ANDY Bichel is determined to help Essex to greater glory this summer after penning a short-term deal with the county cricket club.

Australian all-rounder Bichel will return to the County Ground for the second half of the summer.

The 36-year-old was the county's leading wicket-taker in both the NatWest Pro40 and 20Twenty limited overs competitions in 2006.

Essex won the Pro40 crown and were beaten in the semi-final of the 20Twenty by eventual champions Leicestershire.

But Bichel wants to help Essex secure success in the four-day format after they finished third in the County Championship's Division Two, missing out on promotion by nine points.

"I enjoyed my time at Chelmsford last year," said Bichel. "We did well in the one-day competitions but just missed promotion in the County Championship.

"But I don't think we should aim for success in just one form of the game next summer.

"I want to be successful in both four-day and one-day cricket, so together we can build on what we achieved last summer."

Full story in today's Echo.