County Competition. They shared keeping duties so it is difficult to say which might be in pole position.
As regards fast bowlers; Tom Moore and Paul Walter (both of Hornchurch cc) have already debuted for Essex. Like Napier, Walter is also a powerful batsman. Also very young Aaron Beard (Chelmsford) ripped the heart out of the Sri Lankans on his Essex debut. As regards spinners, the County is blessed with a stack of developing youngsters.
The signing of Wheater and Chopra reflect a short term need for experience, in some ways akin to what was desirable at WHCS where the flight to youth was once too fast. But Essex have plenty in the tank as regards emerging youngsters. Yes, we do need to replace Jessie Ryder and hence our "overseas" experience, but the future via youth ranks is looking encouraging. | | | |
| All but promoted............ on 09:00 - Sep 15 with 589 views | bwildered |
Fozzie is contracted until the end of next season . Wheater's return due to losing the wicket keeping duties at Hants, and Foakes now not at the county, and might be to early for the lads quoted .
Big things expected of Beard, although Tom Moore has been released .
With city franchise 20/20 now on the horizon and the ECB contracting the best one day players for the event more opportunities though will be given to the emerging players to play in a second rate 20/20 blast .
Been a team effort to get promotion but led at the front by the captain RTD - onwards and upwards !!! |  |
| |
| All but promoted............ on 15:35 - Sep 15 with 570 views | burnsieespana |
Another "old hand" going is Masters who announced his retirement yesterday so I would expect for next season to see an experienced pace bowler arrive. | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
