Our ever-popular Shared Christmas Party Saturday Nights sold out last week! But we’re excited to share that we now have an additional 90 places available on Saturday 02 December 2023.
With prices starting from just £45.00 per person, The Cloud County Ground is the perfect venue to celebrate the festive season with friends, family or colleagues. Or, if you’re looking for a more intimate setting, book a Private Christmas Party with us in one of our large versatile event spaces.
Essex Cricket is delighted to announce that Leytonstone-born batter Robin Das has signed a contract extension to keep him at the Club until the end of the 2025 season.
The 21-year-old, who is a product of the Essex Academy, hit a memorable century on his First-Class debut against Ireland this summer, having previously made his T20 and List A bows in 2020 and 2022, respectively.
A positive batter who often looks to seize the initiative, Das’s style is demonstrated in his respective strike rates, with that metric sitting above 100 in all three formats.
Indeed, his Ireland ton was an exhibition of hitting as he racked up 132 in just 118 deliveries, and he then followed it up just four days later with a swashbuckling 33-ball 69 in the Vitality Blast opener against Gloucestershire.
Not content with that, he also broke records by striking two sparkling consecutive double-centuries for the 2nd XI in September, becoming the first recorded Essex player to achieve that feat.
Having amassed 214 in a crushing innings victory against Kent, Das made even more of an impression a week later away to Middlesex, notching 232 off just 180 deliveries to end 2023 with 669 2nd XI Championship runs.
“I’m really happy to get this contract signed, especially after what was such a memorable season for me,” said Das. “I really feel at home here, and that environment has allowed me to play my natural game.
“I’m obviously someone who likes to play with freedom, and it’s fantastic that the coaches and the rest of the guys we have here are willing to let me do that because it’s a really fun way to play!”
Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “It’s great for all of us here that such a talented and dynamic batter like Robin has extended his time at the Club.
“We knew he had a lot of natural talent when he was coming through the pathway, but we’ve seen that properly begin to manifest itself with the season he’s just had.
“He has such a high ceiling, and we’re now really looking forward to seeing him reach even loftier targets in the years to come.”
There is an argument that the term ‘GOAT’ – ‘Greatest Of All Time’ – has recently become quite overused in a sporting context; after all, the very nature of the description means only one person can actually hold it.
However, when it comes to English cricket, there is very little debate that the holder is one Alastair Cook, who, over the last two decades, carved out a career so glorious that topping his legacy will be a near-impossible task.
From the thousands upon thousands of runs that came off his bat to the silverware he won, from the records he set to the honours he was awarded, this is a look at some of the numbers generated by one of cricket’s very best.
01/03/2006: A famous day
Cook was originally scheduled to spend most of February and March 2006 in the Caribbean with the England Lions, and indeed made quite the start to that tour with a century in a warm-up match against an Antigua XI.
However, he batted only one innings of the opening match against the West Indies A team in St John’s, before he received a call to fly more than 8,500 miles east to Nagpur, India, and join up with the senior England team.
Accompanied by Owais Shah and another unassuming youngster by the name of James Anderson, Cook went straight into the starting XI for the first Test, becoming the 630th man to play in the format for England.
He made his debut alongside Ian Blackwell and Monty Panesar, and although he hit the ground running with a first-innings 60, it was his exploits in the second dig, where he scored 104, that truly foreshadowed his greatness.
3 honours
Cook’s services to his sport were such that he was recognised with individual honours, and accompanying meetings with royalty, no fewer than three times across his career.
His first visit to Buckingham Palace came in December 2011, when he was rewarded with an MBE for his sparkling Ashes series the previous winter and subsequent contribution to England’s rise to world number one Test side.
A little over five years after that, he was upgraded to CBE a few days before relinquishing the Three Lions’ red-ball captaincy, having skippered his country in a then-record 59 Tests, winning seven of his 16 series in charge.
Finally, he was given the highest of honours in February 2019 when he was knighted by the Queen, five months after he had retired from international cricket as England’s highest Test run-scorer of all time.
34,045 all-format senior runs
On the subject of record-breaking runs, scoring thousands upon thousands of them is what Cook did best throughout his career, racking up over 34,000 of them at senior level in all three formats.
The vast majority, 26,643 were unsurprisingly scored in first-class cricket, and contained within that total are the 12,472 Test runs he hit in 161 matches to cement his position as the most prolific Englishman of all time.
However, he also enjoyed a productive time of it in the white-ball arena too, notching 6,510 List A and 892 T20 runs, of which 3,204 and 61 were scored in 92 ODIs and four international T20s, respectively.
Although not one known for his explosive ability, Cook did still hit a single shortest-format century, posting exactly 100 not out off just 57 balls against Surrey at the Oval in 2009, meaning he retires having hit tons in all formats.
1 Test wicket
Although obviously named as a batter in practically every single one of his 562 senior professional appearances, Cook did reveal a handy secret talent in one of his Tests at Trent Bridge in 2014.
