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Essex v Nottinghamshire

Vitality County Championship

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Monday 09 – Thursday 12 September 2024 | 10:30am start

Team News

Essex: Dean Elgar, Robin Das, Tom Westley*, Matt Critchley, Luc Benkenstein, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper+, Shane Snater, Simon Harmer, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter

Nottinghamshire: Haseeb Hameed*, Ben Slater, Freddie McCann, Joe Clarke, Jack Haynes, Kyle Verreynne, Lyndon James, Liam Patterson-White, Luke Fletcher, Robert Lord, Farhan Ahmed

Match Details

Umpires: Peter Hartley & Rob White
Match Referee: Dean Cosker
Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Roger Marshall
Toss: Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to field first

Scorecard: View here

Watch Live

Enter the ballot for international tickets

The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.

In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.

What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.

Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.

You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.

The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.

Essex v Nottinghamshire

Vitality County Championship

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Monday 09 – Thursday 12 September 2024 | 10:30am start

 
For only the second time this season, Essex take on back-to-back home Vitality County Championship games when Nottinghamshire visit The Cloud County Ground from Monday.

With the campaign now in its final month, play on each day, as with the two other matches still to come in September, will begin at the slightly earlier time of 10:30am.

For the Eagles, a second match in Chelmsford in the space of eight days will be an opportunity to bounce back after suffering a 43-run defeat against Worcestershire last time out.

In spite of Jamie Porter’s day one heroics that saw him claim the 19th five-wicket haul of his first-class career, Essex fell short of chasing down a fourth-innings target on day four against the Pears.

Visitors Nottinghamshire held Surrey to a run-soaked draw at Trent Bridge last time out, and are scrapping to avoid relegation from the top flight.

Now, Anthony McGrath’s side will go in search of a fifth Championship victory of the season as the 2024 campaign enters its final stretch.

Squad

Director of Cricket McGrath has named an unchanged 13-strong squad to take on the visitors from the East Midlands.

The Inside Line: Sam Cook

The Opposition

In spite of some eye-catching additions in the lead-up to 2024, Nottinghamshire have found themselves fighting at the wrong end of Division One for much of the campaign.

Seamers Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington, and batter Jack Haynes all made the move to Trent Bridge from Worcestershire in the winter with great promise.

Although injuries have meant the former is yet to debut for the Green and Golds, the latter pair have been as-yet-unable to inspire an especially memorable season.

Peter Moores’ side head into the final three matches of the season in eighth, having won just one match this year – against Lancashire in May – and just ten points above the drop zone.

Captain Haseeb Hameed has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season, hitting 909 runs at an average of 53.47 to lead the run-scoring charts ahead of Joe Clarke, on 807, and Ben Slater’s 714.

Pennington, to his credit, is the side’s leading wicket-taker with 31 at 23.80 apiece, while all-rounder Lyndon James is second with 23 and Dane Paterson rounds out the top three with 20.

Nottinghamshire squad:TBC

Last Time We Met

Essex sealed a memorable 254-run victory at Trent Bridge in April, in the first match of the 2024 season, on the last occasion of the two sides meeting in first-class cricket.

Sam Cook demonstrated a mastery of the Kookaburra ball that no other bowler in the country could match as he claimed a hat-trick in the first innings and finished with match figures of 10/73.

That included an electrifying 6/14 in the second innings as the hosts, chasing 335, crumbled to 80 all out midway through the fourth afternoon.

The target had been set after a nip-and-tuck first two days that saw debutants Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox both hit half-centuries as Essex, batting first after being inserted, post a first innings 253 all out.

Notts responded with 293, underpinned by Joe Clarke’s century, but their score was somewhat derailed, in no small part by Cook’s hat-trick, from the 259-4 they had earlier stood at.

Matt Critchley and Paul Walter then combined in the Eagles’ second innings with a stand of 132 to hoist the visitors from a tricky 129-5, setting up Cook to rattle through Notts and start 2024 with a win.

Division One Table

How To Watch

If you are not able to make it to The Cloud County Ground in person, the game will be streamed live on the EssexCricketTV YouTube channel and available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone.

A report and reaction will be published on the Club website after each day’s play via the Club website, while live updates and daily highlights will be provided on the Club’s social media channels.

