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Essex County Cricket Club have announced the signing of South African batsman Cameron Delport for the 2019 and 2020 T20 Blast seasons. Delport, 29, will join the Eagles for a two-year spell starting from July 1 and will be available for the finals day at Edgbaston on September 21 - should the county club advance that far into the competition. "I'm so happy to be joining Essex. The club has such an amazing history and tradition so I'm proud to be given the opportunity to get involved," the batsman told the county's website . "There is a strong squad at Chelmsford and I hope to play my part in getting the Eagles to Finals Day come September. I can't wait to get started." Delport has a vast of T20 experience from all around the world, including Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League and Paarl Rocks in the Mzansi Super League.

Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has signed a one-year contract extension at Essex until the end of the 2019 season. The 33-year-old, who last played for England in 2015, first represented the County Championship First Division side in 2002, and was a part of the winning team of 2017. The all-rounder is thrilled to have extended his stay at the Cloudfm County Ground until the end of 2019. “I’m glad to have signed a new one-year deal with Essex County Cricket Club,” said Bopara. “I’m excited for the upcoming season, which will be my 18th year with the club and at 33, I still have plenty of years left.” Essex head-coach Anthony McGrath emphasised on the importance of Bopara’s contract extension. “Ravi is an integral part of the and will have a big role to play for us next year.” Bopara has played 13 Tests, 120 ODI and 38 T20 games for England.

The Essex County Cricket Club have secured the services of the former Australian bowler Shaun Tait for the NatWest T20 Blast this summer. EssexTV | A warm welcome to @shaun_tait32 who returns to The E.C.G this summer for @NatWestT20Blast http://t.co/ulUCshOoPI — Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) February 17, 2015 The 31-year-old has previously played his first stint in Chelmsford in 2013, where his performance helped the Eagles to reach the semi-finals of the competition. The head coach Paul Grayson told the club's official website : "Shaun had such a positive impact around the club during his first spell. "Not only on the pitch during the Twenty20 campaign, but he also spent time working with the younger players throughout the summer. He took 16 wickets at an average of 17.18 during his first stint with the Essex Eagles. Tait tweet his thoughts after re-joining the club : Back to @EssexCricket for the @NatWestT20Blast ! Great place to play, can't...

Essex have signed New Zealand all-rounder Jesse Ryder as the Overseas player for the 2014 season. We look forward to welcoming @DijaRyder to The E.C.G next month as our Overseas player! http://t.co/muGIdr0p2U #JesseRyder — Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) April 22, 2014 The 29-year-old Otago batsman has played 48 one-day internationals, 18 Tests and 22 Twenty20s for the Black Caps. Ryder expressed his excitement on his twitter account: Looking forward to heading to England next month to play county. Thanks to @EssexCricket for the opportunity. — Jesse Ryder (@DijaRyder) April 22, 2014 Ryder will be available from the beginning of May and represent the County Championship Division Two side in all formats this season.

England allrounder Ravi Bopara has signed Sydney Sixers in Big Bash League . The 28-year-old Bopara who plays for Essex in English County , has not played a Test since 2012, though he is a part of England's limited-overs teams. He will join his fellow England batsman Michael Lumb for the Sixers. "I'm delighted to be joining the Sydney Sixers for the first half of the Big Bash," Bopara said. "The Sixers are famous throughout the cricketing world and I'm privileged to have the opportunity to represent them. "The team is full of absolutely fantastic talent and I'm looking forward to catching up and playing alongside them when we meet up next month." Bopara in his T20 career, has scored 2850 runs at a strike rate of 113.50, including one century as well as taking 88 wickets. The Sixers general manager, Dominic Remond, said: "Ravi fills a great role for us at the Sixers, as an allrounder with excellent strokeplay and medium-pac...

England spinner Monty Panesar has signed a two-year contract with Essex . The 31-year-old, Panesar joined Essex on loan earlier this year after being released by Sussex . "I loved playing for Essex last season," he told the club's website ( www.essexcricket.org.uk ). "In the short time I was there I was made to feel very welcome." Panesar took 14 wickets in six county championship matches following his move.

England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has joined Essex for the remainder of the season. Panesar was fined by police for being drunk and disorderly earlier this month after urinating on bouncers following a night out in Brighton and has not played for Sussex since. He was left out of England's squad for the final Ashes Test at The Oval when, under normal circumstances, he would have been expected to be included with England naming two spinners. "I have endured a challenging time this year off the field and my frustrations have sometimes got the better of me professionally," Panesar said in statement. "I apologise for letting the club, my colleagues and my fans down. "I am grateful to Sussex for allowing me to be released from my contract for 2014 and 2015 in order to explore other opportunities to further develop my cricket. I want to give myself the best chance of playing all forms of the game at the highest level. "I would like to thank Suss...

County club, Essex have signed Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir for the remainder of the season of County Championship . The 31-year-old opener batsman will replace the New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford, who will be heading home to prepare for New Zealand's domestic and international season. Gambhir is expected to play match against Northamptonshire in Colchester, on August 20. "We are delighted with the signing of Gautam Gambhir, " Essex head coach Paul Grayson said. "He is a player with pedigree, which has been showcased on the biggest stages. He will no doubt bring his experience to the squad during an important stage of the season for us." Gambhir is the first Indian player, who signed for a county in this season. Last year, Harbhajan Singh represented Essex .

Harbhajan Singh , 31, has signed a contract with Essex County side to play in the English domestic season in second half. Harbhajan will reach United Kingdom in the mid of july and will play the remaining eight LV County Championship matches. Essex head coach Paul Grayson, said, " We are delighted to have signed one of the best spinners in world cricket over the last 10 years or so. Harbhajan is a great character who is a match winner and I believe that his winning mentality will rub off on the rest of the playing squad here at Essex. " Indian off-spinner, Harbhajan has played 227 ODIs and 98 Tests for India. In his career, He has taken 55 ODI wickets and 406 Test wickets.

Essex have signed their second overseas player the New Zealand allrounder, James Franklin for the Friends Life t20. Franklin is currently playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League and was also part of the Adelaide Strikers in Big Bash League. The coach of Essex, Paul Grayson said: " We are delighted to welcome James to the club. He obviously has huge county experience having played here a few seasons. He has shown his ability in the 20-over format of the game with his outstanding IPL record. He is a genuine allrounder in this format and adds further quality to the talented and strong squad. "

Australian right-arm fast-medium bowler Peter Siddle has signed with Essex in English county for the upcoming summer Twenty-20 campaign. Siddle will join the squad for the opening game on June 13 against Surrey Lions. Essex head coach Paul Grayson said, " We are delighted to have signed Australia's premier bowler in Test cricket. "