RONNIE Irani believes Essex’s fine 2008 season is a clear vindication of his decision to name Mark Pettini as his chosen successor as county skipper.

Pettini was surprisingly handed the captaincy following Irani’s sudden retirement through injury last June.

Then just 23, the young batsman struggled in his first summer in charge as Essex under-performed in both four and one-day cricket.

But the current season has been a completely different story, with Pettini leading his side to Twenty20 Cup Finals Day and the Friends Provident Trophy final.

And Irani, who recommended to Essex’s Cricket Committee that Pettini succeed him, is delighted his former opening partner is proving him right.

“I’ve never felt at any stage that Mark Pettini was not the right choice to succeed me as captain,” the man who led Essex for seven seasons told the Echo.

“He was the one I put forward and suggested.

“Last year, I think the performances of the team let him down, rather than his captaincy.

“I think he captained the team very well. Any fingers that were pointed at him came from people who had no knowledge of how he performed on the field.

“Having watched him captain a very average outfit last year, it has shown this year that once he had a few decent players with him what a decent captain he can be.

“As a captain, you’re only as good as the cards you have in your hand and if you only have average cards, it’s hard to captain as well as you can.

“He’s done brilliantly this year. The way he has manoeuvred his players, in one-day cricket especially, has been a real tick-in-the-box for him. We’ve done exceptionally well and reached two finals. Long may it continue.”

Irani also highlighted his reasons for picking the rookie Pettini ahead of more obvious candidates, such as vice-captain and wicket-keeper James Foster.

The 36-year-old explained that Pettini’s character and ability to make the right decisions under pressure made him favourite for the job.

“For me, you had Mark and James Foster,” Irani said.

“James is already an integral part of the side as an all-rounder.

“Wicket-keeping, batting and captaining the team is a big job and James is a solid individual and as vice-captain he can really help the captain by seeing all the angles on the field.

“Rather than just having the one captain, I think you’ve joined your captain up with your wicket-keeper batsman and almost have a four-man team in a funny sort of way.

“What stuck out about Mark was his character.

“He plays well in both forms of the game and takes on the challenge in one-day cricket by opening.

“He absorbs pressure very well and looks to make a decision once that’s happened.

“He’s fit, he’s young and is ever-improving.”

l ESSEX have named a 14-man squad for Saturday’s Twenty20 Cup semi-final against Kent Spitfires.

The ECB have withdrawn England opener Alastair Cook from Finals Day to concentrate on his international commitments. On-loan batsman Neil Dexter is not permitted to play against his parent county.

Essex Eagles: (from) Pettini (capt), Bopara, Napier, Flower, Foster (wkt), ten Doeschate, Middlebrook, Masters, Danish Kaneria, Chambers, Gallian, Wright, Phillips, Chopra.