Essex v Yorkshire
Rothesay County Championship
Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford
Friday 09 – Monday 12 May | 11am start
The match will be an opportunity for spectators to enjoy a Greene King Cask Ale beer festival, with 11 different ales to try over the course of the four days, whilst stocks last.
Squad
Chris Silverwood has named a 12-player squad for our final home match before the Vitality Blast takes centre stage at Chelmsford in June.
Robin Das returns to the matchday squad for the first time in 2025 following Jordan Cox and Paul Walter suffering abdominal muscle and hamstring injuries respectively.
The Inside Line: Noah Thain
The Opposition
Head Coach Anthony McGrath has returned home following nine successful seasons as Essex’s assistant coach, head coach and director of cricket, while ex-international all-rounder Gavin Hamilton has filled the newly-created general manager of cricket post. Seamer Jack White has signed from Northamptonshire, helping replace Surrey-bound Matthew Fisher. New Zealand quick Ben Sears and Australians Jordan Buckingham (seamer) and Will Sutherland (all-rounder) will fulfil overseas duties during the first half of 2025.
A new era at Headingley sees the county under new leadership both on and off the field. Jonny Bairstow’s appointment as their new red-ball captain indicates his availability across the entire campaign – a huge boost for a county who finished second behind Division Two champions Sussex last season courtesy of five wins in their last seven games.
Yorkshire squad: Jonny Bairstow (c), Finlay Bean, Dom Bess, Jordan Buckingham, Ben Coad, Harry Duke, George Hill, Adam Lyth, Dan Moriarty, Matthew Revis, Jonathan Tattersall, Jordan Thompson, James Wharton, Jack White.
Last Time We Met
Sam Cook made history by reaching 200 first-class wickets as Essex secured a dramatic one-wicket victory over Yorkshire at Headingley in 2022. Cook became the first English bowler in over 50 years to achieve this milestone at an average under 20, matching Derbyshire’s Alan Ward in 1971. Cook’s 3/31 helped bowl Yorkshire out for 134 on a rain-affected opening day.
Cook’s performance was complemented by Shane Snater’s 3/39, while Jamie Porter and Ben Allison took two wickets each. Essex’s bowlers capitalised, vindicating captain Tom Westley’s decision to bowl first. Rain prevented further play after tea, with Essex yet to start their innings.
Essex took a 91-run lead after racking up 225 in their innings, thanks to 61 from Dan Lawrence. Shane Snater’s memorable match with the bat started by a destructive 46 runs off 48 balls, with Jordan Thompson the stand-out bowler for Yorkshire, taking 4/60.
Yorkshire, still in relegation danger, fought back in their second innings, posting 252, with Ben Coad’s aggressive 69 helping them recover. However, Essex’s bowlers remained resilient, led by Porter (4/64) and Critchley (3/59).
With a target of 162 for a first Championship win at Headingley since 1984, it was Snater who shined against with the bat smashing a special unbeaten 68 despite Steve Patterson’s 5/46.
Snater’s counter-attacking innings, including a vital 63-run partnership with Ben Allison, turned the tide after Essex slipped from 51/2 to 64/6. As the game hung in the balance with just one wicket remaining, Snater’s composed finish, including the winning run, sealed back-to-back victories for Essex.
Division One Table
How To Watch
If you are unable to attend any of the match days, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, through the YouTube livestream.
Daily highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website and social media. Live updates will also be provided through the Club’s various social platforms and 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 member’s use only.
Should you want have access to Member’s areas during a matchday, we have the ‘Adult Member Area Upgrade’ available at an extra cost to general admission.
Meanwhile, advanced general admission tickets are priced at £16.00 for adults (£22.00 on the day), while young adults aged between 18 and 25 can purchase for £12.00 (£16.00 on the day) and under-18 tickets for £6.00.
Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling 01245 254010.
