More injury trouble for Essex’s Phillips

2:40pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

COUNTY CRICKET

THE season has only just started - but already it has turned sour for Essex all-rounder Tim Phillips.

He had begun it with high hopes and featured in the Friends Provident Trophy victory over Kent at Canterbury, but now he faces a lay-off of six weeks following a knee injury.

Phillips suffered the problem during the Second XI match at Garon Park against Surrey and has undergone surgery to repair cartilage damage.

It is indeed a savage blow for a player trying to establish himself at first team level, but he is not the only one who has fallen victim to the injury jinx.

Graham Napier is another player who must be wondering when his luck will change.

He missed a great deal of play last summer through injury and has been receiving treatment for knee trouble.

A scan revealed that there was no major problem and he was due to return to action at the weekend.

Meanwhile, it was refreshing to see Ryan ten Doeschate's lively seam bowling reap reward against the New Zealand tourists at Chelmsford although the visitors won by 92 runs.

His six for 57 represented his best figures for Essex, surpassing his five for 143 against Surrey at Croydon two years ago.

In the absence of Andre Nel and David Masters, both Maurice Chambers and Tony Palladino were thrust into the limelight against the tourists and both fast bowlers could feel reasonable satisfied with their efforts.

While Palladino emerged with a haul of five wickets, Chambers, after failing to take a wicket in the first innings, bowled with far better control in the second to claim figures of three for 37 second time around.

The 20-year-old from Jamaica made his first team debut in 2005 but has not played a first-class game for the senior side since.

He said: "It was very encouraging to be able to bowl a few lengthy spells without discomfort although I did feel stiff at the end of the day. But that's only to be expected."

Chambers who arrived in this country as a 14-year-old originally wanted to follow his heroes Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose into the West Indies side although he is now targeting a place in the England line-up.

He said: "To play against New Zealand was a terrific experience although I was a bit nervous at first but it was an opportunity to measure myself against some good international players."

Now the target for Chambers, who attended Sir George Monoux College in Walthamstow and who plays for Wanstead when not on Essex duty, is to make up for lost time.

"I'd like to force my way into the Essex first team on a regular basis and eventually win my county cap," he said.

Essex meet Middlesex in a County Championship clash at Chelmsford, commencing on Wednesday before facing Surrey at The Oval in a Friends Provident Trophy on Sunday.

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