Essex v Surrey
Vitality County Championship
The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 September 2024 | 10:30am start
After six months, 35 matches across all formats, 14 different venues, and with 24 different players used, Essex’s 2024 season comes to an end this week when Surrey visit The Cloud County Ground.
It will be the first time since 2021 that the Eagles have concluded the season at home, and in fact the first time since 2020 that Anthony McGrath’s side have not faced Northamptonshire in the final game.
Some in the Essex camp may rue the end of the season, with the Eagles on a roll that has brought two consecutive innings victories, including last week’s two-day win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
In that match, Jamie Porter became the first Essex bowler in almost 25 years to claim 500 first-class wickets when he bowled Craig Miles in the Bears’ second innings.
Porter’s exploits with the ball helped Essex twice bowl out Warwickshire cheaply, skittling them for 78 in the first innings before running through them again, including Porter’s 500th scalp, for 114.
It helped Essex to victory by an innings and 40 runs, and will give McGrath’s charges great confidence of ending the season strongly when Surrey visit Chelmsford.
Squad
Director of Cricket McGrath has named a 13-strong squad for the Eagles’ final match of 2024.
Michael Pepper misses out after sustaining a finger injury against Warwickshire, meaning that Adam Rossington, who has fully recovered from his own injury, returns to the squad.
The Inside Line: Anthony McGrath
The Opposition
By winning the County Championship for the third time in a row, Surrey have pulled off a feat not achieved since 1968, when Yorkshire lifted the title on three consecutive occasions.
The Brown Caps have been all-conquering over the past three seasons, losing just five games in total out of 41, and this year have seen off the challenge posed by Somerset with a game to spare.
There was much conjecture that there might be a tight title race after the West Country side defeated Surrey in dramatic circumstances in Taunton two weeks ago.
However, a sizeable home win for Gareth Batty’s side over Durham in the last round of fixtures, coupled with defeat for Somerset against Lancashire at Old Trafford, handed Surrey the title.
Captain Rory Burns has led the way with the bat in Surrey’s third successive victorious campaign, notching 1,057 runs at 55.63, with his opening partner Dominic Sibley in second on 707 at 39.27.
Meanwhile, Dan Worrall has claimed 52 wickets at an average of just 16.15 to be the side’s best bowler, ahead of the 38 at 25.97 apiece taken by Jordan Clark.
Surrey squad: TBC
Last Time We Met
Surrey came out on top of a rain-affected clash at the Kia Oval in July last time the sides met, benefitting from Essex’s enforced loss of Jordan Cox to win by 145 runs.
Cox was taken to hospital with a medical emergency after Day One of the match and played no further part in it, leaving Essex a batter short as they were dismissed for 180 in their first innings.
That was in reply to Surrey’s 262, achieved thanks to Jamie Smith’s century and despite three wickets apiece for Shane Snater and Eathan Bosch.
Essex did sense an opening when bowling again by reducing the hosts to 127-6, still only 209 ahead, but Ryan Patel’s counter-attacking hundred hoisted the Brown Caps to a loftier 278 all out.
In between frequent rain interruptions, Bosch again took three wickets to return match figures of 6/109, but Patel, who was last out, hit 107 to help haul Surrey to a lead of 360.
It was a target that proved too much for the Eagles, as in spite of Dean Elgar’s 60 and Paul Walter’s battling 56, they were dismissed for 215 as Surrey took the points.
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.
Essex Members can purchase £5 guest tickets for all four days of this fixture and must do so online or over the phone in advance.
On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September (days three and four of the fixture), advanced Adult tickets can be purchased at the reduced rate of £12 using code FINALE25W and kids (U18) can attend free of charge with a valid ‘Free U18’ matchday ticket which can be claimed on the ticketing site.
For all other days, advanced tickets are available online for £16 Adults [£20 on the gate], £12 for Students/Young Adults (18-25) [£12 on the gate] and £6 for Juniors (U18s).
All complimentary and discounted tickets must be acquired in advance and cannot be claimed at the gate.
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.
