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James Foster has been voted the Quintessence Design Essex Website Player of the Year for 2006.

The wicketkeeper/batsman was an overwhelming winner, polling 35% of the votes of Essex CCC website users (www.essexcricket.org.uk).

The 26-year-old enjoyed an outstanding 2006 season, claiming more dismissals than any other keeper in either division of the County Championship (68) and also scoring 721 runs @ 42.41.

In addition, the London-born cricketer played a major role in Essex’s successful one-day season that culminated in silverware in both the NatWest Pro40 and the Twenty20 Floodlit Cup.

Batsman Mark Pettini came second in the voting with Captain Ronnie Irani just pipping experienced batsman Andy Flower to third spot.

Foster follows in the footsteps of Will Jefferson and Alastair Cook who were named Quintessence Design Essex Website Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

The name of the successful voter who will present James Foster with his award at the start of the 2007 season will be revealed soon on the Essex CCC website.

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South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel will return to Essex County Cricket Club for his second spell with the County in 2007.

Subject to formal approval from the South African Cricket Board the 29-year-old is set to play for Essex during the first half of next season, after South Africa’s participation in the World Cup until mid-June.

Nel enjoyed a short period at the County from mid-August until early September in 2005. Despite his brief stay, the Gauteng-born bowler made a positive impact at the Club both on and off the field. He took wickets with his first and third balls on his Championship debut and was bowling at the death when Essex Eagles sealed their totesport League title against Hampshire Hawks at Colchester.

Nel, who also played county cricket for Northamptonshire in 2003, is an integral part of the South Africa side at both Test and one-day level. He has 84 wickets @ 29.79 in 23 Test appearances and 72 wickets at 28.08 in 54 ODI games.

Essex Chief Executive David East told the Essex CCC website:

“Andre was a huge asset to us in the brief time he was at Essex in 2005.  He is a wholehearted competitor and is sure to make a significant early season impact in both one-day and Championship cricket.”

In addition, negotiations are close to being finalised to bring Australia fast bowler Andy Bichel back to Essex following Nel’s departure until September 15 (with the possibility of extending his stay beyond that date subject to further discussions).

Nel and Bichel will fill one overseas slot for Essex during the 2007 season with Pakistan leg-spin bowler Danish Kaneria filling the other position across the whole campaign.

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Essex County Cricket Club has signed seam bowler Darren Thomas from Glamorgan.

The 31-year-old joins Essex on a one-year deal after a long association with the Welsh county.

Thomas has taken 504 first-class wickets since making his debut in 1992, playing an integral role in Glamorgan’s 1997 County Championship title-winning side in the process. In addition, the fast-medium bowler has taken 171 one-day wickets as Glamorgan have won the one-day league on three occasions since 1993.

Thomas told the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk):

“I’m very excited by the prospect of playing for Essex. This is an opportunity I didn’t realise would come around. When I played against Essex for Glamorgan it was always massively competitive so I’m over the moon to now be joining them. I get on well with (Essex Captain) Ronnie Irani and have had quite a lot of success against them in the past, which I hope to now bring to Essex.

“I’m sad to be leaving Glamorgan because they have been part of my life for 15 years but things change and when one door closes another opens. I’ve now come to Essex to further my cricket career. They have had a lot of success recently so I’m hoping to help them win more silverware in the future.”

Essex Captain Ronnie Irani told the Essex CCC website:

“When a cricketer like Darren Thomas becomes available during the transfer window it is an opportunity not to be missed. Darren has a fantastic track record in both forms of the game, has over 500 first-class wickets and played a major part in Glamorgan’s Championship season in 1997. As has been seen, our bowling performances have let us down at times so Darren’s arrival will strengthen us.”

Thomas went on England ‘A’ tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1998/99 and Bangladesh and New Zealand in 1999/2000, taking career-best bowling figures of 8-50 on his first trip in Harare. His highest first-class score of 138 came against Essex on his new home ground at Chelmsford in 2001.

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