Rothesay County Championship action returns to Chelmsford this week as Essex welcome Surrey to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Chris Silverwood and Tom Westley will be looking to get their side back to winning ways against Surrey following the defeat at Somerset in Taunton in the previous round.
A disappointing result to title contenders Somerset after a difficult first innings, but Allison's century and the 212-run partnership with Critchley were the major positives. Essex's second-innings fightback at least forced Somerset to work for the victory rather than collapsing after the follow-on.
Looking ahead to the next fixture, Surrey sit eighth in Division One on 94 points, having won one match and drawing three, while Essex sit in seventh on 107 points, winning four and drawing one.
Chris Silverwood has named a 13-player squad for the clash against Surrey.
Sam Cook is with England Test team ahead of their Test match at Lord's which starts on Thursday 27 August.
Noah Thain has been omitted from the squad as a precaution due to a side strain he has been managing.
Captain: Rory Burns
Head Coach: Gareth Batty
2025 finish: 2nd
2025 leading run-scorer: Dom Sibley (1,274)
2025 leading wicket-taker: Dan Worrall (32)
Championship titles: 22 (most recent in 2024)
Key winter moves: Experienced Australian all-rounder Sean Abbott has rejoined for a fourth spell at the club. Abbott, who turned 34 at the end of February and has 58 white-ball international caps, also played for Surrey in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Head coach Gareth Batty says Abbott, available for all cricket until the end of July, provides both on-field and off-field leadership. Surrey have also brought in India leg-spinner Rahul Chahar for the final eight games of the season. Chahar took 10 wickets on Surrey debut in last September’s win at Hampshire. His 8/51 is the best first-class bowling figures by a debutant for the club, breaking William Mudie’s 166-year-old record when he took 7/61 in 1859.
What we're looking forward to seeing: Surrey are on something of a quest this summer, having been pipped to the Rothesay County Championship title by Nottinghamshire last September. Although frustrated at being beaten by just 20 runs by Notts in what was in effect a title-decider at the Kia Oval in the penultimate round of matches, Surrey’s players and management accept they were not quite at their best last year in a bid for a fourth successive title. They are particularly relishing taking on Notts twice this season.
Aiming to catch selectors' eyes: Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson all start the season with much to prove after underwhelming performances in last winter’s Ashes series, but could both Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence come again at England level?
Final thoughts: Alec Stewart’s return full-time last autumn to the director of cricket role he has held with such distinction at Surrey since 2013 – apart from an 18-month step-back to care for his late wife Lynn, who sadly lost a brave fight against cancer early last summer – has been welcomed by all at the Kia Oval. Players and staff know Stewart will provide the same fierce attention to detail and ‘overview’ leadership that helped to guide Rory Burns’ team to four championships between 2018 and 2024. Can they make it five titles in nine summers?
Surrey squad: Click Here
Essex secured a hard-fought draw against Surrey at the Kia Oval after a high-scoring Rothesay County Championship clash.
Paul Walter’s 101 and Dean Elgar’s 92 helped Essex reach 409 in the first innings, before Noah Thain’s 64 and Simon Harmer’s 41 added valuable runs. Surrey responded with 472, led by centuries from Dom Sibley (101) and Dan Lawrence (125), giving the hosts a 63-run lead.
Essex’s batters then dominated the final day, with captain Tom Westley striking a superb 136 and Dean Elgar unbeaten on 107 as the visitors declared on 302 for two. The result saw both sides take 12 points from a match in which more than 1,100 runs were scored.
The draw rounded off an entertaining four-day contest, with Essex showing considerable resilience with both bat and ball throughout.
Previous Team Lineups
Surrey: Rory Burns (C), Dom Sibley, Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, Ben Foakes (WK), Jordan Clark, Tom Lawes, Sean Abbott, Gus Atkinson, Matt Fisher.
Essex: Paul Walter, Dean Elgar, Tom Westley (C), Charlie Allison, Matt Critchley, Michael Pepper (WK), Noah Thain, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Click here for Part One.
Click here for Part Two.
If you are unable to attend any of the matchdays, the game will be available to watch via the Essex Cricket YouTube livestream. Alternatively, you can keep up to date with the game via our social media channels as we provide live updates.
Follow our Social Channels:
X: /@EssexCricket
Facebook: /Essex County Cricket Club
Instagram: /@EssexCricket
Daily highlights will be available after each day's play via the Club website and social media.
Tickets for all four days at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground are still available to purchase here or by calling 01245 254010.
Play is due to start at 11am with the gates opening at 10am.
Adult tickets are available at the gate for £24 or at a discounted price of £18 if purchased in advance (available until one hour before the start of play). Young adults/students can enter at a price of £12 and juniors for £10 - purchase a Junior ticket and you can apply for a FREE Junior Membership Upgrade for the 2026 season! Junior Membership includes free entrance to all home Rothesay County Championship and Metro Bank One Day Cup matches.
You can also choose to upgrade your ticket to a ‘Members Upgrade’ which gives you access to all members areas including the Doug Insole Pavilion, for an extra cost.
We do offer family tickets, providing groups of families a discount to come and watch the cricket at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
To purchase tickets, simply click here or call our Ticketing Office at 01245 254010.
