The last-day blow out that ended Essexâ..s chance of Championship promotion may have had one very positive outcome: it spelt out all too clearly what has held them back this season. Teams rather enjoy batting against them. No bowler reached 35 Championship wickets and only twice did their impotent attack bowl a team out for under 300 in the first innings. It is a testament to the strength of their batting that they won seven of their 16 matches. Only three redeeming features can be salvaged from the bowling: Andy Bichelâ..s injection of quality in the second half of the season, Alex Tudor lasting a whole campaign and the promise of Tim Phillips. And that is it unless you count Essex being the only county that Mark Ramprakash failed to score a Championship fifty against. For next season a quality fast bowler is a must. Essexâ..s transformation into a top one-day side can also be put down to their batting depth. Eleven players, including Alastair Cook, scored Championship centuries and the batsmen should not struggle for runs next year unless they give up entirely in protest at doing an unfair share of the work. And who could blame them?

Daniel Brigham The Wisden Cricketer