Essex: Paul Walter, Charlie Allison, Tom Westley (c), Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Michael Pepper (wk), Noah Thain, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Nottinghamshire: Haseeb Hameed (c), Ben Slater, Freddie McCann, Joe Clarke (wk), Jack Haynes, Kyle Verreynne, Lyndon James, Brett Hutton, Fergus O'Neill, Farhan Ahmed, Dillon Pennington.
Umpires: Peter Hartley & David Millns
Match Referee: Wayne Noon
Scorers: Ian Smith & Paul Parkinson
Toss: Essex won the toss and chose to bowl first
Result: Match drawn
Scorecard: View here
Jack Haynes, the 24-year old batter who moved to Nottinghamshire last season, not only surpassed a previous best of 77 for the county, posted in his maiden innings a year and eight days, but continued to a crucial first century to add to the five he had made for Worcestershire.
After three men had gone in the day’s first seven overs to leave his side just 222 ahead at 242-8, his final career-best 142, following a key 77-run recovery stand with Brett Hutton, secured the draw in the Rothesay County Championship first division against Essex at Trent Bridge.
By the time Haynes’s hundred arrived, after eleven balls on 99 with the last man now in, the lead was 320 and 60 overs remained but Notts declined to declare and, when eventually all out for 385 after a delayed lunch, the nominal Essex target became 366 at seven per over.
Though Nottinghamshire relaxed their bid for breakthroughs only in the last over there never seemed the remotest chance they might induce panic as Paul Walter reached 41 and his captain Tom Westley a brisk 28 for Essex’s unbroken second-wicket before the umpires pulled stumps at 5pm.
The frantic start first thing thus proved the falsest of dawns for the visitors who had seized their own trio of wickets in the opening 30 minutes only to be thwarted for 24.2 overs by the ninth-wicket pair as No 10 Hutton solidly bedded in.
The new ball was available after six overs in the day but by then Shane Snater had already removed both nightwatchman Farhan Ahmed and Lyndon James, each caught behind for one, dangling the bat.
A stupendous catch from Noah Thain, diving at mid-wicket to hold on inches above the grass as Fergus O’Neill middled a sweet clip off his pads, left Notts in deep peril with effectively 86 overs still to come.
But wicket-taker Jamie Porter and partner Sam Cook proved far less threatening with the new ball than at any stage in the match hitherto and it was not until the last scheduled over before lunch that Hutton finally fell, heaving a catch to the boundary off Matt Critchley for 38.
With the last pair together the interval was delayed and Haynes, now 94, was joined by Dillon Pennington. After several agonising attempts to pierce the infield on 99, he at last drove a four and broke into jubilant celebrations of a first hundred in sixteen games for Notts after his five seasons at Worcester.
By lunch, with Essex now spreading the field far and wide to give Haynes singles he refused, the lead was 355 with 56 overs remaining. But Notts opted to bat on in the afternoon until Haynes hammered Critchley down the ground and was held at long-on by Porter who threw the ball up, skipped over the rope and nipped back to complete the catch. In a final stand of 66 from ten overs, Haynes made 48 to Pennington’s unbeaten 13.
When Essex batted again at 2.20, Pennington, taking the new ball, soon had Charlie Allison missed at second slip on seven but later pulled up in his fifth over to leave the field with an apparent side strain.
But Hutton, hero with the bat earlier, had Allison lbw to end his third championship innings for 27 in the third and last dismissal of the 65 final overs.
With Essex losing their five remaining wickets for 66 runs in the day’s opening 90 minutes to claim a bare 20-run first-innings lead, Nottingamshire threatened to take hold of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge.
But after Ben Slater, who made 67, and skipper Haseeb Hameed had posted a rapid 113 for the first wicket the home side were pegged back in the final session as Hameed fell 25 minutes from the close for 92 and Kyle Verreyyne then came and went for three.
Hameed’s side carry an advantage into Monday of 213 with five men gone but it is hard to see how a declaration can come before lunch is reached, even assuming they get there intact. This intriguing game, however, has repeatedly refused to follow either of these side’s very best laid plans.
Having weathered seven probing overs from Jamie Porter and Sam Cook before lunch as sunshine replaced cloud, the Notts openers picked up the tempo in the afternoon, claiming the initiative in finding four an over until over-ambition did for Slater, ten overs from tea.
The left-hander had belted a brace of sixes, hitting against the spin, before Simon Harmer had completed his first five overs but the off-spinner, gaining turn out of the rough, smiled last when Slater bottom-edged a cut into his wicket. His 67 included 56 in boundaries.
Harmer soon made it two wickets in eight balls when Freddie McCann, another left-hander, edged low to first slip and went without score. But Hameed, surviving a close lbw call against Harmer, reached a polished fifty from 96 balls and at the interval his side were 142-2.
Eight balls into the last session, however, another had gone when Porter, summoned for a second spell, immediately produced a beauty that left Joe Clarke off the pitch and had him caught behind for 19. Porter’s next ball also found the edge but the new batsman Jack Haynes, destined for an unbeaten 49 at the close, could breathe easy when it fell millimeters short of second slip.
Though just 15 came from ten overs, the fourth-wicket pair saw out Porter’s fine burst and accelerated against Shane Snater and also against Matt Critchley’s leg spin when he relieved Harmer for three overs of what proved a 27-over stint from before tea.
The stand had swelled to 83 when Hameed, attempting a late dab, played Noah Thain on to his stumps and, two overs later, a recalled Cook sent Verreyyne’s county batting average plummeting from 379.0 to 189.5 when he edged to the ‘keeper for three.
It remains to be seen whether Notts can reach a declaration and, more to the point, how generous they feel they can be. They are pursuing the perfect start of wins in both opening games of the campaign and would ideally hope to set a target.
If rapid runs will be the hope first thing they were a rarity earlier as Sunday started with frantic action. Cloud cover and a freshened pitch helped bring venom to a new ball only six overs old from Saturday’s play. Essex innocently added thirteen to their overnight 301-5, but - in as many balls – then suddenly lost three batters.
Fergus O’Neill had Critchley twitching at one that left him and caught behind for 52 before removing Thain lbw for 33, a Championship best in his nascent career. In between Dillon Pennington’s lift did for Harmer, taken at second slip without score.
Lusty blows carried Snater to twelve and Cook to 26 from 38 balls but both perished swinging in three overs from Brett Hutton who finished with three for 61 as Essex ended on 367, with a slender lead but six bonus point to the home side’s five.
A third-wicket stand of 123 through the afternoon, after Nottinghamshire had ended on 347 in the first 30 minutes, proved the platform for what looks a clear, if hardly decisive, Essex advantage at the midway stage of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge.
Jordan Cox, cruelly denied a Test debut when fracturing his thumb in the nets on England’s tour of New Zealand last November, continued to a sweetly timed 82 after partner Paul Walter had gone for a more muscular 76. This in answer to Kyle Verreynne’s eventual unbeaten 128 for the home side earlier.
