Andy Flower is certain that Pakistani wrist spinner, Danish Kaneria, will add a new dimension to the Essex bowling attack as well as the variety, which has been missing in recent seasons.
Kaneria has played 12 Tests and will be the third Pakistani, after Salim Malik and Mohammad Akram, to play for Essex when he makes his debut in the summer.
"Danish is a quality bowler," Flower told the Evening Echo.
"The Chelmsford pitch does not traditionally help spinners, but in the last few matches of last season it turned."
And he added: "Danish will strengthen our bowling, and with Ashley Cowan and James Middlebrook we will be stronger than last season."
Flower faced Kaneria in a one-day international in Sharjah two years ago, when he was playing for Zimbabwe.
His initial impressions - and they have never changed - is that 22-year-old Kaneria 22 is capable of dismissing the best batsmen in the world.
"Danish looked a top-quality leg-spinner in Sharjah," he said.
More on Essex County Cricket Club
Published Tuesday January 20, 2004
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