Essex CCC Media Release:

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has been crowned the Quintessence Design Essex Website Player of the Year for 2007.

The Pakistani pipped Australian all-rounder Andy Bichel to top spot by just seven votes after both enjoyed outstanding seasons for the County.

Seven hundred Essex CCC website users casted their nominations to decide who would follow in the footsteps of previous winners Will Jefferson (2004), Alastair Cook (2005) and James Foster (2006).

Kaneria’s 107 wickets in the four major domestic competitions was sufficient to convince enough voters to select the spinner ahead of the other candidates.

Ravinder Bopara finished in third after his fine all-round season earned him a spot on England’s one-day and Test tours to Sri Lanka this winter.

Ryan ten Doeschate, Alastair Cook and James Foster were next in line for the keenly contested minor placings.     

Each voter who plumped for Kaneria will now go into the draw to win the chance to hand the award over to the Player of the Year during one of the first home games of the 2008 season. He or she will be contacted sometime during the next week.