Though the first ball of the final session saw Cox feather a legside delivery to the keeper only one more wicket fell before the close of a second day whose last six overs were bowled with a new ball under floodlights as April’s blue skies finally gave way to cloud.
With 117 already posted this season against Surrey, the 24-year old Cox has now
passed fifty 21 times in his young career for Kent and Essex, notably continuing to eight centuries, a conversion rate that left Notts relieved to see him fall short. His one misjudgement earlier was the scampered single that took him to 80 yet only barely beat a throw at the non-striker’s stumps.
Walter, who made 95 in his one other innings this campaign, had taken the teenage Farhan Ahmed’s off-spin for a six and a four with mighty blows to mid-wicket when he attempted another, next ball, but sliced to slip as it turned out of the left-hander’s rough. By tea, 40 minutes later, Essex were 205-3 only for Cox to fall on resumption.
Making it two wickets in his eight-over evening spell, Lyndon James then also removed Michael Pepper who cut a short ball to backward point for 26 to bring in Noah Thain. To his credit, the 20-year old, who endured a testing day when bowling on Friday, gamely resisted 75 balls for 21 overnight in support of Matt Critchley who will resume on 50
There is still little in this pitch for bowlers but it may possibly become more uneven. Seamers from the Stuart Broad End have already made the odd ball jump from a length and some have kept a little low. For their part batters frequently prodded and tapped the surface.
Charlie Allison, in only his second Championship innings, aimed an ambitious on-drive at Fergus O’Neill and went lbw for eleven.
Brett Hutton, the fourth seamer, then opened with a superb yorker first ball which whipped out Tom Westley lbw for five. Lunch soon following at 54-2.
At the day’s start, Essex had required eight overs to claim the home side’s two remaining wickets as Notts missed a third batting point by three runs in finishing on 347. Verreyyne, though dropped at slip off Simon Cook when 33 on Friday, could again not be dislodged.
His undefeated century took his tally in five innings for Notts so far to 376 – this for only once out. And in between his three Notts games last September and this one seven months later he had also made Test hundreds for South Africa against three different countries.
At least Cook, who had Ahmed dabbing a short, wide one to a juggling third slip for 31 and then bowled Pennington for one, returned four for 44, figures that finally did him some measure of justice.
Nottinghamshire began the Rothesay County Championship meeting with Essex as early leaders of Division One following last week’s opening round of the campaign. They immediately faced deep trouble, however, after being asked to bat at Trent Bridge.
But Kyle Verreynne, who flew in from South Africa only three days before, would finish with a superbly cussed, unbeaten 111 and Lyndon James made 45, as the home side fought back in the afternoon sun from 78-5 to 167-6.
Vigorous batting either side of tea from the Australian Fergus O’Neill, with 42 from 60 balls, plus staunch support from Farhan Ahmed then helped them to a final 328-8.
In his five career innings for Nottinghamshire, Verreynne has now made 359 runs for only once out but was dropped on 33 off Sam Cook who, watched by England Cricket Director, Rob Key, bowled beautifully throughout and deserved better than two for 37 from 21 overs.
From nine overs apiece by lunch, Jamie Porter had posted two for 12 and new-ball partner Cook two for 17 during a morning of Essex dominance. Their decision to insert on a pitch with no more than a little early grass was presumably based on the hope that, if there was any assistance to be found, it would be on the first morning.
The notion was vindicated when for the first 50 minutes Notts played more with the age of the bat than the middle. Commanding rigorous control, Porter and Cook conceded only nine runs from the first ten overs, Porter having both Slater LBW for one and Haseeb Hameed caught behind for a 21-ball duck.
Joe Clarke, from nowhere, suddenly then launched Porter for a straight six before, whipping across the line, he was LBW to Cook next over for 16.
An overseas third seamer would have been invaluable for the visitors but Shardul Thakur, Essex’s pre-season signing, had made a late switch in March to the India Premier League and it took the return of Cook to halt a 47-run recovery when Freddie McCann, in two minds pulling at a bouncer, returned a catch for 26.
After Jack Haynes felt for a widish ball and edged Shane Snater behind next over for 23, Notts tottered at 78-5 before surviving four more maidens to the interval.
At last periods of fluency arrived on resumption. Against the change bowlers the sixth-wicket pair were particularly harsh on 20-year old Noah Thain in just his sixth full Championship game.
He was to conceded 73 in all from 13 overs in the day, including 16 extras from no-balls. When Cook had relieved him to bowl a third spell, Verreynne’s flashing drive at his third ball flew hard to second slip where Simon Harmer was unable to hold on.
Escaping on 33, Verreynne had earlier, on seven soon after lunch, seen a leading edge off Porter just fall between two offside fielders. Unfazed, the small, gritty ‘keeper reached his determined fifty from 116 balls 15 minutes from tea shortly after James had falled to the Zimbawean Snater when a violent bottom-edged cut cannoned into his stumps.
O’Neill also survived a chance on 31 to second slip, off Thain, straight after tea as 76 were added in 14 overs either side of the interval before, in four balls, he stayed fatally back to be LBW to Matt Critchley and Brett Hutton came and went, pushing forward and edging Snater behind.
Mature resilience through 18 overs from 17-year old Farhan Ahmed on a now placid pitch let Verreynne get from 70 to a hundred in 196 balls at which point he was immediately put down at first slip off Snater when 103. The unbeaten 79-run stand will resume with Ahmed on 30.
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header - Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
Critchley’s Player of the Match performance against Surrey saw him carry his bat in the first innings with a superb knock of 145*, as Essex featured three centurions. Jordan Cox contributed 117 and Michael Pepper added 109, helping the Eagles secure four batting points. New opener Paul Walter also impressed, narrowly missing out on a century with a solid 95.
An incredible effort from the Essex bowlers forced Surrey to follow on, highlighted by a marathon spell from Simon Harmer, who bowled 47 overs for 83 runs and 4 wickets, including 12 maidens — conceding under two runs per over.
Critchley and Sam Cook took two wickets apiece, while Shane Snater and Jamie Porter chipped in with one each.
With the Eagles needing nine wickets to win on the final day and Surrey with their backs against the wall, Day Four was set up for a dramatic finish.
However, a disciplined rearguard from Dom Sibley and Ben Foakes ensured the visitors returned to London with a draw, as both sides shook hands with only a handful of overs remaining.
Chris Silverwood has named a 13-player squad for first away game of the season, with Nick Browne joining the group that was in contention for the previous match against Surrey.
Dean Elgar has been given an extended period of time with his family since the birth of his twin children. An update on his return will be confirmed and shared at the earliest.
Nottinghamshire started their 2025 Rothesay County Championship campaign with a win against Durham at Trent Bridge, putting them at the top of the Division One table.
Australian seam bowler Fergus O’Neill made an impressive start to his Notts career, claiming five wickets in the first innings and adding three more in the second, while Josh Tongue also stood out with a five-wicket haul during the match.
