Westley aims to seal England place as Essex close in on title triumph
Tom Westley returns for Essex today with an Ashes place to secure and a championship on the line as his county bid to win the title for the first time since the days of Graham Gooch.
Essex could win the County Championship this week at Edgbaston if the numbers fall their way. It would be an extraordinary performance for a team who were only promoted last season. If Essex win the title, they will be the first county since Nottinghamshire in 2005 to lift the championship in their first season back in the top flight.
“It would be massive,” said Chris Silverwood, the club’s head coach. “We have a long way to go to make it but it is great walking through the gate at Chelmsford and everyone is smiling and excited about what is happening and the thought of having that success again, but we have three tough games first.”
The Sky cameras will be at Edgbaston, building up expectation of Essex sealing the championship with two rounds to spare. Warwickshire are bottom of the table and already looking towards next summer and the rebuilding job ahead.
Westley was averaging 53 for Essex before his England call-up. Runs on television in a crucial game may help his cause as the selectors tour the country this week watching Ashes contenders.
“He thoroughly enjoyed himself with England,” said Silverwood. “It was a great experience for him but it is business as usual back at Essex. He has been a big part of creating the right environment. When guys like him or Cooky come back they love playing for Essex, which is a credit to our environment.” The permutations are complex. If Essex extend their 36-point lead to 49 they will win the title. A draw with maximum bonus points will only be enough if second-placed Lancashire lose to Somerset without picking up a point. If Lancashire beat Somerset then the title race will move on to the next round.
Essex always had a strong batting line-up to cope with Division One. Alastair Cook’s early-season availability was a bonus and he responded with three hundreds. Nick Browne has since stepped up, and runs have been spread around, with eight different players accounting for 11 centuries.
It is bowling that was perceived to be Essex’s weakness but 57 wickets from Jamie Porter have been crucial for a side with little seam bowling depth while the shrewd acquisition of South African offspinner Simon Harmer has proved to be the signing of the summer.
Harmer has taken 55 wickets at 21.81 and has bowled more overs, 440, than anyone else in Division One, conceding runs at 2.6 an over. Harmer, who has five Test caps, joined on a one-year deal but, after taking 14-wicket hauls in consecutive matches in July, Essex moved quickly to tie him to two more years.
“We looked at what we needed in Division One and realised that was a spinner,” said Silverwood. “He was on the books of one of the agents we spoke to. We watched a lot of videos, chatted to him on the phone and he sounded a good fit. He added value to the dressing room with his experience of playing at a high level. He gives it a proper spin.”
Winning the title will do Silverwood’s chances of becoming England’s next fast bowling coach no harm and he will be with the oneday squad for a match against West Indies at Bristol. “I am going to help out with England but I did that last year as well,” he said. “My sole focus is getting Essex across the line.”