Tickets

Members of both counties are free to sit in any available and vacant seat, though the Doug Insole Pavilion benches and blocks 1-14 and 27-31 are reserved specifically for their use.

Meanwhile, general admission advance tickets are priced at £16 for adults, while young adults aged between 18 and 25 can buy at any time for £12 and under-18 tickets cost just £6.

A family ticket, covering two adults and two children, costs just £35, while a four-day ticket covering the entire match can be purchased over the phone for £44.

Please note that these two types of ticket are only available in advance of the fixture, and that individual adult tickets will rise in price to £20 if bought on the day.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 01245 254010 or by visiting the link below:

Enter the ballot for international tickets

The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.

In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.

What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.

Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.

You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.

The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.

Essex are set for the second of two back-to-back home games in the Vitality County Championship for the visit of Nottinghamshire.

The match is a chance for Tom Westley’s team to bounce back against a side who are desperately trying to stay in Division One with three rounds of red-ball matches to go in the 2024 season.

Read our spectator guide which gives supporters all the information needed for matchday at The Cloud County Ground. As we head into the September fixtures, matches will now begin at 10:30am.

Gates Opening Times:

Gates open from 9:30am on all four days via the Main Entrance on New Writtle Street or the Tees River Gate, which is closest to Chelmsford City Centre and the Bus/Train Stations.

Scheduled Hours of Play:

Toss (Day One): 10am
Morning Session: 10:30am-12:30pm
Afternoon Session: 1:10pm-3:10pm
Evening Session: 3:30pm-5:30pm
Close of Play: 5:30pm

Members Entry & Matchday Tickets:

Vitality County Championship cricket is part of the 2024 Membership and Members are required to scan cards on entry.

Supporters visiting individual matchdays can purchase discounted tickets in advance to speed up entry into the ground.

Advanced tickets are available online at £16 for Adults [£20 on the gate], £12 for Students/Young Adults (18-25) [£12 on the gate] and £6 for Juniors (U18s).

These can be purchased online via the following link or by phone (01245 254010) in person at The Cloud County Ground.

Tickets will also be available on the gates from 9:30am each day and this is strictly card sales only. Post-lunch tickets are priced £11 for Adults, with entry free of charge after the scheduled Tea break.

Matchday Purchases:

The Cloud County Ground is a cashless ground, which includes purchasing tickets and scorecards on the gates, plus food and drink purchases in the Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas.

Scorecards will be available for £1 on the gates via contactless payment, however, cash purchases can be made in the Essex Cricket Store.

Accessibility:

Accessible Parking:
Accessible car parking spaces are located at The Cloud County Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that these cannot be pre-booked before visiting to provide an equal opportunity for all supporters.

Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating can be found in the Graham Gooch End (formerly Hayes Close End) of the ground and a wheelchair-accessible platform is located in Block One of the Tom Pearce Stand.

Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge. This is upon the presentation in the Membership & Ticketing Office or on the gate with proof of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16 years old.

Accessible Facilities:
New accessible toilet facilities located by Block 31 will be open for all spectators this season. Additional toilets for wheelchair users are located at the rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion and main scoreboard.

We can also accept a Blue Badge and Access card.

Accessible Toilets:
Wheelchair-accessible toilets are located behind the main scorecard (Red Area), rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion (Blue Area) and adjacent to Block 25 at County Corner (Green Area).

Ahead of Your Visit:

In the event of adverse weather conditions on the day of the match, please keep up to date with the prospects of play via the Club’s X and Facebook channels.

Please note that the Prospect of Play phone line is no longer in use and all updates will be available online via the official social media channels.

Travel:

Parking:
• Spectators travelling by car will need to locate a public car park in the proximity of the ground as there is no parking available on-site at The Cloud County Ground.

• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open across all four days. View opening hours and tariffs for city centre public car parks – here

• The Meteor Way car park will be available for Members’ to book during the 2024 season. There are a limited number of spaces available at Meteor Way and we advise that Members pre-book for £2 as spaces aren’t guaranteed to be available on the day and the price of parking on the day will increase to £3.

Season Passes for the Vitality County Championship have now sold out along with all pre-booked spaces for Friday 17 May. Please note, spaces for day one (Sunday 22 June) are sold out.

Meteor Way parking for Days One and Two of this match are sold out, however a limited number of spaces will be available on the day on a first come, first served basis. Advanced parking for Day Three is still available to book – here.

