All-rounder Lissy Macleod has agreed a deal to join Essex Women ahead of the newly-professional squad’s first season.
Macleod, 30, hails from Ascot in Berkshire, and spent the first decade of her cricket career playing for her home county, having made her debut in 2008 at the age of 14.
In 2020, she joined Sunrisers for their maiden campaign following the restructure of domestic women’s cricket under the regional model, and went on to play a total of 46 matches in both formats.
Within that time, Macleod, who has to date combined playing with her role as Head of Girls’ Cricket at Felsted School, hit 836 runs with a top score of 79, and claimed six List A wickets with her off-spin.
She was selected by Welsh Fire in 2021 for the inaugural season of The Hundred, and also represented Southern Vipers and Western Storm in the now-defunct Kia Super League between 2016 and 2018.
"It’s a brilliant moment personally and professionally to join Essex, and after the perfect way we were able to cap off the Sunrisers era, I’m excited to contribute to a new team,” said Macleod.
"The similarity in squads from the winning team last year fills me with every confidence in the Club and our aspirations for 2025 and beyond."
Team Director, Andy Tennant, added: "We’re thrilled to add Lissy to the squad ahead of our debut season in Essex colours.
"Her ability with the bat will be vital, and her off-spin has the potential to change games, but her experience and what she can pass on to the younger members of the squad will be just as invaluable."
From priority ticketing for matches at our iconic HQ in Chelmsford to special events, and opportunities to engage with players and coaching staff, your Membership offers a unique opportunity to join the Club throughout the 2025 season.
Purchase your 2025 Membership now by clicking the link below, or by calling the Ticket and Membership Office on 01245 254010 between 10am and 4pm on Monday to Friday.
2025 may only be a few days old, but excitement is already building for the height of summer as Vitality Blast action returns to Chelmsford.
Essex Members and supporters will have the chance to buy Blast Passes and matchday tickets as they go on sale this month, with Essex Members' priority window opening next Wednesday 15 January. See below for a full list of on sale dates or click here to view on sale dates and ticket prices.
Two double-headers, which will see both Essex Men and Essex Women in action on the same day, will crown a summer of cricket in CM2, with Adult tickets starting from £26 and Juniors from £10.
After selling out before January was through in 2024, the Blast Pass is back and bigger than ever for 2025, with purchasers able to gain entry to all 14 home Men’s and Women’s fixtures, including the double-headers.
Individual tickets to watch the first-ever season of the professional Essex Women’s team represent even better value, starting at just £8 for Adults and £5 for Juniors.
Essex Members will be able to buy Blast Passes and individual tickets from Wednesday 15 January, with an additional Blast Pass priority window following for 2024 buyers before General Sale on Wednesday 22 January.
Tickets will go on sale to 2024 T20 Ticket Buyers on Wednesday 29 January before E-news Subscribers receive priority access on Thursday 06 February. General Sale for matchday tickets is on Wednesday 19 February.
To ensure you get the best seats and can secure your group bookings, you will need to be part of a priority window. If you don't currently receive priority access to tickets, make sure to subscribe to our free e-news below.
View the full ticket prices, and sign up to 'Over and Out!' below.
As a Member of Essex, you’ll gain access to a host of exclusive benefits.
From priority ticketing for matches at our iconic HQ in Chelmsford to special events, and opportunities to engage with players and coaching staff, your Membership offers a unique opportunity to join the Club throughout the 2025 season.
Purchase your 2025 Membership now by clicking the link below, or by calling the Ticket and Membership Office on 01245 254010 between 10am and 4pm on Monday to Friday.
Welsh all-rounder Kate Coppack has become the 14th player to join the ranks of the newly-professional Essex Women.
Coppack, 30, previously represented Sunrisers under the old regional model of women’s domestic cricket between 2021 and 2024.
She originally hails from Cheshire, and until 2018 represented her home county before moving to Middlesex in 2019, where she continued to play in between her Sunrisers commitments.
In all, she played 51 matches across both List A and T20 cricket for Sunrisers, claiming 46 wickets at a combined average of 29.07.
Her best bowling return of 4/27 came in the 2024 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final, claiming the Player of the Match award on the way to helping Sunrisers to a 27-run win that saw them lift that piece of silverware for the very first time.
"I’m incredibly happy to sign a deal with Essex and continue my cricket career at a very exciting time for the women’s game,” said Coppack.
"With so many of us having made the move across from Sunrisers, we already have a really strong bond, and we have experience of winning silverware too!
"I can’t wait for the season, to step out and play cricket again with a really talented squad, and see what we can achieve."
Team Director, Andy Tennant, added: "We're continuing to build a really strong group as we gear up for our first season representing Essex, and signing Kate only further serves to underline our ambition.
"She has all the tools in her armoury that you could want from a seam bowler, and we are incredibly excited to add her considerable skillset to our attack."
As a Member of Essex, you’ll gain access to a host of exclusive benefits.
From priority ticketing for matches at our iconic HQ in Chelmsford to special events, and opportunities to engage with players and coaching staff, your Membership offers a unique opportunity to join the Club throughout the 2025 season.
Purchase your 2025 Membership now by clicking the link below, or by calling the Ticket and Membership Office on 01245 254010 between 10am and 4pm on Monday to Friday.
Everyone at Essex Cricket would like to wish our Members and supporters a very happy New Year and we look forward to you being part of an exciting 2025 campaign.
As we welcome 2025, Essex Cricket is gearing up for an action-packed year that promises thrilling moments on and off the field. With exciting fixtures across both men’s and women’s cricket, as well as hosting more international cricket with the T20 fixture between England Women and West Indies Women at Chelmsford in May, the season is set to be one to remember.
