The NatWest Trophy victory, earned at the expense of Warwickshire, has bought time for Essex. Their late-season form, after the brief Southend festival high of leading both tables, was lamentable, and only in 60-overs cricket did they do themselves justice. Mitigating circumstances, however, can be offered.
Not least was the departure of Graham Gooch who, psychologically as well as physically, left a huge gap when he decided in July that he could not maintain his immense standards and shuffled off for England coaching and selectorial duty. Pre-season Chelmsford has seemed strange without him.
Yet his successor as captain has increased in stature since Essex secured the first trophy they have won without Gooch. Prichard, remarkably, is now the longest-serving county captain, despite just three full seasons' service, and, his long-standing back injury cured at last by surgery, he flourished last year to the tune of 1,098 championship runs at an average of 46.75. There was also the small matter of climbing out of the shadows of his illust- rious predecessors.
``It's no secret that I've been under pressure at Essex in having to follow Fletcher and Gooch, not least through the pressure I put on myself,'' said Prichard. ``I'm not surprised that counties are changing captains so regularly these days because results are all-important and the whole business can affect your private life. But I've always wanted the job and wanted to win things for Essex, and that's still my aim.
``Last season promised so much that it would have been awful if we'd ended up with nothing, but the fact remains that we weren't mentally or physically strong enough at times. That's got to improve. We have a young side, we've talked about where we want to go and we've got to maintain our consistency for six months instead of four and a half.''
Essex are determined to put faith in their young talent this year, hence Prichard's belief that it may take time for the team to mature fully, and the club were conspicuous by their absence from the 'transfer market' during the winter. ``Unless a very fast bowler who was capable of scoring 1,500 runs a season became available we weren't interested,'' said Prichard.
Opportunities beckon, then, for Stephen Peters, a century maker in the under-19 World Cup final, his fellow opener Ian Flanagan and the four other Essex members of the England under-19 tour party, Graham Napier, an Ipswich Town goalkeeper turned attacking all-rounder, off-spinner Jonathan Powell, whose A tour experience was limited by injury, and the raw but genuinely fast bowler, Jamie Grove.
Essex will start, though, with the proven and those who fall into the category of the 'almost proven but could do better'. Huge seasons await Darren Robinson, at last sure of his place and who now needs to kick on; Robert Rollins, destined it once seemed to be an England candidate but who has yet to fulfil his wicketkeeping promise, and Danny Law, bitterly disappointing in his first season with the county.
Essex retain faith in Law, who has been working on his bowling action with Geoff Arnold, now the full-time specialist fast bowling coach, and expect him to come good this year. Otherwise, Napier awaits the call.
Quality performances from those supporting cast members would make all the difference for Essex, who are virtually guaranteed top notch returns from their 'stars'. Of those, Stuart Law, 1,482 championship runs in 1997 at an average of 57 and superlative one-day contributions, can be expected to produce another of the seasons which made him one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year, while Ashley Cowan, fresher than expected after a winter away with England, and Mark Ilott could do with back-up from a fit Neil Williams and Darren Cousins.
Peter Such and the under-rated Paul Grayson, who could yet achieve his ambition of representative cricket, provide the spin with Powell in reserve.
The key man, however, could be Ronnie Irani, so revered at Essex but apparently out of the England picture. Newly married and with a winter away from cricket behind him, Irani is refreshed and keen to prove wrong those detractors who find him a shade aggressive.
``Ronnie has a good attitude in adversity as well as success,'' said Prichard. ``He's worked hard on his fitness and is more determined than ever.''