Tom Westley: Essex skipper urges younger players to create own legacy

Essex, who finished fourth in Division One last season, will again rely heavily on the quality of prolific seam bowlers Jamie Porter and Sam Cook and off-spinner Simon Harmer, while Westley – now 36 – and South African Dean Elgar provide the experience in the batting line-up.

But they also have the likes of Noah Thain, Luc Benkenstein, Robin Das and Charlie Allison, who are looking to gain more game time with the first team.

“There’s always a changing of personnel, people getting a bit older, and some of the younger guys are probably at a stage in their careers now where they want to stamp their authority on the club and want their own success,” said Westley.

“It is an exciting time. In the last three or four years we’ve been competitive but my challenge to the squad and the management’s challenge is you actually want to create your own success.

“There’s only a handful of us who were involved in the trophy success of a few years back, so the challenge is can that next crop of Essex cricketers create their own legacy?”

On former England and Sri Lanka head coach Silverwood’s return to Chelmsford, Westley added: “He is familiar with the club, and is also desperate and hungry for the club to move forward and be successful (again).

“Silvers has changed himself, he’s had international experience which has been fantastic for him, and hopefully bringing that knowledge and experience back to Essex will only benefit us.”