With the pitch totally placid to the point that Jimmy Anderson had managed to hit 81, both sides had racked up scores of almost 500 in their first innings before India reached 387-8 in their second dig, leading by 348.
Between them, England’s bowlers had sent down a total of 281 overs across both innings before Cook relieved them by bringing himself on, with his medium pace complete with a comic impersonation of Bob Willis’s run-up.
Whether taking things seriously or not by then, Cook managed to snare the wicket of Ishant Sharma, caught sharply behind by Matt Prior, as he logged a Test bowling average that will forever remain at just 7.00.
9 pieces of Essex silverware
Cook’s appearances for his county were forcibly limited as his international influence grew, but across a 20-year career, he found time to contribute to Essex winning six titles, as well as three additional trophies.
Three were in the red-ball arena, with the 2017 and 2019 County Championships joined by the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy, while he also played his part in victorious Sunday League campaigns in 2005 and 2006.
His remaining title was the 2008 Friends Provident Trophy, and although those six are his top-division pieces of silverware, Cook also contributed to three more Division Two trophies across two formats.
In 2008, Essex finished atop the second tier in the Sunday League, while they were promoted from Division Two of the Championship in 2016 and won the curiously-organised competition of the same name in 2021, with the Championship that year following a ‘conferences’ format.
159 consecutive Tests
Of all his achievements throughout his career, there was little Cook seemed to enjoy more than beating Australia, and even with his Ashes scoring exploits aside, he holds another record which he passed an Australian to break.
Upon taking to the field in the second Test of two against Pakistan in 2018, Cook continued a run of playing in 154 consecutive matches in the format, making him the world-record holder of that particular statistic.
The man he beat was none other than Allan Border, with the former Australian captain being the sort of character who no doubt loved losing his record to an Englishman.
It seems likely that the record, which Cook extended to 159 before retiring, will stand for a long time yet, with the West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite being the highest-ranked current player, though even his unbroken run stands at ‘just’ 77 matches.
73.80 and 57.96: Worcestershire and the Windies’ worst nightmare
Cook may have scored most prolifically against Australia in Test cricket, but that came with the caveat that he also played more matches against them than any other nation.
A better barometer for which opponents suffered most heavily at his hands would be his respective averages, and by that measure, it is the West Indies, who he hit 1,739 runs at 57.96 against, who come out on top.
Domestically, another team beginning with W felt Cook’s wrath more strongly than any other, with Worcestershire conceding 738 runs to him, at a staggering average of 73.80.
Concurrently, there is also no venue above New Road in his averages on any ground he played more than three matches at, with his figure of 95.87 standing clear of his 94.75 at Fenner’s in Cambridge.
In response to this morning’s announcement, Essex Cricket would like to place on record its wholehearted congratulations to Alastair Cook on a truly illustrious career.
The Club is delighted to have been Cook’s home county for the past two decades and is hugely grateful for all his efforts in an Essex shirt.
He hangs up his bat having established himself as one of the greatest to ever play our sport, and all at Essex Cricket wish him further great success in his future endeavours.
Cook’s maiden Test century on his debut is common knowledge, but his class was evident from even before that, with his first-class debut, at home to Nottinghamshire, delivering an unbeaten half-century.
Having hit 957 red-ball runs across his first two summers, including a first hundred against Leicestershire in 2004, Cook would go on to achieve a truly breakout year amid the backdrop of a watershed summer for English cricket.
He was described by former Essex and England captain Keith Fletcher before the 2005 season began as “one of the most exciting prospects I’ve ever seen,” and he roundly backed that up in the months that followed.
Then aged 20, he was capped by the Club in May 2005 prior to a Sunday League match against Glamorgan, and as England crowned off the summer with an unforgettable Ashes win, Cook hit a total of 1,466 first-class runs.
Even that weighty total did not include a sparkling 214 against the Australians in a tour match at Chelmsford, in which he proudly stood firm against a bowling battery containing Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, and Shaun Tait.
Perhaps it was his technique, fluency, or casual domination of a touring attack that took 895 Test wickets between them that caught the eye, but in any event, Cook received full England honours less than six months later.
Despite the inevitability with which many at Chelmsford would have viewed the call, which came from India, it was unexpected for the man himself, who was in the West Indies with the second-string Three Lions at the time.
Having initially been a modern-day Christopher Columbus and ended up in the Caribbean instead of the subcontinent, he arrived in Nagpur to face his first ball in the Test arena, from S. Sreesanth, on 1st March 2006.
He started as he meant to go on, with a fifty and then a century, and twelve years and 12,472 runs later, against the same opponent, he received a handshake from every fielder as he departed the middle at the Oval.
A career in the international arena was bookended by two centuries, and there was no more fitting way for the man who is still his country’s most prolific run-scorer of all time to bow out.
