ESSEX have been handed a huge blow with the news fast bowler Tymal Mills will leave the club.
The 22-year-old has decided to let his contract run out and leave the Essex County Ground at the end of the season.
The club say they offered Mills a generous new deal, but he will pursue his career with another county, with Worcestershire, who pipped Essex to promotion to LV= County Championship Division One this season, rumoured to be his destination.
Mills, who only started playing cricket when he was 14, made his first class debut for Essex aged 19, playing in the three-day tour match against Sri Lanka in 2011.
He was tipped for a bright future by Essex's head coach Paul Grayson, with wicketkeeper James Foster saying he was the fastest bowler he had ever kept to.
During England's humiliating Ashes series defeat in Australia, section of the national media called for him to drafted into the team, with his 90mph bowling seen as a answer to Mitchell Johnson's raw pace.
However, Mills endured an injury-hit 2014 season with a troublesome back injury limiting him to just 12 matches. His last appearance for Essex came in August against Hampshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup, where he retired hurt after just 2.2 overs.
Grayson said, "We are of course disappointed that Tymal has decided to leave the club, especially as he is one of our own from the Essex Academy.
"There was an attractive new contract offer on the table for him but he has decided to reject and continue his career with a new club."
Mills said: "It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave Essex CCC. I want to thank the club for giving me my introduction into professional cricket and in particular to John Childs, for my time spent on the Academy, and then Chris Silverwood, who has helped me no end since turning professional.
"I am excited for the next chapter in my career and wish the club all the best moving forward."
Mills is the second talented young player to opt to leave Essex this season with wicketkeeper Ben Foakes joining Surrey when his contract expires.