The car park is open three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis. Meteor Way car park will close 30 minutes after the end of play.

Public Transport:
• Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the county. Alternatively, bus numbers 13, 46 and C1 shuttles, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the Ground, via New Writtle Street.

• Chelmsford Railway Station, managed by Greater Anglia, is about a 10-minute stroll from The Cloud County Ground. Direct train services depart regularly from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline.

Ground Entry:

• Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate.

• For the safety of everyone at the ground, there will be bag checks in operation and security present throughout the fixture.

• In the event of rain forecast on the day of the match, spectators can bring a small umbrella into the ground but metal spiked umbrellas are not permitted.

• The Doug Insole Pavilion is open for Members upon the presentation of a valid Membership card and accessible by entering the ground through the Main Gate.

• Members are not required to pre-book a match ticket and can enter by scanning their Membership card on the gate. If you require a replacement card, please get in contact with the Membership & Ticketing Office before the fixture to arrange a replacement or this may cause delays on entry for you and other spectators.

• Entry to this fixture is included in 2024 Membership and encourage Members to arrive in plenty of time to secure your seat. All seating for Championship games is Unallocated and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• There will be an open ground for this match allowing spectators to walk around the whole concourse area at The Cloud County Ground with access to the Club Store and other facilities.

Members will still have access to dedicated Members’ seating areas which will be located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for Members and general public.

General Public Seating:

• Supporters who have purchased tickets can enter the ground by scanning the QR on your tickets that has been sent to you via email following your purchase. If you choose to print out your ticket, please ensure that the match details (including name and seat details) are included as per the image below. Make sure you have your match ticket available on your phone or printed out so it is easily accessible for ticket scanning on arrival. Please do not take a ‘screen grab’ of your QR code as that will not be read by the scanners.

• Ticket holders can sit in all areas of the ground for this match, except for the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower stands.

Around the Ground:

• Spectators are welcome to enter the pitch during the lunch & tea breaks when instructed over PA or by a member of the Club’s stewarding team. Please follow the guidance to the specific areas permitted to enter and please respect the playing surface. We encourage spectators to play on the outfield but please use softballs.

• Spectators are permitted to walk around the full concourse area with better access to the Club Store and other facilities.

Members will still have exclusive access to dedicated Members’ seating areas, which are located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for both Members and general public.

Please note that seating for Vitality County Championship fixtures is unallocated so will be available on a first come, first served basis.

• Spectators are permitted to move behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players’ area and walkway.

• A faith and reflection room is available for all spectators who wish to use this facility. It is open for the duration of the match and located within the Graham Gooch Cricket Centre.

• The Membership & Ticketing Office and Club Store will be open for spectators for the duration of your visit.

• The Club Store will also be open at the Tees River Gate for this match, selling a wide range of reduced items priced from £10-£30.

• The Peter Edwards Museum & Library is located on-site adjacent to the Essex Cricket Store and will be open for the duration of the game.

Visit during the match to view the exhibition on the career of Nasser Hussain and entry is free of charge.

• If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloud County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or text ‘CROWD’ including your stand and issue to 60066.

• Free Wi-Fi is available at The Cloud County Ground for every matchday giving supporters the opportunity to access the internet and the Club’s live stream online. Simply logon to ‘EC-Public’ from your seat to access.

Food & Drink:

• At the Doug Insole Pavilion, you can enjoy a diverse selection of hot and cold beverages from the bar, along with a variety of snacks for purchase.

• Anne’s Pantry will be offering a choice of home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Graham Gooch End and Sir Alastair Cook End.

They will be serving a range of meals suitable for all dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as children’s portions.

• Other refreshment kiosks include bar areas located at either end of the ground in County Corner and Spinners Bar, serving drinks and snacks.

• Spectators can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture but please ensure all bags can be stored underneath your seat. A limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person is in place for this fixture and there is strictly no glass or sharp objects permitted into the ground.

• Please note that facilities in the County Corner area of the ground will be closed on Day Four of this fixture and please make sure you bring a suitable method of card payment for your visit.

Leaving the Ground:

At the conclusion of the day’s play, we ask spectators to leave the ground in a safe and patient manner. Stewards will be on hand to help direct you safely out of the ground.

We hope you have an enjoyable visit to The Cloud County Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on www.essexcricket.org.uk ahead of the match.

