Forget about opposing sides setting any challenging targets. That is the message from Essex head coach Graham Gooch to his players as they are about to embark on their First Division Championship campaign against Middlesex at Chelmsford on Friday.

Ready for the new season - Essex County Cricket Club

"We won games chasing big scores last season but I can't see us getting those opportunities this time," he said.

"In the Second Division teams could afford to gamble because relegation wasn't an issue. Now we are in the top flight it will be a different story.

"Counties don't want to risk losing because of the fear of going down, so teams will concentrate on building up massive totals to put you out of the game."

Gooch admits that Essex will have to perform better in their first innings than they did last season.

He said the county were quite successful chasing big scores to win games, but was disappointed with their haul of batting points, particularly in the first half of the season.

"It's vital we get plenty of runs on the board to give ourselves a chance of victory in games," Gooch explained.

"It isn't as if we have got a bowler of express pace to spearhead our attack and knock sides over.

"But we have got variety and its up to everyone to work hard and make full use of it.

"Everyone has to work even harder at his game if we are to raise the bar on our performance."

Gooch does not believe there is a massive difference between the two divisions, but reckons the standard in the first is better and will present a stiffer challenge.

And he singled out the quality of spin bowling to be far superior, citing the likes of Saqlain Mushtaq, Harbhajan Singh and Stuart MacGill as danger men.

"They are special and a test for the world's best batsmen," the head coach added.

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Published Thursday, April 17, 2003

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