ESSEX skipper Mark Pettini has vowed his Essex side will be a much improved outfit this season.

The 24-year-old, who took over from Ronnie Irani midway through last season, endured a tough start to life as a leader as Essex were relegated in the Natwest Pro40 competition and missed out on promotion in the Liverpool Victoria County Champ-ionship.

Pettini also experienced a rotten run of form with the bat, but he told the Echo that he and his charges are ready to put last summer's disappointments behind them and start their quest for promotion.

"I'm really looking forward to theseason," Pettini said.

"There is a real buzz about the place and a lot of hard work has gone into it.

"We have a hugely talented squad here and there is a real feeling that if we perform as we can we will be promoted in the county championship."

Pettini was drafted in following Irani's shock retirement through injury last June, and admitted he had taken time to find his captaincy feet.

"We were a bit dis-jointed last year and players were not 100 per cent sure of their roles in the side," he admitted, candidly.

"We plan to be much better this year."

Pettini has worked particulalry hard at his batting ahead of the new season, having totally lost form since taking over as captain.

However, he does not believe the captaincy affected the duration of his stays at the crease, despite a season which brought him just 604 first-class runs at an average of 23.

"A big part of captaincy is being a batsman as well," he observed.

"I would not say last year that my lack of form was down to being captain. It happens a lot in cricket inexplicably where people go in and out of form."

Pettini will be batting in the middle order in the four-day version of the game and has spent part of the winter honing his skills in Australia.

He and his Essex team-mates will have to face up to the prospect of a livelier surface at Chelmsford this season, rather than the notorious featherbed.

Essex are keen to create a more sporting pitch, giving the seam bowlers an edge which they were lacking last season.

Pettini said: "We have a world-class leg-spinner (Danish Kaneria) coming and a world-class opening bowler (Andre Nel).

"We have spoken to the groundsman about getting a bit more bounce and carry in the wicket."