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The LV= Insurance County Championship returns to Chelmsford for one final time this season for the visit of Northamptonshire.

There’s still all to play for with the chance to clinch the Division Two trophy and repeat the feat we achieved in 2016.

The ground will be operating a fully seated capacity for the match with a split of Unallocated Members and Public seating.

Members are welcome to use Doug Insole Pavilion with a section of the benches also available.

The LV= Insurance County Championship is part of the 2021 Membership and the capacity for Members’ entry into the ground will remain unrestricted for these fixtures.

Members are not required to purchase a ticket in advance and can enter the ground using their 2021 Membership card.

General Public tickets are on sale now and must be purchased in advance. Please note that tickets for all remaining games will not be available to purchase on the gates.

Scheduled Hours of Play:

Special Events:

Day One of the match will be an opportunity to give Club legend, Ryan ten Doeschate a fitting send-off after he announced his retirement following 19 seasons at the Club.

Tendo has confirmed that he has played his final match for the Club and won’t be featuring against Northamptonshire but will be joining us for a special presentation.

Ahead of your visit:

We want to make sure supporters are all set ahead of visiting the ground. We continue to work closely with the Chelmsford City Council Safety Advisory Group, Chelmsford Trading Standards, and the ECB to ensure that games can operate safely whilst continuing to mitigate against the risk of COVID-19 within the new guidelines.

We must stress that COVID-19 is still prevalent. Spectators are not required to present an NHS COVID-19 pass or negative lateral flow test but please do not travel to the ground if have tested positive or have any symptoms and follow the Government guidelines.

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 Twitter and Facebook channels or from our automated phone line on 01245 254049.

The Cloudfm County Ground is now a cashless ground for 2021, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit. Find out more – here

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 Cloudfm County Ground.

• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open across all four days and closes at 6pm on Sunday and 10pm during the week.

• Meteor Way will be open for Members and open three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ground Entry:

Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate.

• Members: 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 are included in 2021 Membership and encourage Members to arrive in plenty of time to secure your seat. All seating for these games is Unallocated and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Renewing Members from the 2020 season are entitled to bring one complimentary guest for this match. This will simply require a ‘double tap’ of the Membership card and a ticket does not need to be purchased in advance.

• The Members’ seated areas are located in the Doug Insole Pavilion Benches, Tom Pearce Stand, and Areas 11-14 in the River End of the ground. Members are also welcome to sit in the Aon Stand which is accessible via the Hayes Close Gate.

• 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.

• 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 for this game are welcome to sit in the Unallocated Areas numbered 15-26, which includes covered seating in Areas 22-24.

• Wheelchair-accessible seating is located in Areas 1 and 30 and can be allocated by contacting the Membership and Ticketing Office in advance (01245 254010).

Moving Around the Ground:

• We kindly request that masks continue to be worn when moving around The Cloudfm County Ground. You will not be required to wear a mask when seated.

• We also ask that spectators try and keep to social distancing where possible although The Club recognise that this is not always practical nor possible.

• Additional hand sanitisation stations and toilet facilities will continue to be in place for the remainder of the season.

• Whilst restrictions continue to be lifted, the threat of COVID-19 has not yet disappeared. We ask all spectators to take a common-sense approach when moving around The Cloudfm County Ground.

• Spectators are permitted to move behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players’ area and walkway. We also ask that spectators do not request autographs or photos with players who are required to remain socially distant.

• Toilets are located across The Cloudfm County Ground with wheelchair accessible by the main scoreboard, River End and rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion.

• The Club Store and Membership & Ticketing Office will be open for spectators for the duration of your visit.

If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloudfm County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can text ‘CROWD’ including your stand and issue to 60070.

Food & Drink:

• The Doug Insole Pavilion will be welcoming Members back through its doors and there will be a wide range of hot and cold drinks available from the bar. A choice of snacks will also be on sale.

*The Members’ Restaurant will not be available for the 2021 season

• Anne’s Pantry returns for this fixture and the Royal London Cup campaign offering a choice of home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Hayes Close End and River End.

