Director of Cricket Anthony McGrath has departed Essex after nearly nine years on the Club’s coaching staff.
Having previously been an assistant to Chris Silverwood during the Eagles’ steamroller-like march to the 2017 Championship title, his subsequent spell as Head Coach in particular glittered with silverware.
The Eagles won three trophies in the space of two years, including a historic and as-yet-unmatched T20 Blast-County Championship double in 2019, under his leadership.
In honour of the 49-year-old’s time at The Cloud County Ground, this is a look back at an over of his most memorable moments with Essex.
1) County Champions Again, 2019
Having already lifted the Championship trophy as part of Silverwood’s staff in 2017, the pupil became the master two years later as McGrath led Essex to another title.
Simon Harmer did what he does best to lead the way in the wicket-taking charts with 83, while Alastair Cook hit 913 runs as the Eagles finished 11 points clear of Somerset at the top of the tree.
Just 48 hours after also winning the Vitality Blast, Essex headed to Taunton for a crucial showdown that would decide the destination of the trophy, and they dug in for a crucial draw to bring it back to Chelmsford.
2) Record Breakers, 2022
On a glorious evening in July last year, the Eagles put Glamorgan to the sword in racking up their highest-ever T20 score, which was at the time, also the fourth-highest ever seen in the domestic English competition.
A total of 43 boundaries were hit in the Essex innings, 19 of which were sixes, as the Welsh outfit wilted, with four of their five bowlers going at more than ten per over and every home batter striking at a rate of at least 160.
In response, captain Sam Northeast put up a valiant fight with an unbeaten 97 from 56 balls, but no one was able to match the Eagles’ fireworks as the visitors finished well short on 185-7 to give Essex victory by 69 runs.
3) Vitality Blast Triumph, 2019
Three years before that, McGrath masterminded the first part of the famed double as his side beat Worcestershire in the 2019 Vitality Blast final to be crowned short-format kings of England for the first time.
Having seen off Finals Day debutants Derbyshire Falcons in the semi-final by 34 runs, with Cameron Delport hitting 55 and Simon Harmer snaring 4/19, a date with destiny was set for the evening.
The Rapids, who were defending champions, set a target of 145-9, which Essex overhauled in thrilling fashion as Harmer hit the winning four off the very last ball of the chase, to spark manic celebrations in Birmingham.
4) Return To Finals Day, 2023
Four years later, the Eagles triumphantly returned for another Finals Day outing, as McGrath led his side to a dramatic two-wicket win over Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston.
Shane Snater sensationally struck Oliver Hannon-Dalby for six in the final over to eke out a two-wicket win for the visitors, tensely chasing down a target of 168 with one ball to spare.
The victory sealed a trip back to the same venue in England’s Second City a little over a week later, where Essex would make it all the way to the final.
5) Lifting The Bob Willis Trophy, 2020
In the strangest of years, the most unusual of competitions was born, as the severely-shortened 2020 season saw the creation of the Bob Willis Trophy.
Although Essex were officially unable to defend their 2019 Championship title, they again saw off Somerset, this time in the final at Lord’s, to retain their status as the best red-ball side in the country.
The rain-affected match did end in a draw, but by virtue of having scored more first-innings runs – 337 to Somerset’s 301 – it was McGrath’s Eagles that lifted another trophy.
6) Coach of the Year, 2019
Following the lifting of both the Championship and the Blast titles in 2019 in a feat that had never been achieved before or repeated since, McGrath was voted by his peers as Coach of the Year.
The Eagles did the unprecedented double with McGrath at the helm in the space of six days, first seeing off Worcestershire in the T20 final before a draw with Somerset sealed the red-ball title.
The award, which is presented by the ECB Coaches’ Association – an organisation for all coaches from the recreational game up – was given to McGrath at the 2019 Lord’s Long Room Christmas Lunch.
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.
