RYAN ten Doeschate says the Essex bowlers need to step up to the plate if his side are to continue their push for promotion in the County Championship.

Essex sit nine points clear at the top of Division Two as the red-ball season reaches the halfway point when they face Leicestershire at Chelmsford, starting on Sunday.

The match is their first in the Championship for three weeks, having built up a healthy lead in the Royal London One-Day Cup standings, and is their last one until the first week of July.

With only one promotion place up for grabs this season, the Essex captain knows the ability to knock sides over twice in a match will be crucial to their hopes.

Weather problems notwithstanding, Essex have only bowled out their opponents in both innings on three occasions – the first three games of the season, two of which remain their only victories.

And ten Doeschate has now called on his bowlers to produce the goods.

“I think the key to winning the Championship, or doing well in four-day cricket, is the core of your bowlers,” said ten Doeschate. “Jamie Porter, Graham Napier, Matt Quinn and someone like David Masters – picking up bags and bags of wickets.

“They’ve shown that at times, but also they haven’t bowled well at other times.

“If you look at the wicket tally, particularly Porter and Napier, I do think we have a bowling attack to take wickets.

“Ports would be the first to say he didn’t bowl particularly well towards the second half of the first half of the season – if that makes sense – but Quinny coming in has given us the ammunition, and obviously when Ravi has bowled that has been a massive bonus. You’re looking for your three seamers to take the majority of the wickets.”

Napier and Porter started the summer in riotous form and shared 59 Championship wickets, but injuries to both players blunted the attack to the extent that Northamptonshire openers Ben Duckett and Rob Newton rattled up 167 for the first wicket in the last game, with the home side 344-2 at one stage.

Quinn has claimed four wickets in his one Championship appearance to date, Bopara taken 19 and Masters 10 from his three games.

And with youngsters Aaron Beard and Matt Dixon waiting in the wings, Essex are not short of options.

“Yes, it is hard to keep everyone happy,” admitted ten Doesechate. “But I think the guys realise what needs to be done to earn their places. It has been pretty clearcut when we have left guys out or rested them why they have been rested or left out. I sense no complaints or unhappiness.

“One of the key parts of being a captain or coach is to manage their expectations and give honest reasons and feedback. If they do step up and bowl correctly they will play the majority of the games.”