Published: Sep 13, 2016, 09:30 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 13, 2016, 09:34 AM (IST)
Essex are just one win away from winning the Division Two title. Essex are to play their second last match of the Championship against Glamorgan at Chelmsford underway since September 12. Essex have been clinical in their approach as they registered win in their last three games against Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Worcestershire. The closest rivals of Essex this season are Kent and Sussex who trail by 20 and 43 points respectively. Kent have a game to play whereas Sussex are left with two games in this season. Skipper Ryan ten Doeschate is ecstatic about the position they are in but he agrees that there is a need to go about their clash against Glamorgan which will fixate their place as league winners. ALSO READ: Chris Russell released from Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Ten Doeschate told Glamorgan Cricket, “It’s a great position to be in. The secret is not to focus too much on the six points. Obviously there is the temptation just to go out and get the six points, but we’ll approach the game like we have every game this season. We’ll try and set the game up and push things on the first two days. If we follow our processes, and play to our ability, those bonus points should take care of themselves. You can’t not acknowledge the fact we only need six points, but we’ll try and steer away from thinking like that.”
The 36-year-old also talked about their target before the league as he said, “At one stage we thought it was going to take 230 points to win it, and up to three weeks ago there were five teams still in there. But our results against Leicestershire and Worcestershire put them out of contention. Kent have applied pressure all the way through, but then slipped up last week. Before then we thought we would have to win this game [against Glamorgan] and go to Kent and get a result. But for Northants to do the job for us is obviously great. We still have a little bit or work to do, but we’re delighted with the position we’re in now.”
Essex’s batting has been spot-on in the league so far, Ten Doeschate lauded their effort as he said, “Probably most importantly, and least noticed, has been the bowlers who have come on and mopped up a second innings, which is always tough. You look at all the county games this season and see how many teams have got into good positions and couldn’t finish it off.”
Veterans Varun Chopra and Adam Wheater made their debut for Essex against Glamorgan on September 12. Ten Doescahte said, “Certainly the plan from Silvers [head coach Chris Silverwood], and even above Silvers, was to prepare for Division One cricket and we were always looking to strengthen. Getting our own guys, Chops and Wheats, back is great and we are on the look-out for bowlers to go with the exciting potential we have in Beard, Dixon and Quinn.”
“There is a strong keenness to get them in, but at the same time we want to play our best team, one we think is going to win this game. The sentimental thing is that it will be hard to leave out the guys who have performed so well so far, but I think the squad understands that the primary goal is to win another game of cricket” he added.
