Sky is the limit for Reece Topley, says Essex coach Paul Grayson
Essex Cricket Club- Reece Topley - Credit: Su Anderson
Essex head coach Paul Grayson believes the sky is the limit for 6ft 7in bowler Reece Topley.
The 20-year-old left-armer penned a new two-year contract at the County Ground earlier this week and has just returned to full fitness in time for his side’s Twenty20 opener against Middlesex tomorrow.
He’ll line up alongside the likes of England internationals Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara and Monty Panesar at Lord’s, with Grayson confident that it is only a matter of time before the Ipswich-born prodigy joins them in the senior squad.
“He’s one of the most exciting bowlers in the country so we’re delighted to have got him signed until the end of 2015,” enthused Grayson.
“He was our leading wicket-taker in all formats last season, was the country’s leading wicket-taker in t20 over the last two seasons combined, and I believe he’s going on to big things in the game.
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“He’s brilliant in the dressing room, a great character and very much one of us.”
Grayson continued: “He went away to Australia with the England Performance Programme over the winter and that was probably not the best thing to do because he bowled a lot of overs in the nets and came back with a stress fracture in his back.
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“Our medical department have really looked after him though, he played this week for our second team and in the friendly against Sri Lanka. He just needs to get some overs back in his legs now.”
Essex finished third in the LV= County Championship Division Two table, made the last four of the Friends Life t20 and came second in their Yorkshire Bank Pro40 table last summer.
“We’re going to try and compete on all three fronts,” said Grayson. “Saturday is a huge game. Everyone, bar David Masters and Tymal Mills, is available. It’s important we get some early momentum.”