Anne Pantry Menu:

Bacon Rolls, Gourmet Burgers (vegan burger option available), Bratwurst (Veganwurst option available), Chips, Pies, Chinese Chicken Curry, Chicken & Chorizo Paella (Vegan Paella option available), Crisps, Cake. We welcome supporters with varied diets and can offer gluten-free & dairy-free options.

• Other refreshment kiosks include bars area located at either end of the ground in County Corner and Spinner’s Bar.

• Spectators can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture. A limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person but there’s strictly no glass or sharp objects permitted into the ground.

• Please note that The Cloudfm County Ground is now a cashless ground for 2021, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit.

Leaving 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 Cloudfm County Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on 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.

Essex County Cricket Club are pleased to announce that top-order batsman, Dan Lawrence, has signed a two-year contract extension and will remain at Chelmsford until at least the end of the 2023 season.

The Leytonstone-born batsman burst onto the scene in 2015 as a 17-year-old, scoring 161 against Surrey in only his second first-class game for the Club. At the time of doing so, he became just the third 17-year-old to score a century in the County Championship.

Since then, he’s made 175 appearances across all formats and scored 6,516 runs for Essex. His arrival in the First Team has coincided with the Club’s recent success and Lawrence has played a vital role in bringing silverware to The Cloudfm County Ground.

Lawrence made his England Test debut against Sri Lanka in early 2021 and has made eight appearances for the Three Lions so far, averaging 27.23. He’s made three half-centuries with his highest score of 81* coming against New Zealand in June.

Upon signing his extension, Lawrence said: “I’m really pleased to be staying at Chelmsford and to commit my future to this great Club.

“Since breaking into the First Team we’ve experienced so many triumphs. Although this year didn’t go our way, we have a phenomenal squad, and everybody in the dressing room is keen to get back to winning ways.

“Nobody was more disappointed with the season than us as we know what we can do when we play to our ability. We feel that we should be competing across all formats and that’s the aim going forward and hopefully we win some more trophies in 2022.”

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “Dan is an outstanding batsman and has contributed enormously since breaking into the First Team.

“He’s scored vital runs for us on plenty of occasions and has been a major factor in our recent success, and the exciting thing for Essex fans is that he’s only going to get better and better.

“Despite still only being 24 he’s a leader in the dressing room and has seven seasons under his belt. He’s a shining example to the younger lads coming through and I’ve got no doubt he’ll go on to achieve big things in the game.”

The Professional Cricketers’ Trust is set to take centre stage on Vitality Blast Finals Day this Saturday, with the Mascot Race headlining the fundraising activities that will be taking place on the day.

For the second year in succession, one of the biggest days on the domestic calendar will see both funds and awareness raised for the players’ charity as Edgbaston Stadium prepares to play host to Finals Day.

The Trust has strong links with a number of Essex players, including Graham Gooch who is the former President of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.

Individuals from across the cricket community are set to appear in a new video put together by the Trust on Saturday morning which features a number of current and former players outlining the importance of positive mental health and seeking the right support.

Other fundraising activities on Saturday are set to include:

• Vitality Blast Mascot Race brought to you by the Professional Cricketers’ Trust
• Text to donate to the Trust
• A dedicated JustGiving page
• An online auction throughout the day

You can support Eddie and Ellie during this year’s Vitality Blast Mascot Race by donating £5 to the Trust to be in with a chance of winning 2022 Blast tickets.

On Saturday, mascots from up and down the country will be limbering up to take part in the prestigious annual race, but this time there’s a difference: they will be raising money to support those who need it most.

Getting involved is simple. Just text EDDIEEAGLE or ELLIEEAGLE to 70085 to donate £5 (not including the cost of one text message at your standard network rate) to the Trust and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win tickets for next season’s Vitality Blast.

Neutral fans can also support Twinkle, the official mascot of the ECB’s All Stars Cricket programme, by texting TWINKLESTAR to 70085 to be in with a chance of winning tickets to see a team of their choice.

Participants may enter as many times as they wish, and the winners will be announced on social media on Monday 20 September, when the Trust will also contact them directly.

