Tony Palladino is a graduate of the UCCE system, having represented Cambridge UCCE from 2003-5, as well as British Universities in 2005. Palladino is a promising seamer, who made his county debut against the touring Zimbabweans in June 2003. The following month, in only his second Championship match he took 6 for 41 against a strong Kent side at Canterbury. His career was held up somewhat by a dislocated shoulder in 2006, but after battling through the ranks of the Essex second XI Palladino earned more game time in the senior team. He also expanded his game by signing for Namibia and representing them in domestic competitions in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and proved particularly effective with the ball in the Stanbic Bank Twenty20 Cup in Zimbabwe in 2009-10. His stock fell at Essex, however, and he played just four first-class games in 2010, failing to cement a place in the first XI bowling attack. He signed a two year contract for Derbyshire after being released by Essex at the end of the 2010 season.
Sam Collins August 2010