Over the Christmas and New Year period, fans and supporters of Essex Cricket had the chance to vote for their red-ball Team of the Decade.
With the results and players now confirmed, we take a closer look at the Essex XI…
Alastair Cook:
One of the greatest batsmen of all time. Chef scored 14,700 first-class runs this decade and was an easy pick into the Team of the Decade, gathering 91% of the votes.
Nick Browne:
Browne made his first-class debut for Essex in 2013 and has opened the batting ever since. The 28-year-old has amassed 5,516 first-class runs at an average of 40.26 and played a vital role in Essex getting promoted from Division Two and winning two Championships.
Tom Westley:
Westley was ever-present in the Essex red-ball team this decade and scored 8,969 first-class runs in the process. His form was rewarded with an England Test call-up in 2017, and he made his debut at The Oval, scoring 25 runs in the first innings and 59 in the second as England beat South Africa by 239 runs. Like Browne, he’s played an important role in Essex’s recent success.
Dan Lawrence:
Lawrence burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in 2015, scoring 161 against Surrey at The Oval. His rise in red-ball cricket has coincided with Essex’s success and he’s already won promotion from Division Two and two Championship titles at just 22. In his short career so far, he’s already scored 3,567 first-class runs and is surely a future England player.
Ravi Bopara:
An Essex legend. Bopara made his first-class debut for the Club back in 2002 and has seen it all. He scored 7,079 first-class runs this decade and like so many players voted into this team, he played an influential role as Essex rose to the top of red-ball cricket.
Ryan ten Doeschate (C):
ten Doeschate is the longest-serving player in the current team having made his first-class debut for the Club back in 2003. Over the years he’s risen the ranks and was made Club Captain in 2016. Under his guidance, Essex have gained promotion from Division Two and won two Championships, with ten Doeschate chipping in with plenty of runs. He scored 6,393 first-class runs in the last decade and is voted into this side as captain.
James Foster (WK):
After making his first-class debut for the Club back in 2000 against Glamorgan, Foster retired from cricket at the end of the 2018 season, having only ever represented Essex and England. Over the decade he scored 6,419 first-class runs and took 404 catches, and like so many of this XI, he was crucial to Essex’s rise in four-day cricket.
Simon Harmer:
Despite only joining the Club in 2017, Harmer is already regarded as one of the best spinners Essex has ever had. He’s taken 217 first-class wickets at an average of 20.20 over his three seasons in Chelmsford and has won numerous personal awards with Essex winning two Championship titles.
Graham Napier:
A fan favourite at Chelmsford, Napier made his Essex debut back in 1997 against Cambridge University and after 20 seasons representing the Club, he retired in 2016 after helping the Club gain promotion from Division Two. He took 69 wickets in his final season, and over the decade he took 248 first-class wickets and scored 2,456 runs.
David Masters:
Masters joined the Club in 2008 after spells with Kent and Leicestershire and was an instant hit with the crowd at Chelmsford. He played up until 2016, and over his nine seasons he took 349 first-class wickets for the Club. His retirement coincided with Napier’s, with both bowing out with promotion to Division One.
Jamie Porter:
Porter made his first-class debut for the Club against Kent in 2014, and has been ever-present in the Essex red-ball team since. His breakthrough came in 2015, as he took 56 first-class wickets in his first full Essex season. His total of 310 first-class wickets at an average of 24.04 means he has been a vital cog in Essex’s Division Two and Championship triumphs.