Although he repeatedly put the Australians to the sword across six Ashes series, just as he had done in that tour match, it was curious how many of Cook’s seminal moments seemed to come against India.
Indeed, his only Test wicket, taken on placid fifth-day track at Trent Bridge in 2014, was Ishant Sharma, caught behind by Matt Prior; he will forever hold a Test match bowling average of just seven, suggesting a hidden talent!
He was also part of the 2011 England side that whitewashed the then-ranked world number one Indians to take the top spot themselves, notably hitting his highest individual score of 294 in the third Test at Edgbaston.
There have been many thousands of runs for Essex, too, from that Nottinghamshire debut to the low-key exit he desired at Northamptonshire, as he racked up 15,077 in all formats.
During the former, he shared a dressing room with Andy Flower, his future England coach, and Ronnie Irani, while his last outing saw the presence of six players who were still in primary school on the occasion of his debut.
He won six titles with the Eagles, from the Club’s first County Championship title in 25 years, to back-to-back Sunday League trophies either side of his England Test debut.
Everyone connected to Essex recognises the invaluable nature of Cook’s contributions over the past 20 years, and has their own personal treasured memories with him.
“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege in equal measure to share a field with Chef,” said Club Captain, Tom Westley. “His record speaks for itself, but my experiences with him as a person have been nothing but positive too.
“Not only is he one of England’s and Essex’s greatest cricketers, but what sets him apart is the person and human that he is. He is the epitome of ‘team first’.
“He has always strived to improve as a person, and one thing that has struck me over the last few years has been his humour. He has miraculously become very funny!
“He’s been a wonderful friend within and outside of cricket, and it’s been an honour to share many of my most treasured memories with him over such a long period of time.
“Like many, he has helped me in some of my toughest times, purely just by being Chef. I, we, and the whole of Essex will miss him so much.”
John Stephenson, Chief Executive Officer, added: “Many great players have walked out to the middle at Chelmsford, but by sheer weight of runs, Alastair is undoubtedly up there with the very best of them.
“I know from my conversations with our members and supporters that it’s been a great pleasure and privilege to watch him bat here at Chelmsford, and I can also attest to that.
“Both on behalf of the Club and from a personal point of view, I would like to thank Alastair for all he has done for his county, his country, and his sport, and I wish him the very best as he departs as a true legend.”
Today I am announcing my retirement and the end of my career as a professional cricketer.
It is not easy to say goodbye. For more than two decades, cricket has been so much more than my job. It has allowed me to experience places I never dreamed I would go, be part of teams that have achieved things I would never have thought possible and, most importantly, created deep friendships that will last a lifetime.
From the eight-year-old boy who first played for Wickham Bishops Under 11s to now, I end with a strange feeling of sadness mixed with pride. Although above all, I am incredibly happy.
It is the right time for this part of my life to come to an end. I have always given absolutely everything I possibly have to be the best player I could be, but now I want to make way for the new generation to take over.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Essex, the county I joined when I was aged 12. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone at Chelmsford for everything you have given to me. All of the fans, members and staff have always been so supportive, patient and generous.
When I ended my international career, I had no idea that I would have five more bonus years playing for Essex. I cannot put into words just how much fun we have had during that time. For that I want to thank head coach Anthony McGrath, Ryan ten Doeschate and Tom Westley, my two captains during that time, and all of the players. I won’t miss strapping on my pads and facing the new ball, but I will miss being in the Eagles’ changing room.
Playing a full part in the season when Essex won the County Championship in 2019 is one of my favourite achievements in the game. I look forward to watching Essex continue to punch above their weight, hopefully winning many more trophies in the coming years.
There are so many people I want to thank, too many to mention. However, none of this would have been possible without Graham Gooch. As a seven-year-old boy, Goochie was my hero. He became my coach, mentor and, above all, a great friend. I dread to think of the number of hours he has given up to help me become the best player I could be.
My parents, Graham and Elizabeth, have been so supportive, from my childhood all the way through my career. My brothers Adrian and Laurence made cricket in the back garden so competitive and that set me on my way.
To Alice’s family Chris, Mary, Lizzy and Henry for the huge amount of time, help and advice you have given to us during the past 10 years and more, not forgetting the opportunity to get involved with the farm. If anyone sees a sheep lorry on the roads around Bedfordshire you may want to stay well clear.
Finally, to Alice, for the love and unwavering support you have shown to me. You have been a wonderful mum to Elsie, Isobel and Jack while I travelled the world chasing my dreams. I will never forget the sacrifice you have made for me and our family. Twenty years of fun and adventure, with many more to come.
Although my England career came to an end in 2018, I remain blown away by the amount of affection I receive from England supporters. Wherever I have travelled, you have been there with your enthusiasm, kind words and unshakable belief. English cricket really does have the best fans in the world.
I will never underestimate the privilege I have had to play cricket. I will always be grateful for what the game has given to me. Now, I hope the Bedfordshire Farmers will find space for a has-been ‘all-rounder’ somewhere in their lower order.
