Joseph Grant Talks To Ilford Recorder
By Dave Buxton
April 5 2002
New fast bowling signing Joe Grant has been speaking to the local newspaper, the Ilford Recorder and it's reporter Paul Hiscock. He talks about preparing for the new season and a job in Tesco during the winter!
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The Ilford Recorder reports: Eagerly looking forward to action in the middle is Jamaican-born Joseph Grant, who opened the bowling for Jamaica in the mid-90's with (the legend) Courtney Walsh. Fast bowler Grant has been domiciled in this country for some years, but some impressive performances in league cricket in the north and then, when playing Minor Counties cricket for Cambridgeshire, persuaded Essex to offer the 32-year-old a contract. Until he returned to pre-season training at the beginning of last month, Grant was combining time spent on finess and in winter nets (at Chelmsford) with a job at Tesco. Essex captain Ronnie Irani said: "He deserves to succeed: he's been so dedicated. He might be past 30 but he's been whipping in some lively deliveries in the nets and he'll do well for us. We'll bowl him in short bursts and he could prove to be a surprise package." The quietly spoken Grant has set his sights on getting 50 first class wickets, stating: "I know I can do a job for Essex. I have wanted to play county cricket for some while now and I'm eager to make up lost time. I'm a fit guy and I'll be disappointed if I don't get at least 50 victims."
And from what I also gathered from the Member's Forum lastnight, the guys at Essex and a couple of members who saw him last season in the final Championship match up at Yorkshire and in the 2nd XI are also pleasantly surprised. He took a wicket in that victorius Yorkshire match and Ronnie Irani stated lastnight that he's one of the fitness on the staff. Ronnie also commented how he always has a smile on his face, is nippy and wants to do well. Graham Gooch, Essex Head Coach, also stated the typical West Indian style pace he has and how impressed he is also with Grant. I thought missing Ricky Andersion was going to be huge blow on the bowling front this year, but with what I've heard and read on Joe Grant, I like and I think we will be ok without Ricky. The season's coming and we'll soon find out. 'Scimitars' will be looking at the squad in more depth in the next couple of weeks in our season preview, so don't miss that. Date: 5/4/02 |
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