All-rounder Lyndon James registered his fifth First-Class century, scoring 125 off 160 balls and top-order batters Ben Slater and Freddie McCann also made strong starts to the season, contributing 92 and 79 runs respectively.
Outlaws' captain Haseeb Hameed could be one to watch again this year, following a prolific 2024 campaign in which he scored 1,091 runs at an average of 51.95 as Nottinghamshire will be looking to build on this strong start and maintain their place at the summit of Division One.
Nottinghamshire squad: tbc.
The last outing against Nottinghamshire took place in a home match in September 2024, where Essex delivered a dominant performance, defeating them by an innings and 83 runs.
Both teams fielded two young spinners, with Farhan Ahmed representing the visitors and Luc Benkenstein making his First-Class debut for Essex.
After Notts won the toss and elected to bowl, Essex posted a formidable total of 457. Tom Westley and Michael Pepper both scored centuries, with 122 and 115 respectively, whilst Paul Walter contributed with a knock of 72, and Simon Harmer added a half-century, finishing on 51.
A disciplined and incredible bowling display by the Essex bowlers restricted Nottinghamshire to just 93 runs in 40.5 overs. This included a five-wicket haul from Porter, four wickets from Harmer and one from Cook, giving the Eagles an impressive lead of 364 runs.
The Outlaws fought back but were unable to set Essex a target, as they were bowled out for 281. The wickets were shared around, with Harmer taking four, Cook and Walter claiming two each, and Porter and Snater picking up one apiece.
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.
A general admission ticket to any of the four days' play at Trent Bridge entitles you to sit in any available and vacant seat anywhere in the ground, with the exception of Members' areas.
Essex Members who are making the journey to Trent Bridge will need to buy a ticket, but once in the ground, will be able to join their Nottinghamshire counterparts in the Members-only seats in front of the Pavilion.
Tickets, which are priced at £23 for adults, £18 for seniors and for those aged between 16-21, and £6 for under-16s, can be purchased by visiting the link below:
Essex Cricket are proud to unveil a commemorative logo to celebrate 100 years of playing cricket at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford.
The special edition design pays tribute to the incredible journey from our first match at the ground on 20 June 1925 against Oxfordshire to the present day on the eve of the 2025 season.
To mark the centenary, Essex Cricket will be hosting a series of special events on matchdays, exclusive merchandise featuring the commemorative logo and, for the first time, a live music event hosted at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
“We will be heading in a very special anniversary year for the Club in 2026, but we have an opportunity this season to celebrate our home in Chelmsford, which has played a crucial role in our journey.”
We look forward to sharing this historic season with our fans, players, and partners as we continue to build upon our legacy at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Keep an eye out for further announcements and be part of the celebrations as we honour 100 years of Essex Cricket in Chelmsford.
Essex: Paul Walter, Charlie Allison, Tom Westley (c), Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Michael Pepper (wk), Noah Thain, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Surrey: Rory Burns (c), Dom Sibley, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Ryan Patel, Jordan Clark, Matt Fisher, James Taylor, Kemar Roach.
Umpires: Russell Warren & Ian Blackwell
Match Referee: James Whitaker
Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Debbie Beesley
Toss: Essex won the toss and chose to bat first
Result: Match Drawn
Scorecard: View here
Dom Sibley batted through 77 overs to anchor Surrey’s determined fightback and secure a draw in their opening match as reigning Rothesay County Championship champions.
Beginning the final day still 217 runs behind Essex and staring at an innings defeat, Sibley set about ensuring his side batted out the day to avoid both defeat and embarrassment after a difficult four days in Chelmsford.
The former England opener shared a crucial 101-run partnership with Ben Foakes across 41 overs. Sibley’s stoic resistance lasted four and a half hours and 221 balls before he fell for 66. Foakes, equally resolute, compiled his second half-century of the match before Ryan Patel and Jordan Clark guided Surrey to safety at 219-6, with handshakes exchanged at 5.36pm.
Essex briefly sensed victory when they claimed two wickets in seven balls early in the day, having enforced the follow-on. However, apart from three late wickets, the match drifted toward a draw. In total, Essex used eight bowlers in a bid to force a result, but Surrey proved too stubborn.
Sibley might have fallen to the day’s first ball, edging Jamie Porter just short of slip. He settled into typically dogged form, needing 26 balls to get off the mark with a steer down to third man.
The opening stand moved at a glacial pace – just two runs per over for the first 49 minutes – before Simon Harmer struck, trapping Rory Burns lbw with a fuller ball. One over later, Ollie Pope played a loose shot to a wide delivery from Shane Snater and was caught behind for just one, leaving Surrey wobbling.
Jamie Smith briefly injected momentum, hammering Paul Walter for 23 runs from just eight balls, including a six and four boundaries. But his innings with Sibley ended in a mix-up, which saw both batters stranded at the same end. Despite Michael Pepper fumbling Snater’s throw, Matt Critchley completed the run-out at the non-striker’s end.
With spin at both ends, Essex raced through the overs — the official rate at one point +13 — but Sibley and Foakes remained resolute, often using their pads to smother any turn.
Sibley broke his shackles briefly, striking Critchley for two boundaries in as many balls and later timing a fine cover drive off Harmer. Still, his half-century came only after 181 balls, having resumed his innings the night before. He scored 21 runs from 94 balls before lunch, and just 38 from 103 between lunch and tea.
He finally perished nine balls into the final session, top-edging a wild swing off Noah Thain to the boundary fielder at square leg.
Foakes held firm for 134 balls before Jamie Porter uprooted his middle stump with the third ball of the second new ball. With the scores nearly level, Dan Lawrence was caught in the slips by Jordan Cox — for the second time in the match — before Patel and Clark saw Surrey home.
Ben Foakes defied his former county with a resilient four-hour, 41-minute innings, but he could not prevent Essex from enforcing the follow-on against reigning champions Surrey in the Rothesay County Championship at Chelmsford.
The former England wicketkeeper, and Essex Academy graduate, stood firm while wickets tumbled around him, finishing unbeaten on 92 as Surrey were dismissed for 365 in their first innings—217 runs behind Essex. By the close of day three, Surrey had reached 9 without loss in their second innings, still needing to erase the deficit to make Essex bat again.
It could have been far worse for the visitors. Resuming on 109-1, they suffered a dramatic collapse to 180-6, losing five wickets in a pre-lunch frenzy that saw the heart ripped from the middle order—three wickets falling in just 15 balls.
Simon Harmer led Essex’s charge with a marathon spell, returning 4-83 from 47 overs — 34 of them bowled in the day. It was a welcome return to form for the South African off-spinner, who has endured a below-par 2024 campaign by his high standards, failing to add to his 35 five-wicket hauls and ten 10-wicket match returns until now.
Under clear skies, Ollie Pope lasted only seven deliveries before Jamie Porter clipped his off bail, ending a 103-run partnership with Rory Burns. Jamie Smith briefly threatened with three crisp boundaries off Porter, including a commanding straight drive, but fell to Shane Snater—his off stump sent flying after an ill-judged cover drive.