The Essex men’s side will kick off the County Championship season with a highly anticipated rematch of last summer’s finale, as Surrey visit The Cloud County Ground from Friday 04 April.
This games is one of three home fixtures at The Cloud County Ground in the opening block of games and a chance to watch the team in action for the first time following the return of Chris Silverwood as Director of Cricket.
Silverwood’s side will be embarking on three away trips to Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Worcestershire before the Vitality Blast commences.
In the Metro Bank One Day Cup, the men’s team begins the 50-over campaign in August with away games against Nottinghamshire and Hampshire, followed by a series of home fixtures, including defending champions Glamorgan.
The T20 season gets underway in late May and promises to be an unforgettable competition this year with Essex’s men and women competing side by side. The men’s team begins their campaign with a double-header against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl on Friday 30 May, before returning to Chelmsford for the opening home game against Somerset on Sunday 01 June.
This year marks a historic milestone, as Essex will also be hosting two men’s and women’s double-header fixtures at The Cloud County Ground and your chance to support both teams on the same day.
Rivals Week promises added drama, with Essex’s men facing Kent Spitfires at Chelmsford on Friday 20 June. The group stage concludes with the ‘Friday Finale’ on 18 July, where Essex’s men face Kent at Canterbury, while the women play Durham at Chelmsford.
Essex Women will open their season in the new Metro Bank One Day Cup with an away fixture against Durham on Wednesday 23 April. The home campaign starts just days later, as they take on Warwickshire at The Cloud County Ground.
With a packed schedule running from April through September, the women’s side will face The Blaze, Somerset, and Lancashire. Home games against Somerset, Hampshire, and The Blaze promise thrilling action for fans in Chelmsford.
Supporters can enjoy a summer of women’s cricket with all 14 Essex games in 2025 being played at the Club’s headquarters in CM2.
Adding to the excitement of the women’s game, The Cloud County Ground will once again host an international clash as England Women take on West Indies Women in a Vitality IT20 clash in May. Chelmsford has long been a fortress for England Women, and this match is set to draw a passionate crowd eager to see world-class cricket on home soil.
Tickets for this fixture are already in short supply following a huge uptake during the ticket launch dates late last year.
With a mix of domestic and international cricket, 2025 is set to be an exciting year at Essex Cricket. From the County Championship’s twists and turns to white-ball drama in the Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup, and the return of international action to Chelmsford, there’s something for every cricket fan.
As a Member of Essex CCC, you’ll gain access to a host of exclusive benefits.
From priority ticketing for matches at our iconic HQ in Chelmsford to special events, and opportunities to engage with players and coaching staff, your Membership offers a unique opportunity to join the Club throughout the 2025 season.
Purchase your 2025 Membership now by clicking the link below.
Essex Cricket's Club Photographers, Gavin Ellis, Ray Lawrence, and Harry Trump, have selected their favourite snaps from 2024.
You were able to see a small selection of them in the latest issue of the Members' Magazine, but the full selection from each of our three snappers can be seen below.
Magnificence from Michael Pepper as his innings of 101 from just 44 deliveries helped the Eagles romp to Vitality Blast victory with 14 balls to spare against Middlesex.
The visitors must have thought their score of 203-7 was a tough act to follow but Pepper had other ideas. The late evening sun made for a nice image as he left the field to a standing ovation.
Jordan Cox certainly hit the ground running after his move to Essex for the 2024 season. I had the pleasure of photographing his remarkable innings at Canterbury in May.
He compiled 207 runs from 255 balls to set up a comprehensive away win by an innings and 96 runs.
A bumper crowd was in attendance for the first day of the Championship match against Warwickshire.
Also I was able to meet and photograph stadium artist Andy Brown as he painted a picture of the ground on a beautiful late spring Friday. Perfect.
The turnaround in the evening session of day 3 against Warwickshire epitomised fighting spirit.
Having batted indifferently in pursuit of the visitors’ first innings total, Sam Cook and Jamie Porter led a sensational session. The passion and intensity was absolutely great to witness.
Jamie Porter’s celebration on taking his 500th wicket when dismissing Jordan Clark of Surrey was reasonably muted, but the achievement was recognised roundly by his playing colleagues.
It was a fantastic achievement, and a great moment to capture.
Amu Surenkumar starred with the bat for Essex Women against Kent in the Battle of Bridge under the lights at The Cloud County Ground.
The innings propelled Essex to a target beyond the visitors’ reach, and the passion displayed was great to see.
This is Aaron Beard at Taunton during a Vitality Blast match. It’s something that happens more or less every ball when fielding, but with the T20 match times being different to most it can look good with a silhouette.
This type of image is always fun to create, because it gives a perspective that 99% of people inside the ground on the day would almost never get to see for themselves.
This was one of my absolute favourites across the entire season! It really shows Jordan’s personality at a spontaneous moment, which is something you’re always trying to illustrate.
Vitality County Championship days are a game of patience, so when a celebration comes your way, it makes it worthwhile – and especially one like this, from Jamie Porter!
As a Member of Essex, you’ll gain access to a host of exclusive benefits.
From priority ticketing for matches at our iconic HQ in Chelmsford to special events, and opportunities to engage with players and coaching staff, your Membership offers a unique opportunity to join the Club throughout the 2025 season.
Purchase your 2025 Membership now by clicking the link below, or by calling the Ticket and Membership Office on 01245 254010 between 10am and 4pm on Monday to Friday.
