HEAD Coach Paul Grayson believes that his Essex side deserve County Championship promotion due to the hard work that they have put in this season.
The Eagles start their last four-day game with Worcestershire at Chelmsford today (Tuesday) in a must-win game to grab second place and overtake Hampshire for the final promotion spot.
Essex currently sit ten points behind the Royals, who travel to Cardiff to play Glamorgan in their final game.
But Grayson's men are on a fantastic run of form in the competition, having won five of their last six matches.
Grayson said: "We have been good and everyone has really contributed to the performances either taking wickets, runs or catches, because if you want to win things then that has to happen. It has been a real team push that we are hoping will be enough to get us over the line.
"The lads have worked incredibly hard, starting over the winter and then taking that into the summer. That's something people don't generally see or appreciate, so they deserve to get that second spot, but we will only get that if we play well and Hampshire slip up a little."