Good luck to the England in the World Cup, I look to forward to supporting the team for many years to come.
Essex Cricket is delighted to announce that promising batter Charlie Allison has signed a new rookie contract for the entirety of the 2024 season.
Colchester-born Allison, 18, made his competitive first-team debut against Lancashire in this season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, and went on to score 254 runs at an average of 36.28 across the tournament’s eight matches.
He subsequently made his England Under-19 debut in a Youth Test against Australia following the 50-over competition, and top scored in the first innings of the match with 44.
Having put pen to paper, Allison said: “It’s great news. To get a summer contract, I was really happy with myself, but to perform and then get another, I’m over the moon.
“I just tried to take last year in my stride and play how I’ve always played, and I’m now really excited for the future.”
Head Coach, Anthony McGrath said: “Charlie is a superb young player, and we were really happy to see him translate that significant potential that he has into a solid return of runs this summer.
“Everyone in our dressing room speaks incredibly highly of him and the way he goes about his cricket, and we’re looking forward to him being part of the group again in 2024.”
John Stephenson, Essex Cricket Chief Executive Officer, added: “We pride ourselves at Essex on our ability to bring high-quality young players through the pathway system, and Charlie is the latest example of that.
“We are happy we’ve been able to secure his immediate future now, giving him the best possible grounding to flourish once again in 2024, and we are all excited to see what he can do next summer.”
The 2023 season, even by the lofty standards set by recent Essex campaigns, will live long in the memory for a variety of reasons.
From a first Vitality Blast Finals Day appearance in four years that culminated in the Eagles being part of the most-viewed final in over a decade, to a thrilling title race in the LV= Insurance County Championship that went right down to the wire, there were stirring moments and indelible memories aplenty.
It was hardly just the Men’s First XI who contributed to a special summer, either, as the Women’s London Championship was secured by Essex for the first time.
Several members of that victorious team then played their part in further success, as the Eagles’ U18 Women added the National County T20 cup to the Chelmsford trophy cabinet.
What’s more, the Falcons Ability team completed a sweep of Essex pride across the board as they rounded out their season by reaching the final of the D40 Pursuit competition.
Those moments were celebrated at the Club’s annual End of Season Gala Dinner at Braxted Park on Wednesday 04 October, which was hosted by Graham Gooch, Simon Ward and BBC Essex’s Victoria Polley.
2023 Award Winners
Community Award: Paul Davidge
Paul made a real contribution to women’s and girl’s cricket across the county this season, and in particular, their efforts and success in increasing the number of state schools taking part in female competitions.
Pictured: Rachel Lewis (Essex Cricket in the Community Chair) & Paul Davidge
Ability Young Player of the Year, sponsored by Allen Ford: Amara Law
Opening bowler Amara was a key part as the side reached the regional final this season, taking six wickets with a best of 3/14 to dismiss Kent for 28. She overcame a potentially season-ending back injury to play in that final, though showed her dedication by coming to Hampshire whilst injured and even took over scoring.
Women’s Young Player of the Year, sponsored by MidexPRO: Prisha Bedi
Spinner Prisha played 30 matches across formats for Essex sides this season, of which 16 were for the Under-18 side and 14 for the First XI, taking a total of 40 wickets at an average of 12.00 and with a best return of 4/21 against Nottinghamshire.
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Robin Das
Batter Robin enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, making his First-Class debut, on which he hit a century, and notching more than 500 runs in all formats alongside it. As well as that ton, he had his strongest showings in the Vitality Blast, hitting two half-centuries, with a top-score of 72 off 39 balls against Somerset.
Seniors Team Player of the Year: Phil Whettell
To call batter Phil’s 2023 season good would be to say Alastair Cook had an OK time of it in the Test arena. He had a sparkling campaign in the Essex 50+ side, hitting 739 runs at a scarcely-believable average of 105.57, with five fifties and two centuries, and a top score of 134 not out off 130 balls against Surrey.
Development Team Player of the Year: Om Thekaria
Om Thekaria’s bowling was pivotal in helping his team secure the runner-up position in the East of England Development Competition, taking 9 wickets at an average of 10.
Academy Player of the Year: Noah Thain
Top order batter Noah signed a rookie contract early in the 2023 season, and enjoyed a profitable Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign with 159 runs at an average of 39.75. He also went on to make his international debut for England Under-19s, scoring 219 runs across two Youth Tests and five ODIs against Australia.
Second XI Player of the Year: Charlie Allison
All-rounder turned specialist batter Charlie made waves in the One Day Cup after also agreeing a rookie deal in 2023, scoring 254 runs at an average of 36.28. He went on to play a part in the Youth Tests against Australia as well, top-scoring in the first innings of the first match with 44.
