CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Nasser Hussain has seen one door close in his face with his startling failure to earn a World Cup place. Now another is opening with one of the most demanding challenges of his career.

Hussain, the new Essex captain, has reacted to his ``biggest disappointment as an England player'' by throwing himself into the huge task of beginning the rebuilding process at a proud county still reeling from their tumble to bottom place in the championship for only the second time in their history.

``We should be a force to be reckoned with and the biggest aim we can have is getting Essex back to the heights of the Fletcher and Gooch era,'' said Hussain. ``In those days Essex seemed to just turn up, have a good time and win games by sheer force of personality. Well, those days have gone. This is a year for finding out what people are made of and a lot of our players have got to prove they have the talent we think they have.''

Those words are backed up by the faith Essex have shown in the players who took them to the bottom.

No established newcomers have been added to their staff - admittedly their hands were somewhat tied by list one regulations - and Hussain will tell the existing players that it is up to them to justify that backing.

That applies to senior as well as junior players. None more so than former captain Paul Prichard, who led Essex to three Lord's finals in his four years in charge, two of them ending in victory, but who stepped down from office in the face of an alarming slump in his own form which saw him average 13.16 in the championship last year with a top score of just 24.

``We all want to see the Paul Prichard of old back at the crease,' said Hussain. ``He's had to overcome a back condition and some personal problems but he's looking sharp and there's no reason why he can't get back to the form which saw him become our player of the season not too long ago.''

Batting has been at the root of the Essex decline and only Hussain, Stuart Law, expected to be available for the whole season despite his selection in Australia's final World Cup 19, and Ronnie Irani, the new vice-captain, are certain of their places. Prichard, Darren Robinson, Stephen Peters, Paul Grayson, Ian Flanagan and Tim Hodgson will all be competing for the remaining three places at a county where, last year, no batter scored a thousand championship runs for the first time since 1912.

Irani, of course, has no need to worry about his Essex all-round output but becomes Hussain's deputy with the huge incentive of proving to the England hierarchy that he is worthy of another look after being banished to the county ranks since the tour to Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

Danny Law, Graham Napier and Jonathan Powell, bowling again after extensive back problems, are the all-round aspirants with Robert Rollins, another with plenty to prove, and Barry Hyam competing for the wicketkeeper's place. The bowling looks much more sound providing Mark Ilott and Ashley Cowan remain fit and Peter Such retains his dependability.

The decision to release Neil Williams, Darren Cousins and Danny Wilson reflects the confidence Essex have in Jamie Grove as a fast bowler of promise.

The most damning statistic concerning Essex shows that they have won just three championship matches since Graham Gooch retired in July 1997. Two cups have been won since, but Essex know it is on their first-class form that they will be judged.

Details & First-Class fixtures

Staff: *N Hussain (captain), R C Irani , S G Law, I N Flanagan, S D Peters, P M Such, D R Law, +B J Hyam, D D J Robinson, A P Cowan, A P Grayson, T P Hodgson, J O Grove, +R J Rollins, P J Prichard, M C Ilott, G R Napier.

New players: W Jefferson (opening batsman from Norfolk); J Foster (wicketkeeper-batsman from Wanstead).

Released: D M Cousins, N F Williams, D G Wislon, A J E Hibbert.

1998 record

Championship: 18th. (P17 W2, L11, D4).

AXA Lge: 3rd (P17 W9 L5 T1).

B & H Cup: Beat Leicestershire in final.

NatWest Trophy: Lost to Hampshire in 2nd round.

First-Class fixtures

April: Tues 13: Leics (Chelmsford). Wed 28: Warwicks (Chelmsford).

May: Fri 14: Surrey (Oval). Wed 19: Yorkshire (Chelmsford). Wed 26: Gloucs (Gloucester).

June: Wed 2: Hampshire (Ilford). Wed 9: Derbys (Chelmsford). Tues 29: Lancs (Old Trafford).

July: Fri 9: Glamorgan (Cardiff). Wed 14: Middlesex (Southgate). Fri 30: Northants (Northampton).

August: Wed 4: Kent (Canterbury). Wed 18: Durham (Colchester). Tues 24: Somerset (Chelmsford).

Sept: Wed 1: Sussex (Eastbourne). Wed 8: Worcs (Chelmsford). Wed 15: Notts (Trent Bridge).