Cricket-News.Org

Essex County Cricket Club has appointed Graeme Welch as their new Seam Bowling Coach. The former Warwickshire and Derbyshire all-rounder was chosen out of a strong field of candidates to fill the full-time position.

Welch’s remit will be to assist all of the County’s professional seam bowlers as well as those within the Academy and Development squads. The 35-year-old will be taking up his first coaching job after retiring from playing through injury last June.

Welch’s professional career began in 1994, spending seven seasons at Warwickshire before moving on to Derbyshire in 2001. In total the Durham-born cricketer played 171 first-class matches, taking 477 wickets and scoring 5075 runs.

Welch said: “After retiring from playing in the summer I’ve been looking for a new start and as I’ve been coaching for a number of years already this is a great opportunity – especially with all the changes that have been taking place at Essex. I’ll bring my knowledge and experience of swing bowling, having bowled it myself and played with and against a lot of international bowlers whose brains I’ve picked. In general I hope to bring enjoyment, excitement and fun to the role. Although I’m not a slave driver I’m not afraid of hard work so I hope to instil that into the bowlers at Essex.”

Essex First-Team Coach Paul Grayson said: “I’m delighted to have Graeme Welch on-board because he has vast experience as a player and will prove a great addition to our set-up now that he is entering the coaching field. Although Graeme will primarily act as a bowling coach he could also bat a bit during his playing days, so I’m sure he could offer assistance to our batters as well - making him a good all-round coach. It is good to employ someone from outside Essex to offer fresh ideas. Graeme comes from a successful environment at Warwickshire during his early playing career so he will bring a culture of winning to our dressing room.”

Comments(0)

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has been crowned the Quintessence Design Essex Website Player of the Year for 2007. The Pakistani pipped Australian all-rounder Andy Bichel to top spot by just seven votes after both enjoyed outstanding seasons for the County.

Seven hundred Essex CCC website users casted their nominations to decide who would follow in the footsteps of previous winners Will Jefferson (2004), Alastair Cook (2005) and James Foster (2006).

Kaneria’s 107 wickets in the four major domestic competitions was sufficient to convince enough voters to select the spinner ahead of the other candidates.
Ravinder Bopara finished in third after his fine all-round season earned him a spot on England’s one-day and Test tours to Sri Lanka this winter.

Ryan ten Doeschate, Alastair Cook and James Foster were next in line for the keenly contested minor placings.

Each voter who plumped for Kaneria will now go into the draw to win the chance to hand the award over to the Player of the Year during one of the first home games of the 2008 season. He or she will be contacted sometime during the next week.

Comments(0)

All-rounder James Middlebrook has signed a two-year contract extension with Essex to keep him at the Club until the end of the 2009 season.

The 30-year-old remains an integral member of the side at both one-day and Championship level.

His most notable achievement so far this season has been his highest first-class score of 127, made against Middlesex in the LV County Championship match at Lord’s in June.

Middlebrook has scored over 3000 first-class runs and taken 220 first-class wickets since joining Essex from Yorkshire in 2002. In addition, the off-spinner has claimed over 100 one-day victims for the Essex Eagles with his off-spin.

Middlebrook told the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk): “I’m delighted to have signed a new two-year deal at Essex. I’ve already had six happy and successful years at the Club and now we are entering a new era with a new Captain and new Coach. I feel I am at the peak of my career, playing good cricket, so Essex have rewarded me with a two-year contract. Hopefully we can win some more one-day trophies and get promotion in that time.

“Over the last few years I’ve had my sights on making the (England) one-day side. People like Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara (of Essex) have already made their one-day mark for England so I need to continue to put in the hard work for Essex. I feel that I have put in the performances as a spin-bowler and have also been given a few opportunities as a pinch-hitter recently. If I can get more runs then I feel I can make myself into an all-rounder for England.”

Essex Chief Executive David East told the Essex CCC website: “James is the last of our capped players to have confirmed their commitment to the Club. We are about to embark on a new era with a new Captain and coaching support regime and there was a very clear message coming from them that James was a very important part of the planning for the future. We are delighted that we have been able to secure his services for the next two years and I’m sure he’ll do very well for us in that time.”

Comments(0)