The countdown to the 2023 season has officially begun with the announcement of the fixtures, starting with four days at the home of cricket on 06 April before the players get their first runout at Chelmsford the following week.
You can view the fixtures now by clicking here and you can download them straight to your mobile phone and digital device calendar via eCal, by clicking here.
With the structure of the domestic game remaining unchanged in 2023, the fixture schedule for next season follows a similar pattern to 2022 with six rounds of LV= Insurance County Championship games during April and May, the Vitality Blast dominating a large chunk of June and July and the One-Day Cup being played throughout August before the final on 16 September.
LV= Insurance County Championship
Essex will begin their pursuit of the County Championship title at Lord’s on 06 April before playing their first game at home against Lancashire on 13 April. The opening six rounds of red-ball cricket will begin on Thursdays with Essex’s other home fixture in this block coming against Surrey on 04 May. Other dates to note are an away fixture against Kent on 20 April and a trip to newly promoted Nottinghamshire on 18 May before attention turns to the white ball.
There will be five rounds of Championship cricket played in June and July with Essex hosting Somerset on Sunday 11 June and Warwickshire on Sunday 25 June, before we host rivals Kent on 19 July with the final day set to fall on a Saturday. In a contender for ‘away trip of the season’, Essex are down to face Lancashire at the historic ground of Blackpool in a game starting on 10 July.
One-Day Cup final aside, the season will again culminate in three final rounds of the Championship played in September. Middlesex are the visitors for the first game of the month on 04 September before Hampshire also visit The Cloud County Ground on 19 September. The season will again finish with a trip to Northants on 26 September.
Vitality Blast
In a similar vein to 2022, the Vitality Blast will get underway in May with Essex’s first game coming in front of a home crowd under lights on Tuesday 30 May against Gloucestershire. The first Friday night T20 at Chelmsford falls on the same week as the Eagles face Hampshire Hawks on 02 June with two more home Friday night fixtures following on 16 June against Glamorgan and 30 June against Middlesex, the final home game of the Vitality Blast group stages.
The Eagles round off the T20 group stage with an away trip to The Kia Oval on 02 July before the Quarter Finals are played on the 06 and 07 July. Finals Day is due to take place on Saturday 15 July.
One-Day Cup
The groups for the 2023 One-Day Cup have been announced with Essex being drawn against Hampshire, Kent Spitfires, Lancashire, Leicestershire Foxes, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey and Yorkshire Vikings.
After last year’s washout, the Eagles will again get a shot at opening their account at Sedburgh as they face Lancashire at the picturesque ground on 01 August. Two days later, 50-over cricket returns to Chelmsford as the Eagles play Nottinghamshire on 03 August.
After a trip to Hampshire on 08 August, Eagles fans can enjoy back-to-back home games against Middlesex and Yorkshire Vikings on 11 and 13 August, a Friday and a Sunday. Other notable fixtures include a rare away trip to Leicestershire, the last time the two sides met in List A cricket was in 2014, and a trip over the bridge to play Kent.
The final One-Day Cup group stage fixture will be hosted at The Cloud County Ground against Surrey on 22 August before the knockout stages commence on 25 August. The One-Day Cup final will be held on 16 September at Trent Bridge.
Also at The Cloud County Ground
Ireland will begin their tour of England with a three-day match against Essex played at Chelmsford from Friday 26 May to Sunday 28 May.
That’s not it for International cricket at Chelmsford as England Women will return to their favoured ground on Saturday 02 September in a Vitality Women’s IT20 against Sri Lanka.
The Sunrisers are back in 2023 and will be playing five games at Chelmsford as they look for success in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup. Their first game at the ground falls on Saturday 29 April against The Blaze, formerly known as Loughborough Lightning.
2023 Membership & Tickets
Membership for the 2023 season is on sale to new and renewing Members with everyone who becomes a Member before 31 January receiving an Early Bird discounted price. Renewing Members will receive an additional discount.
Membership comes with entry to LV= Insurance County Championship and One-Day Cup home games, priority access to Vitality Blast tickets, voting rights and invites to exclusive events.
Tickets will go on sale in early 2023 with those who purchase before Wednesday 03 May receiving a discounted Early Bird price. A full list of key dates are below:
• Members’ Priority: from Thursday 12 January (10am)
• Blast Pass: from Thursday 19 January (10am)
• 2022 ticket buyers: from Thursday 26 Janury (10am)
• Over & Out! e-news subscribers: from Monday 06 February (10am)
• General sale – Tuesday 21 February (10am)
• End of Early Bird – Wednesday 03 May
2023 Hospitality
Hospitality packages are now on sale for 2023 and your first chance to secure seats for a summer of cricket at Chelmsford next year.
Essex Cricket have teamed up with Premium Ticket and Hospitality platform, Seat Unique to offer you the ultimate experience during your visit to The Cloud County Ground.
Browse and purchase the perfect hospitality package using our new online site.
