Jon Dakin goes into action against Kent at Chelmsford tomorrow for his first Championship match as a capped Essex player.

The 31-year-old all-rounder was awarded his cap soon after the four-day battle against Middlesex in which he took a career best 5-86 to take his Championship tally for the season to 25.

Dakin will be eager to celebrate with another eye-catching performance. But just as important to him is his desire to put the record straight about events which saw him left out of the side for a spell last summer.

"I'm fed up of reading reports that I was dropped because of my attitude and lack of fitness," he said.

"That is complete rubbish. I'm as committed and as professional as the next man -- and always have been.

"The truth is that I had a couple of niggling injury problems and was given a fortnight off to overcome them.

"It was not a case of letting myself go and being told to sort myself out as some reports have suggested.

"And my attitude? It seems only the media want to question it. No-one else has a problem with it.

"All I can say is my desire to win is as strong as it's ever been."

Certainly no one at Essex, least of all head coach Graham Gooch, can fault the whole-hearted endeavour being put in by Dakin with bat and ball.

He has thrived on the responsibility of taking the new ball in the absence of long-term injury victim Ashley Cowan and has put in several useful performances with the bat, averaging around 30 while scoring 274.

More on Essex County Cricket Club

Published Thursday, June 26, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo