Essex county cricket preview: New signings, released players, fixtures, predictions
EXPRESS SPORT is previewing the county cricket season and now we take a look at Essex.
Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate is crucial in all three formats
Essex
Last season
CC D2- 1st
RLODC- quarter-final, lost to winners Warwickshire
T20- quarter-final, lost to Notts
New signings
Varun Chopra (Warwickshire) three-year deal, returned to club.
Adam Wheater (Hampshire)- two-year deal, return after loan spell last season.
Simon Harmer (Kolpak)- one-year deal.
Tom Westley will look to nudge the England selectors whilst starring for Essex
Mohammad Amir showed a real desire to be a part of Essex
Players out
Graham Napier (retired)
David Masters (retired)
Jaik Mickleburgh (released)
Tom Moore (released)
Overseas stars
Neil Wagner - first half of season, all formats
Mohammad Amir- from 19 June, all formats
Club captain
Ryan ten Doeschate
Key man
Varun Chopra – the opener has returned from Warwickshire after seven years away and will be hoping for a new lease of life at Chelmsford.
England radar
Tom Westley – consistent performer in all formats, the batsman will feel unlucky not to have received an international call-up to date but it surely can’t be far away.
Young gun
Daniel Lawrence – smashed a maiden first-class ton aged 17 against Surrey in 2015 and he backed that up with an impressive 2016 performance.
This season's predictions
CC D1- 7th relegated
RLODC- knockout stages
T20 Blast- group stage
Mohammad Amir will play for Essex in the second half of the season
The two left-arm pace signings of Neil Wagner and Mohammad Amir have added real potency to the Essex attack on their return to Division One but staying up won’t be easy.
There isn’t a weak squad in the top tier this season and the battle against relegation will be between a host of teams going down to the final few weeks, and Essex could be one of the unfortunate two.
The batting line-up looks strong and they should challenge in the limited overs competitions, with the Royal London One Day Cup in particular a real chance of success.
First fixture
CC- Lancashire home, Friday 7th April
RLODC- Hampshire home, Sunday 30th April
T20 Blast- Surrey home, Friday 7th July