ESSEX bowler Tim Phillips says he is loving the responsibility of being the county’s main spin option this season.

Phillips posted career-best figures of 5-28 in Essex’s eight-wicket victory against Unicorns on Sunday.

It was the county’s third win out of four in the CB40. Their other game, against Glamorgan in Cardiff, was abandoned because of the rain.

Phillips said: “I’m obviously very pleased. We’ve really started to turn things around in the past three weeks after what was a slow start and I’m delighted at the way things are now going, both for me and the team.

“I’m really enjoying the season and the challenge of being the main spinner and I’m loving being part of the side on a consistent basis.

“I need to be bowling lots of overs, it can be testing to be bowling short spells but that’s part of the game.

“Hopefully as the season continues, my consistency will continue to improve and I can keep contributing in a positive way. I’ve had some ups and downs in cricket so far and hopefully, I have my best years to come.

“I’m really enjoying the season to date and hopefully, I’ll keep going forward.”

Phillips will be part of the team travelling to face Derbyshire in division two of the county championship today. And the spinner is confident they can go there and get a result.

He said: “After our good results in the CB40, we can go to Derby in good heart and I’m sure it will be a competitive game but hopefully we can get our second win in the four-day competition, which is very important for us.”

Essex head coach Paul Grayson revealed he intends to introduce young wicketkeeper Adam Wheater as a middle order batsman for the game in Derby He said: “We need to see what Adam can do really. He’s a very talented boy. He’s not going to get in the team with Fozzie (James Foster) as the keeper, but he certainly can bat and he’ll possibly bat at number six.

“Reece Topley was available but he’s damaged his ankle so he’s not available for selection. It’s nothing serious, he just twisted it at the weekend but that gives Maurice Chambers an opportunity.”

Michael Coomber is being rested for a week after suffering blisters on his feet, while Graham Napier suffered a slightly twisted ankle in Sunday’s win over Unicorns.