Essex new boy Andre Adams could get his first taste of Twenty20 cricket tonight.

And vice-captain Paul Grayson is confident the competitive New Zealander, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Saturday the day he signed for the county could play a big part in spearheading Essex's drive into the semi-finals and final.

They must first overcome Leicestershire at Grace Road in tonight's quarter-final and Grayson said when welcoming the Kiwi Test all-rounder to the County Ground squad: "Andre has a lot of One-Day International experience so he knows what this kind of cricket is all about.

"We are very pleased he has joined us. He's a busy cricketer, a lively character and he's already fitting into our dressing room well.

"He bowls a lively medium pace in the same mould as Napes (Graham Napier). He's also a very good fielder and as a batsman Andre strikes the ball well.

"He came to our notice from a list of cricketers who might be available. Goochie (head coach Graham Gooch) and Ronnie (captain Ronnie Irani) sat down and talked about it and I believe Andre has signed for the rest of the season, or until our overseas leg-spinner Danish Kaneria comes back."

Kaneria could miss the rest of the season because of his international commitments with Pakistan.

Adams, who plays his cricket for Auckland in New Zealand, has one Kiwi Test cap to his name against England in Auckland two years ago and has represented his country 31 times in One-Day Internationals.

Published Monday July 19, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette