David East was an ever-present in the Essex side which were so dominant in domestic cricket in the 1980s, and he typified the kind of cricketer which underpinned their success. As a wicketkeeper-batsman he succeeded Neil Smith and quickly secured his place. In eight full seasons he made four hundreds, although he was less effective as a late-order biffer in the one-day game. After retiring he retained his links with the county, becoming their chief executive.
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