ESSEX take their annual cricket roadshow to Valentines Park in Ilford this week with a county championship match against Northamptonshire and a National League clash with Lancashire seeing an Essex 'old boys' reunion'.

Third-placed Essex will be looking to secure their first 'double' of the season in the championship match, which started yesterday and follows Essex's amazing win at Northampton.o

They secured victory chasing a target of 291 in 52 overs having been smashed for 632 in Northants' first innings. The run chase was set up after Northants were dismissed for 155 in their second innings.

Former Essex bowlers Darren Cousins, who missed the end of last season through injury, and Ricky Anderson who joined Northamptonshire at the start of this season but missed the opening matches because of injury are expected to be playing.

And Adrian Rollins, brother of former Essex wicketkeeper/batsman Robert, was likely to take his place at the top of the batting order.

A large crowd is expected on Sunday when Stuart Law who left Essex at the end of last season following reports of dressing room unrest plays his first game against the county for which he was overseas player for six seasons.

Essex will be looking to forget their defeat against Sussex at Horsham only their second in all competitions this season. And with two games in hand on some second division sides and having sat out last Sunday's matches, all of which were abandoned, Irani and Co will be hoping for fine weather and four points.

Lancashire will again be the opposition on Wednesday when the sides meet at the County Ground, Chelmsford, in the fourth round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

And looking ahead to next weekend, Essex will be at Lords taking on Warwickshire in the final of the Benson and Hedges Cup.

Essex earned their place in the one-day showpiece after a comprehensive 138-run victory over Worcestershire, in a match which went into two days.

If Lancashire had not conceded a four off the last ball of their semi-final against Warwickshire, Essex would have been playing the Red Rose county in three successive matches.

June 14, 2002 10:30