Get in touch with us by email if you have any further questions at [email protected] or via the Club’s official Twitter and Facebook channels.

Watch The Action On the Move

Our live stream will be available to watch over the four days with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary courtesy of BBC Essex. Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live ahead of the toss on Day One, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.

Visit Matchzone

Essex Cricket have entered into a three-year partnership with Smile Group Travel, which will see the worldwide sports tour operator become the provider of choice for all Pathway and Women’s team tours.

In addition, several selected school competitions will be sponsored by Smile, and prizes for the winners will be provided by the company.

Smile branding will be visible across Essex Cricket channels, including the big screen at all Men’s and Women’s First XI fixtures at The Cloud County Ground.

Daryl Townson, Commercial Manager at Essex Cricket, said: “It’s wonderful to partner with Smile Group Travel as we look to expand the Club’s portfolio of partners.

“This announcement is especially exciting as, ahead of the new professional Essex Women’s team which is coming in 2025, this is our first partnership focused on that area of the Club.

“We are very much looking forward to working with Smile, with our new professional Women’s team and our Pathway players set to benefit.”

“I’m delighted to have agreed this partnership with Essex, particularly being from here,” added Smile Group owner Graeme Walker.

“Cricket is a lifelong passion for me, and I can see huge opportunities for the partnership at all levels of the sport.

“Smile are vastly experienced in organising tours, especially cricket, to all parts of the world and we are committed to providing fantastic experiences at all levels.

“The keys for us are to promote cricket and help as many people as possible have the joyous experience of a Smile tour.”

To help launch the partnership, Smile are organising a trip at the end of February 2025 to Barbados with Essex legends Graham Napier and John Lever as tour hosts.

The tour includes flights and accommodation, a VIP Sandy Lane Gold Cup horse racing day experience, as well as numerous social events that include the opportunity to play golf and cricket.

The tour will be a wonderful experience for all lovers of sunshine and with Smile’s exceptional ground team, travellers are guaranteed to see the very best of the paradise island of Barbados.

The event is open to everyone, although Essex Members will be able to take advantage of the offer of a free catamaran cruise whilst on the island.

Contact Graeme and his team via [email protected] or on 01708 948817 to discuss this special offer further.

Enter the ballot for international tickets

The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.

In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.

What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.

Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.

You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.

The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.

The competition names of the Vitality Blast and the Metro Bank One Day Cup have aligned with women’s cricket from 2025 to drive professionalism and growth.

Men’s and women’s professional domestic T20 and 50-over competitions will be fully aligned for the first time next season in further steps to fuel the growth and reach of women’s professional cricket.

The move will see men’s and women’s teams competing side by side in the Vitality Blast and the Metro Bank One Day Cup from the 2025 season.

The eight women’s Tier One professional county teams will compete in the Vitality Blast women’s competition and Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition, played alongside the Vitality Blast men’s competition and Metro Bank One Day Cup men’s competition.

The development comes in collaboration with ECB’s partners, health and life insurer Vitality and Metro Bank, as they continue to work with the ECB to invest in, grow and support the women’s game, seeking to inspire many more women and girls to play and watch the game.

The aligning of the men’s and women’s competitions and the decision from Vitality and Metro Bank to further their ongoing support for women’s domestic cricket signifies the next step in the game’s evolving professionalism.

The new professional structure will see £8m new funding per year being invested into women’s domestic cricket by 2027 – taking annual investment in this area to c.£19m – and could produce an 80% increase in the number of professional female players in England and Wales by 2029.

Like the Vitality Blast Men’s Finals Day, the women’s competition will culminate in a Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day, while the men’s and women’s Metro Bank One Day Cup competitions will each have two semi-finals and a flagship final.

Competition schedules and venues will be announced later this year, with the expectation that men’s and women’s double headers are likely to form some part of the aligned Vitality Blast schedule.

In addition, the eight women’s Tier One professional county teams have confirmed their names ahead of the new season.

In the Metro Bank One Day Cup the eight women’s teams will compete as: Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire and The Blaze.

In the Vitality Blast the eight women’s teams will compete as: Birmingham Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey and The Blaze.

A knock-out cup competition consisting of teams from all three tiers of the expanded women’s domestic structure will also form part of the 2025 schedule. The aim of the cup competition is to provide all Counties with the opportunity to compete against each other, play at some of the country’s biggest venues, and give players across the pyramid the chance to test their skills on an elevated platform.

