Essex Move To Strengthen Squad Ahead of 2012

Essex Move To Strengthen Squad Ahead of 2012.

Greg Smith is one of a clutch of signings for Essex.

©Action Images

After a disappointing 2011 season Essex have moved quickly ahead of the new season by signing Greg Smith from Derbyshire and extending the contracts of three current players.

Smith had announced his intention to leave Derbyshire earlier in the year after negotiations with the club over a new contract broke down following a difference in opinion over the value of the 28 year-old all-rounder. He was then immediately linked with Essex and the move was subsequently confirmed by the club yeaterday.

Of his move to the Eagles, Smith said, "“I would like to thank Essex, David East (Essex CEO) and Paul Grayson (Essex coach) for giving me the opportunity to take my career to the next level. I am looking forward to joining up with the squad and working towards successful times with my new club and help to win silverware in the future." 

Grayson added, "Greg is a cricketer that I admire. He is a very talented all-rounder and has a great character for the dressing room which I feel will benefit us. He is a very good cricketer who will fit in well with the team and I look forward to working with him at Essex.”

Essex have also extended the contract of prolific seamer David Masters for a further three years - a deal that will see him remain with the club until the end of 2014. Masters; who took 93 wickets in first-class cricket this season at an average of 18 and has been shortlisted for the prestigious PCA Player of the Year award; said of the news, "I have had a good year and the new deal takes it up to the later stages of my career which is ideal as I would like to finish my career at Essex."

In addition to this, 17 year-old Reece Topley and wicket-keeper Ben Foakes have agreed new two-year deals with the club. Topley; who left school in August following a disappointing set of AS Level results; was delighted with the news.

"I and my family are very comfortable with this decision. The Royal Hospital School, the England Development Programme and Essex CCC have been fantastically supportive in trying to achieve my dual aspirations of both success on the cricket field, and in the classroom, but I had to make some serious decisions on my immediate future. I am aware that I am in an incredibly exciting and lucky place in my cricketing development and the possibility of many wonderful opportunities arising. Potentially, I may have an extremely busy schedule this winter with England U19’s preparing for next year’s important ICC U19 World Cup, with numerous trips to the Sub Continent and Australasia it would be too challenging to undertake A levels by email or alone in a hotel room," said the 17 year-old.

Foakes added of his new contract, "I am obviously over the moon to be signing my first contract with the club I grew up with. It is something I have been working very hard for with John Childs in the Academy through the past year and I am delighted that the hard work has come to something."

© Cricket World 2011