Foakes arrived at the crease, but Surrey's troubles deepened quickly. Burns edged Harmer behind for 73, and two balls later Dan Lawrence was undone by extra bounce, edging to slip after just six balls. Ryan Patel then endured a tortured 23-ball stay against Harmer, failing to score and eventually nicking one to the keeper.
Harmer's accuracy was as valuable as his breakthroughs — Foakes’ cover drive for four was only the second boundary the spinner had conceded in 26 overs.
Momentum briefly shifted with the second new ball, as Surrey rattled off 40 runs in six overs, securing their first of two batting bonus points. Jordan Clark added a counterattacking 45 from 88 balls before falling to Sam Cook.
Foakes reached a gritty half-century with his eighth boundary, an edge just wide of slip off Snater. He shared a 55-run stand for the eighth wicket with Matt Fisher, who was bowled by a Harmer delivery that stayed low.
James Taylor then joined Foakes in a patient 22-over partnership worth 50, until Matt Critchley broke through with a one-over spell from a new end, deceiving Taylor with a googly. Critchley then returned to his original end to trap Kemar Roach lbw, ending the innings and bringing Essex back to the crease with the follow-on enforced.
Rory Burns and Ollie Pope dug in for Surrey as they entered survival mode following a chastening day in the Rothesay County Championship clash against Essex at Chelmsford.
Facing an imposing first-innings total of 582-6 declared, Surrey were left with an initial target of 433 just to make Essex bat again. By stumps, they were still 473 runs behind but had steadied the ship at 109-1 from 42 overs under lengthening shadows. Burns led the response with his 75th first-class fifty and closed on 59 not out, while Pope provided solid support with an unbeaten 45. The pair shared a second-wicket stand of 101 after the early loss of Dom Sibley, who was trapped plumb in front by Sam Cook in the fourth over.
Essex's mammoth total was built on the back of three centuries — and a near miss — with Matt Critchley (145*), Michael Pepper (109), and Jordan Cox (105) all reaching three figures, while Paul Walter narrowly missed out with 95. Critchley and Pepper put on a punishing 216 for the fifth wicket, mixing watchfulness with bursts of aggression to secure four batting points for Essex and grind the champions into the dirt.
Critchley, six runs shy of his career-best, struck 17 fours and a six in his 208-ball innings. He was handed a lifeline on 92 when Ryan Patel failed to hold a chance at square leg, and he made Surrey pay soon after by bringing up his century off Matt Fisher. His swept six off Dan Lawrence was the first maximum of the innings.
Pepper, too, reached his century in style, tucking Taylor to leg for two to complete the 200-run stand before launching Lawrence for six down the ground. However, his aggression cost him as he fell next ball, miscuing a pull to mid-on to give his former teammate Lawrence a long-awaited reward.
Lawrence was Surrey’s main contributor with the ball, claiming 3-169 from 35.2 overs in a marathon spell — almost as many overs as he bowled in a full season during his eight years at Chelmsford before moving to The Kia Oval.
Essex had cruised through nearly five sessions on a batsman-friendly wicket with little trouble. Critchley and Pepper had come together the previous evening following Cox's dismissal and dominated for 56 overs.
Surrey’s reply started shakily but settled thanks to the determined resistance of Burns and Pope. Pope, dropped early by Critchley at short midwicket, made Essex pay with some fluent stroke-play, including boundaries through the covers off Shane Snater and midwicket off Jamie Porter. Burns edged a streaky boundary over third man but otherwise looked assured, reaching his half-century from 114 balls with seven fours.
By the evening session, Essex had turned to spin from both ends, with Critchley joining Simon Harmer in attempting to restrict Surrey’s scoring. But Burns and Pope stood firm to ensure no further damage on a day otherwise dominated by the hosts.
Jordan Cox made sure his name remained on the England selectors’ radar with the ninth first-class century of his career, and fifth inside a year since joining Essex, as reigning champions Surrey toiled under bright Chelmsford skies.
The 24-year-old Cox was on the cusp of an England debut in New Zealand last autumn before suffering another injury setback. But a swashbuckling 117 from 148 balls in the opening Rothesay County Championship match of the season can only have helped his cause ahead of a year in which England face first Zimbabwe and then India and Australia.
His powerful innings overshadowed an otherwise excellent 95 from makeshift opener Paul Walter. The 30-year-old left-hander, better known for his big-hitting exploits in T20 cricket, fell just short of what would have been only his third red-ball century.
Walter’s stands of 78 with rookie opener Charlie Allison and 100 with Cox, along with Cox’s 92 with Matt Critchley, underpinned an Essex total of 356-4 on the first day against a Surrey pace attack devoid of the likes of Gus Atkinson, Dan Worrall and Tom Lawes. Kemar Roach added some respite with 2-54 from 18 overs.
Essex had won the toss and elected to bat on a benign green-top in front of a bumper home crowd of 2,370.
Walter set the tone by marching to his fifty from 58 balls when he turned James Taylor off his legs for a single. He had dominated the first hour as Charlie Allison marked his first-class debut in look-and-learn mode. The 20-year-old, replacing Dean Elgar at the top of the order while the South African becomes used to the idea of being a father of twins, took 38 balls before hitting his first boundary, a square drive off Matt Fisher that took his score into double figures.
The first-wicket stand ended when Dan Lawrence entered the Surrey attack and with his fourth delivery had Allison lbw for 25, playing down the wrong line, much to the delight of the former Essex man.
Where Walter had been dominant in the opening stand, he became becalmed in the fifties either side of lunch as Tom Westley briefly took centre stage. The Essex captain rolled his wrists to turn Taylor through midwicket for four and later thick-edged Lawrence past a despairing slip.
Westley contributed 40 towards a 48-run second-wicket stand before turning Roach into short midwicket’s hands. Walter added just five to his total in that 16-over partnership but then opened his shoulders and square-cut the first ball after Westley’s departure for his 10th four.
There was greater equality between the third-wicket pair with Walter and Cox trading blows. Some of Cox’s hitting was effortless with no discernible back-lift, most notably his ninth boundary, a drive that scorched past mid-off, and brought up his half-century from 77 balls.
The century partnership was reached with a single from Walter, but two balls later he gave Fisher his first Surrey wicket since the winter move from Yorkshire, when mis-hooking to Ben Foakes diving full-length down legside. Walter’s innings had lasted 172 balls and included 14 fours.
Cox took up the cudgels immediately after tea, hitting Roach to three different parts of the boundary in an over. There was a strange incident just before Cox reached three-figures when he appeared to hit Foakes with his bat as the ball lobbed towards the wicketkeeper. No censure ensued and the century duly arrived with a straight drive off Lawrence for his 18th four.
Cox added three more boundaries before he was beaten for pace by Roach to end a stay of a tad over three hours.
It was just left to Critchley to confirm Essex’s domination as the sun went down with three successive fours off the expensive James Taylor and reach the close on 45 not out.
