Essex’s full 2018 fixture list was announced today, with the County Champions starting the season against Yorkshire at Emerald Headingley in April.
Head Coach Anthony McGrath will take his side back to his old stomping ground to kick off proceedings, before travelling back to Chelmsford for an opening home Championship match against Lancashire.
The visit of the Red Rose will be the first time Essex have returned home since the trophy parade in September, and a big crowd is expected to greet the County Champions on Friday 20 April.
The Eagles will return to One-Day Cup action with a visit to Radlett to take on Middlesex on 17 May, with Essex looking to go one further than 2017’s semi-final appearance.
The opening One-Day Cup fixture will be followed by trips to Gloucestershire and Hampshire, before three home games against Somerset, Surrey and Glamorgan.
Play-off dates will take place in June, should Essex progress, with the final once again being held at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s, on 30 June.
Essex Eagles’ T20 Blast campaign begins with a home fixture against Sussex Sharks at Fortress Chelmsford, followed by the visit of Middlesex just two days later for the first of the Friday Nights, Under Lights.
There will be brief interludes in the Blast for Championship fixtures, and in particular for the visit of Number One Test team India, for a four-day fixture beginning on 25 July.
The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravi Ashwin will all travel to Chelmsford as India prepare for their Test series against England.
The Blast will be concluded with a trip to Canterbury to take on Battle of the Bridge rivals, Kent Spitfires, and Essex will hope to be in contention for a quarter-final place, and potential Finals Day on Saturday 15 September.
Ryan ten Doeschate’s team conclude the Championship season at Chelmsford with a visit from newly-promoted Worcestershire.
Essex’s title defence will then be finished at the Kia Oval, with the squad hoping to lift that gold trophy, once again in front of the travelling Essex supporters.
Tickets & Hospitality Packages
Tickets for the 2018 fixtures will be available in the New Year but hospitality packages are on sale across all formats including the popular T20 Blast Beer & Balti packages! For more information on Hospitality 2018 – View Here.
We hope to see you at The Cloudfm County Ground in 2018!
