Charl Willoughby Signs For Essex

Charl Willoughby Signs For Essex

Charl Willoughby bowls against the Indians at Taunton.

©Action Images

Former Somerset and South Africa left-arm swing bowler Charl Willoughby has signed with Essex on a two-year deal.

The 36 year-old – he will be 37 next month – was not offered a new contract by Somerset at the end of last season, and was left out for the final two matches of their Championship campaign, as they looked to develop their younger bowlers such as Lewis Gregory, Adam Dibble and Gemaal Hussain.

Nonetheless, playing as a four-day specialist in 2011, he ended the season with 53 first-class wickets at an average of 32.47, including a haul for six for 76 against the touring Indians. It is unknown whether his new Essex deal is also a four-day-only one, but it seems likely.

After his departure from Taunton he was linked with numerous counties - most notably those that play with a Tiflex ball in Division Two, hence aiding his left-arm swing - but with the ECB announcing the abolition of the Tiflex ball in Division Two for 2012 it was thought that contract negotiations with Essex had stalled. However, that appears not be the case and the Cape Town-born swing bowler has signed for the third county of his 17-year first-class career.

He said of the move, "Essex made a concerted effort to come and meet me [following my departure from Somerset, with head coach] Paul Grayson and myself having a long discussion [during which] we discussed my aims and that of Essex."

Grayson himself added, "He is a very experienced bowler and someone we wanted to add to our ranks alongside David Masters and Graham Napier."

Willoughby made both his first-class and list A debuts for South African provincial side Boland in 1994 and went onto play two Test matches and three one-day internationals for his native South Africa – interestingly none at home – including one on their tour of England in 2003. Unfortunately he lacked the extra yard of pace that is needed at international level and didn’t play again. He then decided, like so many of his countrymen, to turn his back on South Africa – although he did play a couple of winters with the Cape Cobras - in order to try his luck with Leicestershire for the 2005 season and was capped by the county that year.

In 2006 he moved onto Somerset following an average first year at Grace Road, where, following the retirement of Andy Caddick, he has led the county’s attack with aplomb during what has amounted to a six-year Indian summer to his career, an was capped by the county in the process.

Now, having left Taunton for pastures new, he will hoping to extend this Indian summer for a further two seasons at Chelmsford, where his role will include mentoring the likes of Reece Topley and Tymal Mills, before hanging up his boots for the last time.

© Cricket World 2011