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header - Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
Fans will be welcomed to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground for the first time as Essex host Surrey in the opening game of the 2025 season.
Balmy conditions are expected for the first game of the Rothesay County Championship what better fixture for it as two titans of the County Championship in recent years go head to head.
This game also sees the opening of the new Woodland Group Stand. A 300+ seater stand located between the Doug Insole Pavilion and Scrutton Bland Premier Suite that will be open to Essex Members and the general public.
Tickets are available on the gate for £22 or for the cheaper price of £16 for those who buy in advance.
Gates open from 10am on all four days via the Main Entrance on New Writtle Street or the Tees River Gate, which is closest to Chelmsford City Centre and the Bus/Train Stations.
Toss (Day One): 10:30am
Morning Session: 11am-1pm
Afternoon Session: 1:40pm-3:40pm
Evening Session: 4:10pm-6pm
Close of Play: 6pm
Rothesay County Championship cricket is part of the 2025 Membership and Members are required to scan cards on entry. All Members should have now received 2025 Membership cards and it'll be necessary to scan an active 2025 Membership card to gain entry to the ground.
All complimentary and discounted tickets must be acquired in advance and cannot be claimed at the gate.
The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground is a cashless ground, which includes purchasing tickets and scorecards on the gates, plus food and drink purchases in the Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas.
Scorecards will be available for £1 on the Tees River Gate via contactless payment, however, cash purchases can be made in the Essex Cricket Store.
Accessible Parking:
Accessible car parking spaces are located at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that these cannot be pre-booked before visiting to provide an equal opportunity for all supporters.
Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating can be found in the Graham Gooch End of the ground and a wheelchair-accessible platform is located in Block One of the Tom Pearce Stand.
Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge. This is upon the presentation in the Membership & Ticketing Office or on the gate with proof of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16 years old.
Accessible Facilities:
The accessible toilets located at the rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion have been refurbished for the 2025 season, while accessible toilet facilities are still available by Block 31.
We can also accept a Blue Badge and Access card.
In the event of adverse weather conditions on the day of the match, please keep up to date with the prospects of play via the Club's X and Facebook channels.
Parking:
• Spectators travelling by car will need to locate a public car park in the proximity of the ground as there is no parking available on-site at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open across all four days. View opening hours and tariffs for city centre public car parks - here
• The Meteor Way car park is available for Members to book on Saturday 05 and Sunday 06 April but spaces are sold out for Friday 04 April. There are a very limited number of spaces available on days two and three at Meteor Way and we advise that Members pre-book for £2.50 as spaces aren’t guaranteed to be available on the day and the price of parking on the day will increase to £3.50. Meteor Way car park will close 30 minutes after the end of play.
Public Transport:
• Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the county. Alternatively, bus numbers 13, 46 and C1 shuttles, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the Ground, via New Writtle Street.
• Chelmsford Railway Station, managed by Greater Anglia, is about a 10-minute stroll from The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground. Direct train services depart regularly from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline.
• Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate. Please note that all ticket collections will need to take place at the Main Gate.
• For the safety of everyone at the ground, there will be bag checks in operation and security present throughout the fixture.
• In the event of rain forecast on the day of the match, spectators can bring a small umbrella into the ground but metal spiked umbrellas are not permitted.
• The Doug Insole Pavilion is open for Members upon the presentation of a valid Membership card and accessible by entering the ground through the Main Gate.
• Members are not required to pre-book a match ticket and can enter by scanning their Membership card on the gate. If you require a replacement card, please get in contact with the Membership & Ticketing Office before the fixture to arrange a replacement or this may cause delays on entry for you and other spectators.
• Entry to this fixture is included in 2025 Membership and encourage Members to arrive in plenty of time to secure your seat. All seating for Championship games is Unallocated and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• There will be an open ground for this match allowing spectators to walk around the whole concourse area at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground with access to the Club Store and other facilities.
Members will still have access to dedicated Members' seating areas which will be located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for Members and general public.
General Public Seating:
• Supporters who have purchased tickets can enter the ground by scanning the QR on your tickets that has been sent to you via email following your purchase. If you choose to print out your ticket, please ensure that the match details (including name and seat details) are included as per the image below. Make sure you have your match ticket available on your phone or printed out so it is easily accessible for ticket scanning on arrival. Please do not take a ‘screen grab’ of your QR code as that will not be read by the scanners.
• Ticket holders can sit in all areas of the ground for this match, except for the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower stands.
• Spectators are welcome to enter the pitch during the lunch & tea breaks when instructed over PA or by a member of the Club's stewarding team. Please follow the guidance to the specific areas permitted to enter and please respect the playing surface. We encourage spectators to play on the outfield but please use softballs.
• Spectators are permitted to walk around the full concourse area with better access to the Club Store and other facilities.
Members will still have exclusive access to dedicated Members' seating areas, which are located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for both Members and general public.
Please note that seating for Rothesay County Championship fixtures is unallocated so will be available on a first come, first served basis.
• Spectators are permitted to move behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players' area and walkway.
• A faith and reflection room is available for all spectators who wish to use this facility. It is open for the duration of the match and located within the Graham Gooch Cricket Centre.
• The Membership & Ticketing Office and Club Store will be open for spectators for the duration of your visit.
• The Peter Edwards Museum & Library is located on-site adjacent to the Essex Cricket Store and will be open for the duration of the game.
Visit during the match to view the exhibition on the career of Nasser Hussain and entry is free of charge.
• If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloud County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or text 'CROWD' including your stand and issue to 60066.
• Free Wi-Fi is available at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground for every matchday giving supporters the opportunity to access the internet and the Club's live stream online. Simply logon to ‘EC-Public’ from your seat to access.
• At the Doug Insole Pavilion, you can enjoy a diverse selection of hot and cold beverages from the bar, along with a variety of snacks for purchase.
• Anne's Pantry will be offering a choice of home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Graham Gooch End and Sir Alastair Cook End.
They will be serving a range of meals suitable for all dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as children's portions.
• Other refreshment kiosks include bar areas located at either end of the ground in County Corner and Spinners Bar, serving drinks and snacks.
• Spectators can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture but please ensure all bags can be stored underneath your seat. A limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person is in place for this fixture and there is strictly no glass or sharp objects permitted into the ground.
At the conclusion of the day's play, we ask spectators to leave the ground in a safe and patient manner. Stewards will be on hand to help direct you safely out of the ground.
We hope you have an enjoyable visit to The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on www.essexcricket.org.uk ahead of the match.
Get in touch with us by email if you have any further questions at [email protected] or via the Club's official Twitter and Facebook channels.
Our live stream will be available to watch over the four days with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary courtesy of BBC Essex. Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live ahead of the toss on Day One, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.
The off-season saw the return of Chris Silverwood, who took over as Director of Cricket from Anthony McGrath. Silverwood will be hoping for the same success he enjoyed in his last season at the Club when Essex lifted the Division One title in 2017.
