Essex First-Team Coach Paul Grayson spoke to the Essex CCC website after his side completed a miraculous LV County Championship win over Middlesex on Saturday.

Ninth-wicket pair James Middlebrook and Chris Wright began their partnership with 97 runs still for victory after the home side collapsed from 70-0 to 202-8.

A fine stand ensued as Wright struck a maiden Championship half-century on his way to 71 not out and Middlebrook played an excellent support role with 33 not out.

Grayson told the Essex CCC website of his pleasure at seeing Wright – whose main string to his bow is his seam bowling – bring the side home with the bat against his former county.    

Grayson: I’m delighted for Chris Wright He’s a very talented cricketer who we are yet to see the best of. We think he is going to turn out to be an excellent signing for us. James Middlebrook must also take a lot of credit for his part in the ninth-wicket partnership and Andre Nel was superb with the new ball in their second innings. Overall it was a terrific win but there are areas for improvement.

Essex CCC: Would you say one of those areas for improvement has to be more runs from some of the top order?

Grayson: We talked over the winter about how we have to bat better in our first innings this season. Being dismissed for 207 in the first innings (in this match) at Chelmsford is very disappointing so we have to look for more contributions from two or three of our players. But two wins from our opening three Championship games is a good start to the campaign and I felt the New Zealand game was also an encouraging performance despite the defeat. All in all I’m pleased with the progress and we are getting bits and pieces from everyone in each match. We knew that we would need 16 or 17 players to be making contributions over the course of the season, rather than relying on a few players to carry the side, and that is how we can achieve our success.

Essex CCC: So does this win boost your morale going into Sunday’s game with Surrey in the Friends Provident Trophy?

Grayson: After losing to Derbyshire in the Championship (at the end of April) we came back the following day to beat Sussex in the Friends Provident so we’ve shown that we can bounce back after setbacks. Nonetheless we will undoubtedly go into Sunday’s game full of confidence after beating Middlesex.

Essex CCC: Every game is an important game but another victory on Sunday would put Essex in with a great chance of reaching the quarter-finals, right?

Grayson: We’ve played well in both of our Friends Provident Trophy matches so far and are in a strong position at the moment as we are top despite having played less games than the others. But we are aware this is going to be a really tough game coming up as Surrey are a high-quality, dangerous side. Having said that, if we play to our potential this a game we can win.

Essex CCC: It must be good to have Graham Napier back in the squad for the first time this season?

Grayson: Graham was bowling really well in pre-season but then he picked up a niggle in his knee. He came through the seconds game this week (at Garon Park) and he is one of the best one-day players in our side when fit so we hope this is the start of a run of games for him.