Director of the Women’s Professional Game Beth Barrett-Wild said: “A big driver for the re-organisation of women’s professional cricket has been to enable us to better use the leverage and existing scale of men’s county cricket to accelerate fanbase growth for our women’s teams and players.

“Looking ahead to the 2025 season, we’re therefore really excited to fully align our men’s and women’s domestic white-ball competitions for the first time.

“The next step in the growth of the women’s professional game is to produce commercially vibrant and visible teams and competitions that excite fans and continue to showcase the quality of women’s cricket.

“As we have seen through The Hundred and alignment of our England Men’s and England Women’s teams, we believe that by putting our men’s and women’s competitions and players on the same platform we can exponentially increase the reach of the women’s domestic game and intensify the depth of feeling fans have for our women’s teams moving forwards.

“I’d like to thank both Charlotte Edwards and the family of Rachael Heyhoe Flint for allowing us to name our two domestic trophies the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy during this first chapter in the professionalisation of women’s domestic cricket.

“There are no two women in the history of the game in this country who are more synonymous with and symbolic of the progress that has been made in recent times, and it was truly fitting that their names be lent to our first women’s professional competitions across the 2020 to 2024 seasons.

“Teams in the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition will compete to lift the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy.”

Neville Koopowitz, CEO at Vitality, longstanding supporter of men’s and women’s cricket and title partner of the Vitality Blast women’s competition and men’s competition, said: “The power of sport and activity to change and help people live healthier lives is at the very centre of what we do.

“Having role models and people you identify with playing at the very highest level of cricket is important in helping increase participation of the game at every level.

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of close collaboration with the ECB and our commitment to further invest in the game in a way that brings about greater visibility and further growth within women’s cricket and women’s sport in general.

“This is undoubtedly an important moment and step in pushing for greater equality and further professionalising the women’s game.”

Danielle Lee, Brand and Marketing Director at Metro Bank, Official Champion of Women’s and Girls’ Cricket and title partner of the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition and men’s competition, said: “We’re thrilled that our support for the game, that spans from recreational cricket up to England Women, will now extend to the naming of the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition.

“At Metro Bank we’re committed to driving transformational growth of girls’ cricket, and through this evolution in the women’s professional game we hope to see even more role models for young girls wanting to get into and stay in cricket.”

Enter the ballot for international tickets

In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.

What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.

Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.

You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.

The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.

The four-player shortlist for August’s wefinanceanycar.com Player of the Month has been revealed.

A huge amount of cricket was played throughout the month, as the Eagles competed on red- and white-ball fronts with both Metro Bank One Day Cup and Vitality County Championship matches.

Remind yourself of the standout performances from the four contenders and cast your vote in the poll below, with one lucky voter set to receive a signed replica shirt from the winning player.

The Contenders

Jamie Porter

A cornerstone of Essex cricket over the past decade, Porter continued to showcase his value to the Eagles as he returned from an injury lay-off in the middle of August.

Bowling at an economy rate of just 3.93 per over, he claimed seven wickets in three One Day Cup matches, including a four-for in the final game against Sussex.

Returning to the Championship side, Porter then rounded out the month with another five-wicket haul in the first innings against Worcestershire.

Luc Benkenstein

Leg-spinning all-rounder Benkenstein shone with the bat in the early part of August, and took on the role of opener in the final two matches of the One Day Cup with aplomb.

He particularly enjoyed playing by the sea, top-scoring with 68 against Yorkshire in Scarborough, before following it up with a swift 49 against Sussex in Hove.

Jamal Richards

Having worked especially hard on remodelling his bowling armoury during the last winter, Richards reaped the rewards during the entire One Day Cup campaign.

His white-ball zenith in 2024 came in Nottingham in the Eagles’ penultimate match, where he returned 5/31 for a maiden white-ball five-wicket haul.

Robin Das

The other half of the Eagles’ new-look opening partnership alongside Benkenstein for the final two One Day Cup games, Das also profited heavily in white-ball cricket.

He posted his first List A century with a magnificent unbeaten 100 against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge, less than a week after hitting 67 in Scarborough.

Das capped a fine individual month by being called into the Championship side for matches against Hampshire and Worcestershire, applying himself well to total 83 runs in those matches.