With a renewed sense of anticipation for the upcoming season, Silverwood's team will be determined to secure a statement victory against reigning champions, Surrey and set the tone for the season to come.
Chris Silverwood has named a 12-man squad for the first game of the season at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, with new rookie-contract signing Mackenzie Jones included.
Dean Elgar has been given an extended period of time with his family since the birth of his twin children. An update on his return will be confirmed and shared at the earliest.
Surrey finished last season with a rain-affected draw against Essex, which saw them lift the Division One trophy at Chelmsford. Their 2024 title secured back-to-back-to-back championships, and they will be aiming to make it four titles in a row.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Gareth Batty and captain Rory Burns, the Brown Caps boast a host of England international stars, as well as former Eagle Daniel Lawrence. Surrey have reinforced their squad with New Zealand all-rounder Nathan Smith while also retaining West Indian pace bowler Kemar Roach as their overseas options.
Surrey squad: Rory Burns (c), Jordan Clark, Matt Fisher, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Ryan Patel, Ollie Pope, Kemar Roach, Dom Sibley, Jamie Smith, James Taylor, Dan Worrall, Yousef Majid.
As mentioned briefly above, the last time we faced Surrey was in the final game of the 2024 season, also at Chelmsford. Unfortunately, though not unsurprisingly given the time of the year, the match was heavily affected by rain on Day One, with an early close to the day and a completely washed-out Day Two.
As a result, the match effectively turned into a two-day shootout, with Essex at 116/1 after 28 overs going into Day Three.
When Day Three arrived, the September skies cleared, offering a stark contrast to the first two days. The sun was shining, but ultimately, there was little time left for a result to materialise.
At 4:10pm, both sides shook hands, and Surrey’s title ceremony soon followed.
Click here for Part One of a team-by-team preview of each of this year's Division One contenders, and click here for Part Two.
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.
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, general admission tickets are priced at £16.00 for adults, while young adults aged between 18 and 25 can buy at any time for £12.00 and under-18 tickets cost just £6.00.
Please note that individual adult tickets will rise in price to £20.00 if bought on the day.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 01245 254010.
Essex Cricket is pleased to announce that young seamer, Mackenzie Jones, has signed a rookie contract with the Club.
The 20-year-old has been part of the Club’s Pathway from a young age, starting with the U12s in 2017. He was later brought onto the Elite Players Programme in 2019 and officially joined the academy in 2023 - the same year he took figures of 3/45 for the Second XI against Middlesex.
Jones represented Scotland in the U19s World Cup last year, the same tournament in which Charlie Allison, Luc Benkenstein and Noah Thain represented England.
He began playing club cricket for Maldon Cricket Club, but most recently has been applying his craft for Essex Premier League side Colchester & East Essex Cricket Club. During his studies at Loughborough University, Jones played for the University Centre of Cricket Excellence (UCCE) after a successful trial.
On signing the contract, Jones said: "I'm extremely excited to sign this rookie summer contract with Essex.
"After progressing through the age groups, to the academy and eventually the Second XI, I'm really looking forward to this season and will take every opportunity when I'm called upon.
"This is a really special moment for me and my family."
Jones will wear the number 59 shirt and we all wish Mac the best for the season!
Drop him a follow on Instagram: @macjones._
Come down to Chelmsford this summer to watch the Eagles live in our new T20 shirt.
Our first home Vitality Blast T20 fixture features a double header - Essex Women v Somerset Women (12pm) & Essex Men v Somerset Men (4pm).
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so have a browse and get your Vitality Blast T20 tickets booked.
With the new season just around the corner, let's take a look at the Rothesay County Championship Division One teams, highlighting overseas signings, key players from last season and wildcard picks to keep an eye on.
This Part Two preview will focus on Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Part One featured Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Somerset. Click here for Part One.
Captain: Rory Burns
Head Coach: Gareth Batty
Overseas: Nathan Smith (New Zealand), Kemar Roach (West Indies)
2024 finish: 1st
2024 leading run-scorer: Rory Burns (1,073)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Dan Worrall (52)
Championship titles: 23 (most recent in 2024)
The big question: Can anyone dethrone the back-to-back-to-back champions?
Key players from last season: Rory Burns, left-handed top order batter (1073 runs at an average of 53.65) Dan Worrall, right-arm pace bowler (52 wickets at an average of 16.15) and Jordan Clark, right-arm pace bowler & right-handed batter (38 wickets at an average of 25.97 and 467 runs at an average of 33.65).
Wildcard watch: Surrey strengthened their bowling lineup for this season with the signing of Matthew Fisher, who joined from Yorkshire at the end of last season. The seamer took 27 wickets in seven matches last year at an average of 22.25, helping Yorkshire secure promotion back to Division One. Fisher played for the England U19s at just 15-years-old and made his Championship debut at 17.
Final thought: Many are predicting Surrey will defend their County Championship title again this season due to the number of international stars they possess, and it wouldn't be a surprise to many fans up and down the country if they completed the four-peat.
Captain: John Simpson
Head Coach: Paul Farbrace
Overseas: Daniel Hughes (Australia), Gurinder Sandhu (Australia), Jayden Seales (West Indies), Jaydev Unadkat (India)
2024 finish: 1st in Division Two (promoted)
2024 leading run-scorer: John Simpson (1,197)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Jack Carson (50)
Championship titles: 3 (most recent in 2007)
The big question: How will Sussex fare on their return to Division One?
Key players from last season: John Simpson, left-handed wicketkeeper batter (1197 runs at an average of 74.81) Tom Haines, left-handed top order batter (819 runs at an average of 40.85) and Ollie Robinson, right-arm pace bowler (39 wickets at an average of 25.53).
Wildcard watch: Sussex's youngest-ever debutant at 16 years old, James Coles, impressed when he took the wickets of Rory Burns, Ben Foakes, and Jamie Smith back in 2020. The 21-year-old played in all 14 of Sussex's Division Two fixtures last season, helping them clinch the title. The all-rounder scored 707 runs at an average of 39.27 and took 18 wickets.
Final thought: It’s been 10 years since Sussex were in Division One. With Mark Robinson rejoining the Sharks under the leadership of Paul Farbrace, the Sussex faithful will be hoping for a promising return to the top division.
Captain: Alex Davies
Head Coach: Ian Westwood
Overseas: Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Vishwa Fernando (Sri Lanka), Tom Latham (New Zealand), Beau Webster (Australia)
2024 finish: 7th
2024 leading run-scorer: Alex Davies (1,115)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Oliver Hannon-Dalby (50)
Championship titles: 8 (most recent in 2021)
The big question: Will a change in coach revitalise Warwickshire's fortunes?
Key players from last season: Olly Hannon-Dalby, right-arm pace bowler (50 wickets at an average of 22.28) Ed Barnard, right-handed middle order batter & right-arm pace bowler (840 runs at an average of 40 and 25 wickets at an average of 36.40) and Sam Hain (430 runs in eight games at an average of 39.09).