Bowler of the Year: Jamie Porter
It was a fantastic season for Jamie Porter who showed his class throughout the LV= Insurance County Championship. He was the 3rd highest wicket taker in Division One of the County Championship with 57 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls and a 10-fer in victory v Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Batter of the Year: Tom Westley
The Essex skipper showed his class and quality throughout the season, making a huge impact with the bat in the LV= Insurance County Championship campaign. Westley was the second highest run scorer in Division One with a total of 1130 runs.
Performance of the Year: Matt Critchley’s Vitality Blast 5/28 v Middlesex
Leg-spinning all-rounder Matt took home the first of his three awards for his sparkling five-for against Middlesex towards the end of the Blast group-stages. Having bowled Joe Cracknell, he then saw Ryan Higgins and Luke Hollman caught, pinned Jack Davies lbw, and completed his haul with the wicket of Josh de Caires.
White-Ball Player of the Year: Daniel Sams
Following his return as Essex’s second overseas player for the Blast, star Australian all-rounder Daniel was instrumental as the Eagles reached the final, being named the competition’s MVP. He scored 419 runs at 29.92 and claimed 25 wickets at 21.00, leading the way for the Eagles in both departments.
Players’ Player of the Year: Matt Critchley
Following an excellent season with bat and ball, Matt Critchley was voted for by every one of his teammates – highlighting his contribution across the LV= Insurance County Championship and Vitality Blast formats this year.
Ability Player of the Year, sponsored by Allen Ford: Joe Moss
All-rounder Joe had a huge impact after joining the side last winter, finishing as leading run-scorer and wicket-taker for both the Hawks and the Falcons. A strong fielder, Joe hit a season top-score of 70 not out against Surrey and returned best bowling figures of 4/11 in dismissing Middlesex for just 62.
Women’s Player of the Year, sponsored by MidexPRo: Grace Poole
Seam bowler Grace played 13 matches in both 50-over and T20 formats this season, taking 19 wickets at an average of 10.79 and with a best return of 5/49 against Surrey. She also contributed 201 runs, with her top score being an unbeaten fifty in that same Surrey match.
Devines Player of the Year: Matt Critchley
It was a triumphant evening for Matt Critchley, who scooped his third award of the evening. The award caps off a magnificent season for the all-rounder and it was made extra special by the fact that it is voted for by our Members and supporters.
LV= Insurance County Championship
The County Ground, Northampton
Tuesday 26 – Friday 29 September | 10:30am start
Essex undertake their final act of the season when they travel to Northamptonshire for the concluding round of the 2023 County Championship.
A dramatic and gut-wrenching defeat to Hampshire in their last match means that the Eagles head to the East Midlands 20 points behind leaders and defending champions Surrey.
While that gap does not mean the title is decided, a quite dramatic shift would now be required not just in Northampton, but also Southampton, where Surrey are playing their final game, to dethrone the Brown Caps.
In any event, a second-placed finish would still represent a memorable season for Anthony McGrath’s side, and there will, as ever, be more than just pride on the line over the upcoming four days.
Squad:
Head Coach Anthony McGrath has named an 14-strong group to travel to Northampton which is unchanged from the Hampshire encounter.
Dan Lawrence is named in an Essex squad for the final time before he departs in the upcoming off-season.
The Opposition:
Northamptonshire squad: Luke Procter (c), Hassan Azad, Justin Broad, Emilio Gay, Rob Keogh, Simon Kerrigan, Lewis McManus, Karun Nair, Alex Russell, Ben Sanderson, Tom Taylor, Jack White, Saif Zaib
While Northamptonshire did their bit last week in their fight against the drop by impressively holding Surrey to a draw at the Kia Oval, results elsewhere conspired against them and as a result, they have already been officially relegated ahead of this week’s match.
That early sealing of their fate has come about as a result of winning just one match so far this season, back in April against Middlesex, and picking up only seven batting bonus points, fewer than half of the next-highest tally of 15, held by Nottinghamshire.
John Sadler’s side had a slightly more competitive time of it in the white-ball arena this summer, although fell short of any knockout stage appearances, with sixth-placed group-stage finishes in both the Metro Bank One Day Cup and the Vitality Blast.
Key Battle – Tom Westley v Jack White:
Last Time We Met:
Quirkily, this match is taking place exactly a year to the days that these teams last locked horns, with their 2022 fixture taking place from 26 September too, and on that occasion, Essex prevailed in thrilling fashion.
Rain interrupted the first afternoon and the second morning in Northampton, but there was enough time in the remainder of the game for the Eagles to secure a 47-run win after the hosts folded in their second innings.
Both sides’ first innings, with Essex having first dig after being put in, were very much the Ben Allison show, as the all-rounder’s 69 was the top score in the visitors’ total of 263, before he went on to claim 5/32 and a run-out in establishing a first-innings lead of 163.
The pendulum did swing somewhat after the Eagles’ batting efforts the second time around, bowled out for 110 as Jack White claimed 6/38 to set up a tricky but achievable victory chase of 211 for his side.
