Essex have announced that four players are to be released at the end of the season. The players to go are Jamie Grove, Tim Hodgson, Jonathan Powell and Tim Walton.

Jamie Grove, 20, made his first-class debut in June 1998 against Surrey and he finished with figures in the Surrey first innings of three for 74, having dismissed both Adam and Ben Hollioake.

He also scored 33 runs, batting at number 10.

A member of the successful England Under 19 team that won the Youth World Cup, Grove suffered a loss of form during the latter part of last season which he has been unable to rediscover.

Tim Hodgson, 24, was named as last season's Second Eleven Player of the Year, after scoring more than 1,000 runs, and he enjoyed an extended run in the first team last year although he was unable to muster major scores despite hitting 54 against Yorkshire.

Jonathan Powell's back problems of the last two season's have seen him bowl very few overs.

The off-spinner, 20, was a surprise selection for the England 'A' tour to Kenya and Sri Lanka in the winter of 1997/98, having played in England's World Cup winning Under 19 team, but injury problems subsequently hampered his progress.

Tim Walton, 26, was signed on the eve of this season after being released by Northamptonshire but he has failed to establish himself in either the championship or one-day teams.

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