Wildcard watch: England U19 captain, Hamza Shaikh, made his first-class debut in an England Lions tour match against Sri Lanka at Worcester last year. The 18-year-old right-handed batter played a handful of first-class games for Warwickshire at the back end of last season before heading off with the England Lions during the off-season.
Final thought: Warwickshire's new head coach, Ian Westwood, played in over 250 matches for the team before retiring in 2017. The Bears' lower mid-table finish last season should motivate them to finish higher this year and potentially bring the Division One trophy back to Edgbaston for the first time since 2021.
Captain: Brett D'Oliveira
Head Coach: Alan Richardson
Overseas: Jacob Duffy (New Zealand)
2024 finish: 6th
2024 leading run-scorer: Kashif Ali (767)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Nathan Smith/Tom Taylor/Joe Leach (all 27)
Championship titles: 5 (most recent in 1989)
The big question: Can Worcestershire kick on in their second top flight season?
Key players from last season: Kashif Ali, right-handed top order batter (767 runs at an average of 42.61) Jake Libby, right-handed top order batter (710 runs at an average of 32.27) and Tom Taylor, right-arm pace bowler (27 wickets at an average of 21.48).
Wildcard watch: Tall, right-arm pace bowler Ben Allison officially made the switch from Essex to New Road last September, following a loan spell with the Pears. During the loan period, Allison featured in two matches and took seven wickets at an average of 20.28. More than capable with the bat as well, the 25-year-old will be looking to help cement Worcestershire's position in Division One following their promotion in 2023.
Final thought: Stalwart at New Road, Joe Leach, retired at the end of last season following a a solid mid-table finish last season for Worcestershire. Could Worcestershire kick on and finish amongst the best this season?
Captain: Jonny Bairstow
Head Coach: Anthony McGrath
Overseas: Will Sutherland, Jordan Buckingham (both Australia)
2024 finish: 2nd in Division Two (promoted)
2024 leading run-scorer: Adam Lyth (1,215)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Ben Coad (56)
Championship titles: 32 (most recent in 2015)
The big question: How disruptive will newly-promoted Yorkshire be in Division One?
Key players from last season: Ben Coad, right-arm pace bowler (56 wickets at an average of 15.80) Adam Lyth, left-handed top order batter (1215 runs at an average of 57.85) and Jordan Thompson, right-arm pace bowler (32 wickets at an average of 30.78).
Wildcard watch: 24-year-old James Wharton could be a name to watch this season. He has been part of the Yorkshire setup since the U14s level, having captained both the academy and Second XI during their Championship-winning season in 2022. Last year, Wharton scored 833 runs at an average of 64.07, and he'll be looking to produce similar—or even better—numbers now that the club is in Division One.
Final thought: Yorkshire have appointed former Essex Cricket duo Anthony McGrath (head coach) and Mick Lewis (bowling coach) as part of their revamped backroom staff. With McGrath's successful track record at Essex, the Yorkshire faithful will be hopeful that the team's return to Division One will be a successful one at Headingley.
A familiar face at Chelmsford during the cricket season, Geoff Smith is Essex’s oldest living capped player and a true gentleman, always happy to reminisce about a bygone era of county cricket.
Born in Braintree on 2nd April 1935, Geoff celebrates his 90th birthday today. He spent 12 seasons with Essex between 1955 and 1966, initially as an off-break bowler and useful batsman. Over time, his batting took prominence as he moved up the order, while his bowling became less frequent. In total, Geoff made 239 first-class appearances for Essex, scoring over 8,500 runs, including four centuries, and achieving 1,000 runs in a season on four occasions.
Renowned for his impeccable appearance during his playing days, Geoff’s sartorial elegance remains unchanged. Always neatly attired, he enjoys reflecting on his career and offering insights into today’s game.
“I joined the Essex ground staff straight from school at 16, alongside Brian Taylor, Michael Bear, Les Savill, and Barry Knight—we all progressed through the Essex Schoolboys teams,” Geoff recalls.
“When we joined the staff, Frank Rist was our coach. He was a kind and fair man who didn’t rule with an iron rod but commanded respect. If you stepped out of line, you felt you’d let him down as well as yourself. We all had our moments, but we knew Frank was in charge.”
After two years with the Club and Ground and Second XI teams, Geoff’s career was interrupted by National Service. “I joined the RAF in June 1953 and returned to Essex on 3rd June 1955. Shortly after, I made my first-class debut against Gloucestershire at Chalkwell Park. We were 180 for 7 when I joined Doug Insole at the crease. He was unorthodox but brilliant. He advised me to block the ball and see how far we could go. Doug went on to score a century, and I finished 27 not out before we declared.”
That debut remains a cherished memory, especially as his parents, who ran The Star pub in Braintree, listened to John Arlott’s BBC commentary. “We won the match, which was a perfect way to round off my debut.”
Feeling confident after his early performances, Geoff quickly learned the game’s challenges. “We played Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, where I faced Bruce Dooland, an Australian leg-spinner. I couldn’t lay a bat on him. In frustration, I charged down the wicket, middled the ball beautifully—straight to mid-off. That moment taught me how difficult this game really was.”
Geoff speaks highly of Essex captain Doug Insole. “He never asked anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself. If we were setting up a declaration, he’d be the first to bowl or take charge of a run chase. I often batted with him when I opened, and he came in at four. It was always a pleasure—never dull.”
A special milestone came in 1958 at Clacton. “The wickets there were often tricky, especially when the tide came in. Hampshire had a strong attack with Derek Shackleton and Vic Cannings. I was batting at number three, and we lost wickets quickly. Ken Preston came in at number 10, and the last man, Alan Hurd, wasn’t much of a batsman. I reached 96 but couldn’t find singles. Then Cannings bowled a ball on leg stump, and I hit it over mid-wicket for six to bring up my first hundred. My teammates were genuinely delighted, which reflected the camaraderie we had.”
Geoff played during an era rich with talent. “We competed against top players who barely played for England but dominated county cricket—Middlesex’s Jack Robertson, Worcestershire’s Don Kenyon, and many others. Watching players like Peter May and Colin Cowdrey bat was a privilege. I remember fielding at cover when May drove a ball at me with such force it was unbelievable.”
Westcliff’s Chalkwell Park was another cherished ground. “During a festival week, we played Somerset. Gordon Barker was injured, so Les Savill and I opened on a bad wicket. We put on 99, and I scored two 70s in a day when 28 wickets fell—quite the occasion.”
Despite his love for the game, Geoff laments some modern trends. “Cricket is a wonderful sport, but gamesmanship has crept in. In our time, if you edged a ball and didn’t walk, you wouldn’t play the next game. Doug Insole insisted we uphold integrity, even telling umpires before matches, ‘My lads will walk if they nick it, but I don’t want silly LBW decisions in return.’ That was fair, wasn’t it?”
Before Essex had a permanent home, they played across multiple festival grounds, including the Hoffman Sports Ground in Chelmsford. “We had two Championship matches there, and in 1961 against Derbyshire, I scored 148—my highest first-class score, with five sixes and 18 fours.”