However, as he has done on so many occasions over the past seven seasons, Simon Harmer came to the fore late in the game, matching White’s haul in taking 6/49 himself as the hosts collapsed from 62-1 to 163 all out.
That exactly matched their first-innings score and handed McGrath’s men a narrow win that saw them finish the Division One season in a comfortable fourth, two places ahead of Northants.
Division One Standings:
How To Watch:
For anyone not travelling to Northampton to watch in person, the game will be streamed live via the hosts, and will be available to watch on the Essex Cricket Matchzone.
Highlights will be available after each day’s play via the Club website, while live updates will also be provided across the Essex Cricket social media channels.
Tickets:
Entry to the County Ground is priced at £15 per day for adults and £5 per day for under-18s.
Anyone making the trip up to the East Midlands can purchase tickets from the Northamptonshire website by visiting the link below:
Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley (c), Dan Lawrence, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Adam Rossington (wk), Simon Harmer, Umesh Yadav, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Hampshire: Fletcha Middleton, Toby Albert, Nick Gubbins (c), James Vince, Tom Prest, Liam Dawson, Ben Brown (wk), Keith Barker, Felix Organ, Kyle Abbott, Mohammad Abbas.
Match Details:
Umpires: Nigel Llong & Steve O’Shaughnessy Match Referee: Simon Hinks Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bat Result: Hampshire won by 3 wickets
Liam Dawson put a cherry on top of his magnificent season with a sublime 119 to give Hampshire victory over Essex, and hand Surrey a significant advantage in the LV=Insurance County Championship title race.
Dawson arrived at the crease at 32 for four, having been set 267 in 59 overs, and with best mate James Vince put on 184 for the fifth wicket – a record for Hampshire for the wicket against Essex.
Dawson struck his third century of the season, his most in a season, and Vince totted up 89 as Hampshire won at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford, for just the fourth time since 1974.
Essex will go into their final fixture against bottom side Northamptonshire, at Wantage Road next week, with a 20-point deficit to leaders Surrey – who face Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Tom Westley’s side had won their last six matches, having only won one of their first six games of the season, but could only watch as Dawson gave them an uphill climb in the final week.
Essex knocked off the last two Hampshire wickets within five overs as they also picked up what could be a crucial third bowling point.
Kyle Abbott chopped Sam Cook onto his own stumps and Tom Prest fell for 108 when he was stumped – Harmer claiming six for 149.
Essex had a 113 first innings lead and had the dilemma of how many runs and how long they’d need to bowl out Hampshire.
Their first funky decision didn’t pay any dividends as the innately attacking Adam Rossington was promoted to open and lasted just three balls.
Alastair Cook, attempted to score quickly but couldn’t find any timing. Eventually he put out his misery when a swish caught an edge behind.
Dan Lawrence, on what is definitely his last home game as an Essex player before he joins Surrey, got things moving with Westley as the duo quickly put on 83 – forced largely to run between the wicket due to Hampshire’s defensive fields cutting off boundary options.
Westley fell to the final before lunch, plinking to long on for 45, while Lawrence moved past his 38th half-century for his boyhood county.
The spell after the interval was a blur of swinging bats, players alternating back and forward from the pavilion. In a 21 balls spell, Essex only managed 20 runs but lost five wickets.
Paul Walter was bowled by Liam Dawson the ball after smacking a huge six, Lawrence slogged straight up and was brilliantly held by wicketkeeper Ben Brown and Matt Critchley perished at long on.
Umesh Yadav went six, six, hole out to long on before the declaration came the ball after Harmer slapped to deep cover.
It ultimately meant Hampshire were set 267 runs to win in a minimum of 59 overs, and without the need of collusion or bartering.
A classic Essex fourth-innings rampage looked in store when Toby Albert was sensationally caught behind down the legside by Rossington.
Harmer entered the attack in the fifth over and had three wickets by the end of the 11th over as Hampshire flopped to 32 for three.
Fletcha Middleton top-edged a sweep, Nick Gubbins had a leading-edge loop to short extra cover, and having survived a dropped catch the ball before, Prest poked to short leg.
The next 39 overs didn’t go to plan for the hosts. Vince and Dawson colonised the crease, initially getting the run-rate towards what was required – typified by Vince reaching his fifty in 45 balls -before stopping taking risks when the win looked out of sight.
There were chances though. Vince was put down on 16 by Matt Critchley and Dawson dribbled one through Alastair Cook’s hands.
But otherwise, it was two experienced heads occupying the crease and picking the bad balls to put away and manipulating the field.
The stand reached 184 before Vince finally misjudged a big shot and was caught at cover.
But it barely deterred Dawson, he had a catch not carry to square leg on 97 before reaching his third ton of the season with a guide to the third boundary.
Dawson chipped to short cover with 20 still required from 22 balls, but Ben Brown and Keith Barker maintained the momentum to give Hampshire a memorable victory with five balls to spare.
