Essex host Leicestershire this weekend in the final round of Rothesay County Championship action before the start of the Vitality Blast.
In a fitting fixture almost to the day, Leicestershire were Essex’s first-ever first-class opponents on 14 May 1894. Now, the Club welcomes the Foxes to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground for Division One action following their return to the top flight after more than 20 years away, in the 150th Anniversary Year of Essex County Cricket Club.
This round of Rothesay County Championship fixtures is the final one before the Vitality T20 Blast begins on Friday 22 May. Chris Silverwood’s side will be aiming to carry momentum into the Blast after an entertaining win against Hampshire at Chelmsford last week, with Essex looking to secure back-to-back home victories in the red-ball competition.
The meeting follows Essex’s victory over Hampshire, while the visitors arrive after a seven-wicket defeat to Sussex. Captain Ian Holland top-scored with 63 in the first innings for Leicestershire, while former Eagle Rishi Patel made 56 in the second. With the ball, Ben Green and Middlesex loanee Tom Helm claimed four wickets apiece across the match.
For Essex, an unbeaten 90 from 73 balls by Matt Critchley on Day Three (including 15 boundaries) steered the Club to a second County Championship victory of the season. Earlier in the match, a gritty last-wicket partnership of 81 between Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter rescued Essex from trouble and secured an unlikely first-innings lead.
Leicestershire sit ninth in Division One on 41 points after drawing two and losing three of their opening five matches, and are still searching for their first top-flight victory since winning Division Two last season. Essex occupy seventh place, 19 points ahead of the Foxes.
Chris Silverwood has named a 14-player squad for the clash against Leicestershire, which includes wicket-keeper batter Simon Fernandes for the first time this season.
Zaman Akhter continues his rehabilitation and is getting closer to full fitness.
Captain: Peter Handscomb
Head Coach: Alfonso Thomas
2025 finish: 1st (Division Two - winners)
2025 leading run-scorer: Lewis Hill (917)
2025 leading wicket-taker: Ian Holland (38)
Championship titles: 3 (most recent in 1998)
Key winter moves: Skipper Peter Handscomb returns for a fourth season, working around his Victoria commitments while Stephen Ezkinazi (Middlesex) and Jonny Tattersall (Yorkshire) were added to the batting resources last season. Somerset all-rounder Ben Green moves permanently after several loan spells, to be joined by Taunton colleague Josh Davey. Restrictions imposed by Cricket South Africa scuppered the signing of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, although the loss is softened by the recruitment of New Zealand left-armer Ajaz Patel.
What we're looking forward to seeing: Pace bowling prospect Alex Green was a sensation in last season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, when his 18 wickets included three five-fors. Genuinely quick, and 6ft 7ins tall, the 19-year-old academy graduate impressed again in the winter, taking wickets during England's run to the Under-19 World Cup final. He will be pushing for inclusion in the red-ball side.
Aiming to catch selectors' eyes: After an exceptional county summer that brought five hundreds in 16 Rothesay County Championship innings, not to mention 13 wickets in a match against Derbyshire, it baffled many judges that leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed was not part of England’s Ashes squad. If he can maintain that form against Division One opponents, the 21-year-old’s case will surely be irresistible.
Final thoughts: Leicestershire, who finished bottom of Division Two as recently as 2022, romped to the 2025 title to end a 22-year exile from Division One. Staying there will be tough, given that historically one in three promoted teams are relegated after just one season, and almost half within two. With Chris Wright retired and Logan Van Beek joining Yorkshire, the pace attack needs Josh Hull to mature into a consistent spearhead but the Foxes will fight for every point.
Leicestershire squad: Click Here
The last time the two sides met in first-class cricket was a decade ago in Division Two, when Essex defeated Leicestershire by an innings and 10 runs at Leicester on August 23–25. Jamie Porter spearheaded the victory with eight wickets across the match, while Dan Lawrence top-scored with 154 from 304 balls, supported by club legend Ryan ten Doeschate, who struck 86 from 83 deliveries.
Former Eagle and captain Mark Pettini featured for Leicestershire, but made little impact with the bat, falling to David Masters in the first innings before edging behind to James Foster off Porter in the second.
2016 Team Lineups
Leicestershire: Paul Horton, Angus Robson, Neil Dexter, Mark Cosgrove (C), Mark Pettini, Ned Eckersley (WK), Lewis Hill, Ben Raine, Richard Jones, Dieter Klein, Charlie Shreck.
Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Jamie Porter, Tom Westley, Ravi Bopara, Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate (C), James Foster (WK), Will Rhodes, Graham Napier, David Masters.
Greene King will be bringing their Real Ale Festival to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground throughout the weekend.
Head down to the Level Head Bar Area, located behind the Doug Insole Pavilion, where you can choose from 12 different cask ales provided by Greene King’s brewers. There is limited stock, so once it's gone, it's gone!
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.