Playing on outgrounds had its quirks. “Local council groundsmen prepared the pitches, and they weren’t always ideal. There’s a story that Tom Graveney once said, ‘You knew you were near an Essex ground because of the green glow in the sky.’ Trevor Bailey, when he was our captain, liked green wickets, which suited his bowling but made life difficult for openers facing England’s best new-ball bowlers.”
Geoff retired in 1966 and became a director at Pope & Smith, a sports retail company. He still enjoys playing golf and remains an avid follower of the game.
Reflecting on his career, he says, “We played for the love of the game and for our supporters. I wasn’t a star, just an ordinary county cricketer, but I had a wonderful career alongside some great players, and the memories live on.”
Happy birthday, Geoff!
With the new season just around the corner, let's take a look at the Rothesay County Championship Division One teams, highlighting overseas signings, key players from last season and wildcard picks to keep an eye on.
This Part One preview will focus on Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Somerset.
Part Two will feature Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
Captain: Alex Lees
Head Coach: Ryan Campbell
Overseas: David Bedingham (South Africa), Brendan Doggett (Australia)
2024 finish: 5th
2024 leading run-scorer: David Bedingham (1,331)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Matt Potts (33)
Championship titles: 3 (most recent in 2013)
The big question: Can Durham's new signings help them kick on?
Key players from last season: Ollie Robinson, right-hand wicketkeeper batter (871 runs at an average of 48.38) Matthew Potts, right-arm pace bowler (33 wickets at an average of 25.39) and David Bedingham, top order right hand batter (1131 runs at an average of 78.29).
Wildcard watch: Signed from Derbyshire last summer on a two-year deal, Sam Connors could be in for an exciting year with Durham. After originally making his debut in 2019, Connors' breakthrough season came in 2022, when he took 50 wickets in Division Two. This led to an England Lions call-up for the Nottingham-born seamer, who went on to claim figures of 4/25.
Final thought: With Durham's new signings for the 2025 season alongside their England stars, many are suggesting that the team could secure their first Division One title since 2013.
Captain: Tom Westley
Director of Cricket: Chris Silverwood
Overseas: Simon Harmer (South Africa)
2024 finish: 4th
2024 leading run-scorer: Dean Elgar (1,144)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Jamie Porter (56)
Championship titles: 8 (most recent in 2019)
The big question: What impact will a change at the top have?
Key players from last season: Sam Cook, right-arm pace bowler (43 wickets at an average of 17.30) Jordan Cox, right-hand wicketkeeper batter (918 runs at an average of 66.57) and Jamie Porter, right-arm pace bowler (56 wickets at an average of 19.25).
Wildcard watch: A star boy who climbed through the age groups, pathway, and academy at Essex Cricket, Charlie Allison is one to watch this season. The 20-year-old made his List A debut in 2023 and his T20 debut in 2024, with batting averages of 38.80 and 59.50, respectively. Allison's next goal is to break into the red-ball team and continue his growth into the professional game, after opening the batting for the Eagles during pre-season friendlies.
Final thought: Essex Cricket has a new look off the pitch, with new CEO Dan Feist and Director of Cricket Chris Silverwood. Fans are hopeful that these two will deliver the club their first County Championship since their double-winning season six years ago.
Captain: Ben Brown
Head Coach: Adi Birrell
Overseas: Kyle Abbott (South Africa), Jack Edwards (Australia)
2024 finish: 2nd
2024 leading run-scorer: James Vince (986)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Kyle Abbott (55)
Championship titles: 2 (most recent in 1973)
The big question: How will a James Vince-less Hampshire fare?
Key players from last season: Liam Dawson, right-handed middle order batter & left-arm spinner (956 runs at an average of 59.75 and 54 wickets at 25.14) Kyle Abbott, right-arm pace bowler (55 wickets at an average of 20.36) and Nick Gubbins, left-handed batter (895 runs at an average of 55.93).
Wildcard watch: A tall 23-year-old seamer, John Turner could be someone to watch this summer. While Turner hasn't played frequently in the red-ball format, in the few matches he has featured in, he has taken 14 wickets in three games at an average of 19.85. He was part of the England Lions squad over the winter and claimed three wickets in a match earlier this year against an Australia XI. With Mohammed Abbas moving to Nottinghamshire, this could present an opportunity for Turner to showcase his red-ball skills.
Final thought: It’s been over 50 years since Hants last won the County Championship, and fans will be hoping this is the year they break the drought, following their runners-up finish last season.
Captain: Haseeb Hameed
Head Coach: Peter Moores
Overseas: Kyle Verreynne (South Africa), Fergus O'Neill (Australia), Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)
2024 finish: 8th
2024 leading run-scorer: Haseeb Hameed (1,091)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Dillon Pennington (31)
Championship titles: 6 (most recent in 2010)
The big question: Where do Nottinghamshire go from here?
Key players from last season: Haseeb Hameed, right-handed top order batter (1091 runs at an average of 51.95) Ben Duckett, left-handed top order batter (323 runs in three matches at an average of 53.83) and Dillon Pennington (31 wickets at an average of 23.80).
Wildcard watch: After being named to the England U19s squad as a 15-year-old for the U19s World Cup last year, Farhan Ahmed went on to make his Nottinghamshire debut at 16. Playing away at Essex, Ahmed took three wickets, followed by six wickets at Kent and three more in the final game of the season against Warwickshire. Ahmed spent the winter playing for the England U19s in a series against South Africa U19s. The young right-arm off-spinner starred in a Test match, where he claimed nine wickets in total, alongside a score of 90 and 21 while batting at seven.
Final thought: After a challenging campaign last season, finishing eighth, Notts will be wanting to steer clear of relegation threat in 2025.
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Head Coach: Jason Kerr
Overseas: Riley Meredith (Australia, possible), Matt Henry (New Zealand), Migael Pretorius (South Africa)
2024 finish: 3rd
2024 leading run-scorer: Tom Lammonby (941)
2024 leading wicket-taker: Jack Leach (45)
Championship titles: 0
The big question: Will the hurt of last season spur Somerset to a first Championship title?
Key players from last season: Jack Leach, left-arm spinner (45 wickets at an average of 22.77) Tom Abell, right-handed batter (658 runs at an average of 50.61) and Lewis Gregory (31 wickets at an average of 24.87).
Wildcard watch: Archie Vaughan - another young talent on the scene. The son of Michael Vaughan, Archie made his debut for Somerset last year and has since been a regular fixture in their side. The all-rounder impressed with a match-winning performance against Surrey, taking 11 wickets, including a career-best 6/102. He is also capable with the bat, averaging 33.71 in the four matches he played last season. Vaughan represented England U19s over the winter, where he put in a standout performance, collecting 6/19 against South Africa U19s.
Final thought: Somerset consistently find themselves in the top half of the County Championship table and reached two white-ball finals last season. Fans will be hoping that the leadership of Lewis Gregory and Jason Kerr will propel them back into trophy contention in 2025.