Day Three Reaction: Tom Westley
Day Three Highlights:
Day Three Match Report:
Tom Prest brilliantly scored his maiden LV= Insurance County Championship century to frustrate title hopefuls Essex – despite Simon Harmer’s 35th first-class five-wicket haul for the county.
Former England under 19 skipper Prest masterfully scored an unbeaten 102 to guide Hampshire past the follow-on score with vital contributions from Toby Albert, Fletcha Middleton, James Vince and Keith Barker.
South African Harmer claimed five for 143 as he churned away from the River End for 36 overs but Hampshire ended the day on 322 for eight – and 125 runs adrift – with a potential to set up a result on the final day.
Albert and Middleton had seen out seven overs the previous evening and combined on the third morning with a mix of patience and skill to clear the new ball with little problems.
Middleton survived a missed stumping, the first of a few missteps from Essex, on 17 as the 21-year-old openers put on 68.
But the arrival of Paul Walter’s tall left-arm pace to the attack immediately saw the back of Albert, when he pinned him lbw with an in-swinging yorker.
Nick Gubbins pushed to second slip to give Harmer his first before the off-spinner bowled a slog sweeping Middleton for 47.
Vince had arrived with intent to counter and smashed 46 in 45 balls – capped by hitting Matt Critchley back over his head for six.
He and fellow experienced middle-order batter Liam Dawson fell in consecutive overs playing aggressive shots – Vince skying a top edge to long off, while Dawson slogged a sweep from well outside off stump to square leg.
Essex’s title hopes looked bright with Hampshire 141 for five and in a prime follow-on position, and Surrey collapsing at the Kia Oval against Northamptonshire.
But Prest flipped the script by partnering up with the lower-middle order to defy Harmer and bat Hampshire towards a position of strength.
Prest has long been talked about in the same breath as Vince, with his powerful shot-making and wonderful ability to find boundaries.
His red ball form, in his first six outings, had been disappointing, especially compared to his sparkling white-ball record – which included two List A centuries and four Vitality Blast fifties.
Here, he scored 36 of his 69-ball half-century in boundaries with plenty of resilience shown in a dodgy situation for his team.
Prest put on 54 with the uneasy Brown – who survived a simple catch at square leg when on one before he was caught off the bat-pad for Harmer’s fourth.
Prest was dropped by Harmer at second slip the ball after bringing up his first Championship fifty but was otherwise chanceless, amid turn and invariable bounce from Harmer.
Barker, who was so close to winning this fixture last season, utilised his well-honed reverse sweep and dipped into his experience to join forces with his young seventh wicket partner – the pair putting on 89 together.
Barker fell trying to pull Sam Cook before Felix Organ gave Harmer his fifth with a misjudged slog sweep.
Kyle Abbott now stewarded Prest to make sure Hampshire averted the follow-on – which he managed with a pair of sixes in the 77th over. Prest then reached three figures in 119 balls after the second new ball had been taken.
Bad light took the players off just before 16:30 before rain kyboshed any hope of any more play – as those who stayed in the ground were taunted with Surrey’s improving situation being played on the scoreboard.
Day Two Match Highlights:
Day Two Match Report:
Matt Critchley fell one run short of his third LV= Insurance County Championship of the season before title-contenders Essex declared on a hefty 447 against Hampshire.
Critchley had been strolling towards three figures and 1,000 runs for the season but stuttered on 99 before he slapped to short extra cover.
Simon Harmer and Umesh Yadav, the latter in electrifying style, struck half-centuries as Essex continued to tot up the runs before a lunchtime declaration, before Hampshire scored 10 without loss in seven overs.
Essex accrued three batting points in their quest to challenge Surrey for the title – which cancelled out the three bowling points Surrey picked up against Northamptonshire. The points difference since 18.
Having resumed on 310 for six, and just eight overs into the second new ball, Essex had the 350-run bonus point in their sights.
Critchley was more watchful than he had been during his exciting 177-run partnership with centurion Adam Rossington.
He went from 83 in 123 balls to 99 in 162 balls before getting stuck. He batted out a maiden from Liam Dawson – which included him getting dropped off a caught and bowled.
Three more dots off Kyle Abbott followed as he struggled to find a gap in the field, before attempted to hit Dawson over the covers and was caught by Nick Gubbins at short extra cover.
Critchley had never had the misfortune of falling for 99 before, while he now has 969 runs for the season.
His departure sparked an up-turn in the tempo, as Harmer sparked into life and Yadav took a fancy to Dawson and fellow spinner Felix Organ.
They scored 77 runs in seven and a half overs before the declaration came – their 70 stand coming in 69 balls.
Harmer dominated his boundary hitting by rocking onto the backfoot and cutting behind point, although also pinged Dawson over long on after coming down the track.
The South African’s half-century came in 76 balls as he moved past 500 runs in a profitable season from the lower-middle order.
