Essex wins English County Championship

It is Essex’s seventh title, all its previous successes coming between 1979 and their last one in 1992.

Ryan ten Doeschate’s team put itself on the brink of the title by thumping Warwickshire by an innings inside three days at Edgbaston

Essex won its first English County Championship title since 1992 on Friday in its first season back in the top division. Ryan ten Doeschate’s team put itself on the brink of the title by thumping Warwickshire by an innings inside three days at Edgbaston on Thursday but had to wait for the result from Taunton, where second-placed Lancashire was in action.

A seven-wicket win for Somerset means Essex, with eight wins under their belt, cannot be caught, even with two games to go.

It is Essex’s seventh title, all its previous successes coming between 1979 and their last one in 1992 when it retained the championship during the all-conquering years of England stars such as Graham Gooch, Nasser Hussain and Derek Pringle.

Coach Chris Silverwood said he hoped his players could build a legacy to match former club greats. "Everyone talks about the (Keith) Fletcher era with Essex," he said. "What I would love people to be doing in 20 years is talking about this era. Your Jamie Porters, your Dan Lawrences, your Tom Westleys. I want them talking about them. If they do that it means we've left a legacy behind and what more could you ask for?” he added.