Vote for your wefinanceanycar.com Player of the Month for August

The full terms and conditions for the competition can be found here.

Enter the ballot for international tickets

The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.

In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.

What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.

Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.

You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.

The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.

Ben Allison has signed for Worcestershire on a permanent basis from the start of the 2025 season.

The 24-year-old bowling all-rounder has played a combined 54 matches in all formats for Essex since making his First Team debut in September 2020 against Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast.

A native of Colchester, he came through Essex’s Player Pathway and, other than short loan spells to Worcestershire and Gloucestershire where he made his first-class debut in 2019, he has spent his entire career with the Eagles.

Allison has taken 54 wickets for Essex, with a first-class innings best of 5/32, while as a lower-order batter, he has hit 513 runs with three red-ball fifties.

“The decision to leave has been incredibly difficult. I’ve been with the Club since I was eight years old, and I love it here.

“But at the same time, I need to think about my career development, and right now, that means I need to be playing more cricket. While it’s a tough decision, I believe it’s the right one for my career.

“I am indebted to the many coaches I have worked with during my time at Essex and they have each played their part in my development so far. In particular, I owe a huge amount to Barry Hyam who has been instrumental in my career so far and has given me valuable support throughout my journey since under 9’s cricket.

“Lastly, I would like to thank the Members and supporters who have given me support whenever I have played. I grew up supporting the Club so to wear the shirt as a First Team player has been a huge honour.”

Essex Director of Cricket, Anthony McGrath, said: “We’re obviously disappointed to lose a player of Ben’s calibre, especially as he is also a great member of the dressing room, but we understand his reasons for wanting to explore a new challenge elsewhere.

“We are grateful for his efforts in an Essex shirt across all formats of the game, and we wish him the best of luck for the future.”

Enter the ballot for international tickets

In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.

What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.

Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.

You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.

The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.

Essex Women v Kent Women

Battle of the Bridge T20

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Monday 02 September 2024 | 6:30pm

Team News

Essex Women: Grace Poole, Jasmine Westley, Bella Howarth, Kelly Castle*, Amu Surenkumar, Matilda Callaghan, Jess Bird, Sophia Mitchell, Sally Chapman, Esmae MacGregor, Prisha Bedi, Millie Rawlins+.

Kent Women: Megan Belt*, Charlotte Pape, Coco Streets, Emily Thompson+, Ella Darlington, Zeena Bilal, Liv Barnes, Genevieve Jeer, Izzy Kirby, Naomi Scott, Kaya Clark, Daisy Brandon.

Match Details

Umpires: Tracey Murphy & Paul Richardson
Scorers: Jo Johnson & Lin Martin
Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bat first
Result: Essex won by 18 runs

Scorecard: View here

Match Report

Words: Alice Hunt

Amu Surenkumar’s strong batting display helped Essex to victory over rivals Kent in the Battle of the Bridge at The Cloud County Ground.

Despite two wickets apiece for Kent’s Daisy Brandon and captain Megan Belt, the hosts were able to post a strong score of 160-6 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

In their final T20 of the summer, Essex were able to protect this score and restrict Kent to 139-4, ending the season on a high.

Kent’s Kaya Clark ended a 69-run partnership scored by Surenkumar and Tilly Callaghan, with the former hitting an impressive 47 runs including seven boundaries.

Captain Kelly Castle and Jasmine Westley also contributed with the bat, scoring 23 and 21 runs respectively.

This came after opener Grace Poole began the Essex innings with intent, with the hosts scoring sixteen runs in the first over of the game – which included a four off the first delivery of the match.

This dominance with the bat continued throughout the innings, with Essex proving too strong for their youthful Kent opponents.

Essex’s intensity continued into the field, where they confined Kent to 139 runs.

This was despite the visitors’ high score of 64, courtesy of opener Ella Darlington.

After starring with the bat, Surenkumar was also responsible for ending Kent’s most prominent partnership of Streets and Darlington, which contributed 48 to their tally.

Wickets were shared between three Essex bowlers, with Esmae McGregor also impressing by taking the key Kent wicket of Darlington.

Despite a determined showing by Kent with the bat, Essex were able to secure the victory in what was a controlled performance with both bat and ball.

Enter the ballot for international tickets

The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.

In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.

What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.

Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.

You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.

The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.