Ryan ten Doeschate initially joined the County on trial in June 2003 until the end of the season, before securing a two-year contract. Caught the eye the previous April when he impressed with both bat and ball while playing for Western Province during the County's pre-season tour. The all-rounder was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, but is of Dutch descent and qualifies to play in English domestic cricket as a European citizen. Injury hampered his progress in 2004 but he had better fortune in 2005 after a good winter in Australia. Topped the totesport League batting averages for Essex and excelled in the field. Hit 98 against Worcestershire in his only Championship innings of the campaign in 2005, a performance which helped to nudge the selectors for the following season when he featured in nine four-day games.

Continued to be among the most accomplished performers in one-day cricket as both a ‘finisher’ with the bat and in the field as Essex won the one-day League for the second year in succession in 2006. Spent the winter of 2006-07 turning in outstanding performances for the Netherlands ahead of his appearance for the Dutch in the World Cup. When he arrived in the West Indies he made useful contributions with both bat and ball – his highlights being 57 against South Africa, an unbeaten 70 in the win over Scotland and the dismissal of Australia skipper Ricky Ponting caught and bowled.

Ten Doeschate cemented his place in all forms of the game for Essex in 2007 – figuring in all but the last Championship match when he was absent on international duty – to earn himself a further contract extension up until the end of the 2010 season.