With the English winter now settling in, many of the Essex first XI have begun to jet off around the world to ply their trade in sunnier countries.
Five players have headed for domestic clubs in Australia, with a further one also playing local league cricket in South Africa.
Meanwhile, there are nine others taking part on the global franchise and international scene across Australia, India, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa.
This is the first of a series that will track the progress of the Eagles players across the world as the winter wears on.
England U19s in India
Starting in the subcontinent, where three Essex youngsters in Charlie Allison, Luc Benkenstein, and Noah Thain have been selected to be part of the England U19 squad for a quadrangular ODI series.
Also featuring Indian A and B teams, as well as Bangladesh, each side is playing six matches as part of a double-round-robin group, before the top two play one another to crown an overall series champion.
England have so far played both Indian sides, and although they have come away from each having been defeated, all three players have shown flashes of their talent.
Leg-spinner Benkenstein took 2/47 from seven overs against India B, and shone with the bat in hitting a 67-ball 69, during which he was complemented by Thain, who made 32.
The latter did not play against India A, but the Essex representation continued as Allison made 47 and Benkenstein turned in another impressive all-round show, hitting 30 and returning 1/47 from ten overs.
Australian Grade Cricket
Most of the Essex players currently in Australia are based in Victoria, but Nick Browne has opted for a return to Mosman CC, on Sydney’s North Shore.
His best performance thus far was 73 away to Campbelltown Camden in the city’s south-west, but his side still ended up defeated in the two-day match.
On the southern coast, Feroze Khushi is representing Seddon CC, in west-central Melbourne, in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
He has already displayed his panache on two occasions, first hitting a 47-ball 60 against Haig Fawkner, before following it up with 63 off 51 deliveries away to Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School.
Finally, Paul Walter warmed up for the Big Bash League, which begins on 7th December and during which he will play for Brisbane Heat, with a blistering one-match showing for Deepdene Bears in Melbourne’s east.
Opening the batting against Edinburgh, Walter blitzed a stunning 154 from just 107 balls, striking ten fours and ten sixes, to hand Deepdene a comfortable 115-run victory.
South Africa Club Cricket
Finally, Robin Das arrived in South Africa in early November, and made his debut for Cape Town CC away to Milnerton, in the northern suburbs of the city.
His side were defeated by seven wickets on that occasion, but they hit back the following weekend with a four-wicket victory over Western Province.
Das himself hit 27 from 32 deliveries as Cape Town impressively chased down a target of 190 with 11 overs to spare.
