Paul Grayson says he is up for the challenge of leading Essex from the front whenever the six-times county champions call on him.

Boosted by a tremendous 268-run win over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge yesterday - the county's first in the Championship this season - the stand-in Essex skipper today told the Evening Gazette: "I'm ready and waiting whenever they ask me."

Leading from the front - Essex stand-in skipper Paul Grayson

Captaining the side in the absence of knee injury victim Ronnie Irani, Grayson said: "As vice-captain it's always nice to be at the helm and when you win it makes everything so much better.

"I thoroughly enjoy skippering the side. The lads respond well when I'm in charge and from a personal point of view it's nice to be out there doing things my own way sometimes."

Grayson paid tribute to all his players for their three-day win over Nottinghamshire, especially batsmen Aftab Habib (151) and James Foster (85), all-rounders Graham Napier (57 runs and five for 56) and Jon Dakin (four for 22), plus Australian overseas star left-arm swing bowler Scott Brant, who posted an Essex career best six for 45

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Published Monday, June 2, 2003

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