Yadav’s 51 off 45 was breathtaking. The Indian swung hard and far in his four sixes, with his three fours not coming from precision play.
Harmer and Yadav were both caught at long on going for a big shot, with the latter’s bringing the end of the innings and lunch.
Sam Cook sent down three maidens in response, with Harmer’s sole over also runless.
Toby Albert and Fletcha Middleton’s 10 runs all came off Jamie Porter before bad light took the two teams off.
The forecast rain then battered the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford and saw play called off just before 16:30.
Day One Highlights:
Day One Match Report:
Adam Rossington ended his horror season with a century as Essex commanded day one of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Hampshire and boosted their title bid.
Wicketkeeper Rossington came into the match having only scored 188 runs in a season ramshackle by injury and poor form but pushed through the gears to reach 104 – his best for Essex.
Matt Critchley added a ninth Championship fifty to his impressive season after Tom Westley reached 1,000 runs for the campaign on his way to his own half-century.
Essex ended the day on 310 for six, Critchley still going strong on 83 after his 177-run stand with Rossington.
Essex began this penultimate round of fixtures 18 points behind leaders Surrey, and the final challenger to the London side’s hunt of back-to-back titles. They started by winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Third placed Hampshire have a strong role in determining the location of the Championship as they face Surrey in the final round, after potentially making a decisive mark on Essex’s ambitions.
Nick Browne dangled his bat outside off stump to nick behind as Essex slumped to 18 for two, but Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence combined to improve the hosts’ position.
Westley needed 15 runs to reach 1,000 first-class runs this season, something he had only achieved once before – in 2016, when he Ryan ten Doeschate and Browne also piled up four figures. That was the last time at Essex player had achieved the feat.
In fact, only three Essex players – Stuart Law and Paul Grayson in 2001 and Andy Flower in 2003 – have ever scored 1,000 runs in Division One since the Championship splitting into two in 2000.
Westley joined the trio with a flick into the leg side with his 25th delivery.
He ticked along nicely, as he has throughout the season, unleashing the odd straight drive or trademarked flick off the pads on his way to his seventh half-century of the season.
He didn’t score another run as he drove Kyle Abbott to third slip. It ended a 64-run stand with Lawrence – who is definitely making his last home Chelmsford appearance ahead of his move to Surrey.
Lawrence fell three overs later to Liam Dawson, having struck back-to-back boundaries, edged to first slip, with the left-arm spinner also picking up the skittish Paul Walter lbw to leave Essex 132 for five.
The demise was short-lived as Critchley found his flow quickly, reaching his half-century in 70 balls.
It wasn’t a boundary-a-thon though. He only scored to fours and a sliced six down the ground off Dawson, with 28 milking singles controlling his scoring.
Critchley, Rossington and Walter had all been awarded their Essex county caps at lunchtime. Like Critchley, Rossington celebrated with 50 – his first of a frustrating season.
It came in 83 balls and was brought up with a six over long on – which also moved his alliance with Critchley past 100.
He raced past Critchley’s scoring with his second fifty coming in 56 balls to bring up his second ton for Essex, since moving from Northamptonshire at the beginning of last summer.
Rossington’s assault ended on 104 as he attempted to yahoo-one over midwicket and was caught behind, but Essex cruised to the close – which came to an early due to bad light, having earlier been on and off for rain.
Essex Cricket is pleased to announce that batter Feroze Khushi has signed a one-year contract extension, tying him to the Club until the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Khushi, born just 25 miles from The Cloud County Ground in Whipps Cross, is a graduate of the Essex academy and has been a part of the Eagles’ first XI since making his first-class debut in 2020.
The 24-year-old followed his red-ball bow in August that year with his T20 debut seven weeks later, before completing the set with a maiden Essex List A appearance the following year.
Over the last three years, Khushi has totalled more than 1,500 runs for the Eagles, with his all-format prowess indicated by his red-ball high score of 164, a List A average north of 45, and a T20 strike rate of just under 130.
He has continued to flourish in 2023, and despite a hand injury keeping him out of action for six weeks of the summer, he has still chalked up five half-centuries across all three formats this year.
Having signed on the dotted line, Khushi said: “I’m delighted to extend my contract with Essex for another year, and I think this has come at the perfect time for me.
“With the season I’ve had, where I’ve scored more T20 runs than ever before, I’m feeling really good about my career at the moment, and even though I’ve had to endure some tough moments during the season with injury, I’ve pushed through those and come back stronger.
“My focus now is getting my head down and repaying the faith which the club have placed in me for another year by both building even more on this season and hopefully winning Essex some trophies.”
Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “We’re really happy that Feroze has signed on with us, because it’s always great when you can bring local players right through from the academy to the first team.
“Feroze has certainly shown us what he’s capable of this season and has been a valuable member of the squad.
“That said, we all know there’s a lot more to come from him, and we’re really excited to work with him going forward as we look to make him the best possible cricketer he can be.”
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