Essex seem to have forgotten how to lose... so can they take their remarkable run into the Blast?

T20 TEAM PREVIEW: The defending champions go into the 2020 competition confident and bullish... but will they be too reliant on Simon Harmer?

Coach: Anthony McGrath

Captain: Simon Harmer

Last season: Winners

Fixtures: August 27 - Middlesex (h, 2pm); August 30 - Surrey (a, 2pm); September 1 - Hampshire (h, 2pm); September 3 - Middlesex (a, 6.15pm); September 5 - Kent (Oval, TBC); September 11 - Surrey (h, 2pm); September 14 - Sussex (a, 2pm); September 16 - Hampshire (a, 2pm); September 18 - Kent (a, 2pm); September 20 - Sussex (h, 1pm)

How did they do last year?

Essex claimed a memorable victory on Finals Day at Edgbaston, but they got there the hard way. In the group stages, the 14th and final game against Kent was the decider. The Eagles won only five of their pool matches; four games were lost, one was tied, and four had no result, leaving them on 15 points.

The Eagles locked horns with Lancashire in the quarter-final, their opponents reaching 159 off 20 overs. Cameron Delport, Ryan ten Doeschate and Ravi Bopara helped their team over the line with scores of 44, 45 and 49 respectively. 

In the last four against Derbyshire, the Essex batting line-up made 160 for 5. Delport scored a half-century while Tom Westley, Bopara and Adam Wheater contributed  39, 27 and 20. Simon Harmer took four wickets at an impressive economy of 4.75, while Aaron Nijjar delivered three wickets going for just 26 runs. The Eagles bowled out Derbyshire for just 126.

Essex faced Worcestershire in a thrilling final. The Eagles limited the Rapids to 145 for 9 with standout skipper Harmer taking 3 for 16. Bopara’s bowling economy of 7.50 and Lawrence’s 6.50, helped Essex to restrict the flow of runs snatching two wickets each. With the bat, Bopara took his team to victory, scoring a healthy 36 not out. It was left to Harmer to score the winning runs and secure Essex's first T20 title.

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Who are their key players?

Captain Harmer bowled 42 completed overs during the T20 Blast last year, taking 17 wickets with an economy of 8.15. The South African's control over the cricket ball, and ability to extract bounce, caused problems to most batsmen over the course of the competition. He is back at it again in 2020, taking wickets for fun in the Bob Willis Trophy, and it would take a confident man to predict anything other than another influential campaign in the short format.

Dan Lawrence was a player to watch last year and with his call up to the England Test squad this summer, he’s become something of a household name. In 2019, Lawrence averaged 35.09 with a strike rate of 152. He scored four half-centuries, the most in his team, whacking 24 fours and 21 sixes. Not only did he have a good group stage run, his bowling certainly came into use in the final: 2 for 26 at an economy rate of 6.50. 

Cameron Delport scored the most runs for Essex Eagles last year, contributing 409 runs in 14 innings at an average of 29.21. His extraordinary 129 off 49 balls against Surrey shows how powerful and aggressive he can be. He has the highest strike rate of Essex with 167.62 and amassed 64 boundaries in total: 40 fours and 24 sixes. If the Eagles need someone to bulldoze their way out of a situation, Delport is certainly a character that can take to the challenge. 

If Delport is unavailable to play, Essex still have a strong middle order. Ryan ten Doeschate has always been a key player for the Eagles. He top-scored with 74 not out in last years competition with the third highest average of 33.62 just behind Dan Lawrence and Bopara. He helped the Eagles to victory in the quarter-final with 45 not out. A long-time captain of the side, he also offers valuable counsel to Harmer.

What are their biggest strengths?

Batting. Essex have a long batting line-up and a strong middle order. Both Westley and Delport were in the top three batters by average for the Eagles in 2019, but the most impressive attribute was their boundary-striking. Westley managed 42 fours and eight sixes, while Delport added 40 fours and 24 sixes.

The middle order of the Essex Eagles will be considered dangerous in this year’s blast, with Dan Lawrence and Ryan ten Doeschate who both had a good run last season accumulating averages of 35.09 and 33.62 respectively. 

Where might they have a weakness?

The finisher's role. After 18 years at the club, Bopara has left for Sussex. Bopara was a formidable player who contributed greatly to the Essex win last year, topping the batting averages with 48.50 and an explosive strike rate of 162.56. With five not outs coming from his 11 innings, as - somewhat against his will - he was moved down the order - he consistently acted as a kingpin for his team. His bowling will be missed too. In 2019 Bopara took 12 wickets with the third best economy rate among his teammates. 

There is an argument that the Eagles' bowling could become over-reliant on Harmer, especially with the absence of Adam Zampa. But the seam department of Sam Cook, Jamie Porter and Aaron Beard will no doubt have something to say about that.

Chances of reaching Finals Day?

It is hard to rule out a defending champion straight away, but there do appear to be - on paper - several more fancied sides than the Eagles.

That said, as they showed in 2019, one purple patch is all that's needed. And, as a county, they seem to have forgotten how to lose cricket matches, which bodes awfull well.

Strongest XI: Tom Westley, Cameron Delport, Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer, Jamie Porter, Aaron Beard, Sam Cook

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