Essex all-rounder Graham Napier spoke to the Essex CCC website ahead of Wednesday’s Friends Provident Trophy Quarter-Final at Grace Road.

The 28-year-old has played a significant part with the ball in helping Essex through to the knockout stage, taking eight wickets in his first three FPT matches of the season.

Injury meant his first appearance of the season did not come until May 11 but he made an immediate impact with three wickets at the Brit Oval.

Napier is aiming to build on a promising opening to the campaign with another starring role against the Leicestershire Foxes this week.

Essex CCC: Due to injury and the weather you’ve not had too much cricket so far this season so are you feeling like you still need a bit more cricket under your belt before you are completely back into the swing of things?

Graham Napier: I’m not rusty with the ball but in terms of batting, going in at the end of the innings has been tough. From a bowling perspective I got through a lot of overs in pre-season and was hitting my straps pretty well. Unfortunately I was put back a couple of weeks with a knee niggle at the start of the season but that’s all better and sorted now.

Essex CCC: When you did get back into the first-team you picked up eight wickets in your first three FPT appearances – that must have given you a major boost?

Graham Napier: I was ecstatic at my form in those matches. After my first game back at the Oval I’ve been given the opportunity to swing the new ball, with some success. It’s hardest to bowl at the beginning and the closing stages in one-day cricket – which is what I’ve been doing - as you have Powerplays at the start and then come up against people looking to score runs quickly at the end. Bowling in one-day cricket can be a bit hit and miss.

Essex CCC: Next up is Leicestershire – what are you memories of playing at Grace Road?

Graham Napier: We’ve not played a lot of one-day cricket at Grace Road in recent seasons as we’ve spent a lot of time in Division One (of the one-day league) and they’ve been in Division Two. Having said that, we owe them one (or two!) for beating us twice in the Twenty20 Cup (Quarter-Final in 2004 and Semi-Final in 2006). They’ve been able to handle us in the lower format but we are a better side in 50-over cricket so it will be nice to take them on in this competition.

Essex CCC: Leicestershire have struggled in recent years but they have made a good start this season (top of the Division Two Championship and top in the FPT Group). Have you been surprised by their success? 

Graham Napier: Leicestershire have strengthened the squad with several players who have a lot of experience from outside of the English game and would have played a lot of one-day cricket. From underdogs in the past they have now become a team in contention for trophies so we will have to be wary of them. We have to use our skills and dominate them from early on.

Essex CCC: Leicestershire wicketkeeper Paul Nixon took the game away from Essex with the bat in the Twenty20 Cup Semi-Final at Trent Bridge in 2006 – is he going to be one of the dangermen again?

Graham Napier: We’ve got Danish Kaneria and James Middlebrook as spinners and that’s who Nixon will look to attack most. With the ability to sweep on both sides of the wicket as well as hit down the ground he is hard to set fields to.