Graham Napier will be a man on a mission as Essex celebrate 90 years of Colchester cricket in the latest festival starting at Castle Park tomorrow.

Graham Napier - looking for a ton at Colchester against Durham Picture: STEVE BAIN

The pugnacious 24-year-old England A all-rounder is one of only a couple of Essex players yet to record a First Class century.

And the home grown Colchester and East Essex cricket club star would love nothing more than to put the record straight in the four-day County Championship match against Durham on his old stamping ground.

"The lads keep pulling my leg that only Ashley Cowan and myself have yet to score a ton," said Napier as he warmed up for the Durham clash.

"I'd love to add my name to the list of century scorers.

"And having hit a half-century against Durham at the park a couple of years ago, I can't think of a better place to double that score than against them on my home ground this week."

More than anything else, however, Napier is very keen to to see-off Durham in a crucial second division Championship clash and Kent Spitfires in Sunday's National Cricket League first division match.

The hard-hitting right-hander and ever improving seam bowler said: "Promotion to the first division of the Championship is still very much on and a good finish in the totesport League will see us safely in the top division for another season.

"It's vital that we have a strong final month and if we play against Durham as we did when beating Leicestershire and Hampshire then a top three berth and promotion are very much on with games against Glamorgan, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to come."

Published Tuesday August 17, 2004

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