The Vitality Blast Mascot Race brought to you by the Professional Cricketers’ Trust is one of a number of activities taking place on Saturday to raise both funds and awareness for the Trust.

A number of the charity’s beneficiaries – both current and former players – will be there on the day to talk to the media and fans about the support they have received from the Trust.

In addition, supporters will be able to take part in an online auction, where you can bid on items including a bat signed by the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup winning side and a limited edition signed photograph of Ben Stokes following his Headingley heroics later that same year.

You can also text to donate to help the charity continue its life-changing – and often life-saving – work or visit the charity’s dedicated JustGiving page to make a one-off donation.

Since 2015, 460 individuals have been supported by the players’ charity in the area of mental health alone, including 94 during a record-breaking 2020. Support offered by the Trust can include mental health treatment, funding towards specialist medical treatment or equipment, hardship support and direction or advice in difficult situations.

Visit the Trust’s website to find out more information on the charity’s wide-ranging work.

Please do consider supporting the Trust this weekend – it really will make a difference to those who need it most!

Vitality Blast Finals Day 2021 is supporting the players’ charity: the Professional Cricketers’ Trust. Saturday 18 September will see a day of fundraising and awareness for the Trust on one of the biggest days of the domestic calendar at Edgbaston. Visit bit.ly/DonateFinalsDay to find out more and make a donation.

Registered charity address: Professional Cricketers’ Trust, 1 Brassey Road, Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury, SY3 7FA.

Middlesex 2nd XI v Essex 2nd XI

Second XI Championship, Monday 13 September

Merchant Taylor’s School, Northwood

Team News:

Middlesex 2nd XI:: Josh de Caires, Zachary McCaskie, Jack Davies, James Cracknell, Nathan Fernandes, Nathan Sowter*, Tom Helm, Daniel O’Driscoll (wk), Viren Patel, Max Harris, Toby Greatwood.

Essex 2nd XI: Robin Das, Joe MacGregor, Feroze Khushi, Josh Rymell, Will Buttleman (wk), Luc Benkenstein, Nikhil Gorantla, Aaron Beard (c), Jamal Richards, Jack Plom, Alex Russell, Harry Phillips.

Match Details:

Umpires: NJ Piper & MD Watton
Toss: Essex 2nd XI won and elected to bat first
Result: Middlesex 2nd XI won by 4 wickets

Essex 2nd XI: 305 & 222-9 dec
Middlesex 2nd XI: 245 & 287-6

Match Report

Essex disappointingly concluded the Second XI Championship campaign with a four-wicket defeat to their Middlesex counterparts at the Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood this week.

Tom Helm’s unbeaten second innings knock of 95 helped the hosts over the line. The 27-year-old right-hander compiled his score from 96 balls during a 139-minute stint at the crease. Joe Cracknell contributed 71 with youngster Luc Benkenstein doing his utmost for Essex, taking 4/53, taking his match figures to 7/93.

Earlier, Essex appeared to be in a strong position after posing a first-innings total of 305. Aaron Beard’s superb unbeaten 125 off 139 was the highlight.

Meanwhile, Benkenstein’s heroics with the ball, coupled with 3/42 from Jamal Richards helped establish a healthy advantage.

Robin Das hit 80, while Will Buttleman reached his half-century, seemingly putting Essex in control. However, Helm saved the best for last to see Middlesex home with some to spare.

Report courtesy of Brian Jeeves

The conclusion to the 2021 season has almost arrived as the team returns home to The Cloudfm County Ground for the final contest in this season’s LV= Insurance County Championship.

The match begins on Tuesday 21 September (10:30am start) against a Northamptonshire side who are coming to Chelmsford off the back of a nail-biting draw against Durham. We go into the match looking to clinch a sixth piece of silverware in 6 seasons and a chance to lift the Division Two trophy in our sights.

Day One will also be a poignant moment for the Club as Ryan ten Doeschate says his farewells to Members and supporters after a 18-year association with the Club. Following the recent announcement that he will be retiring, the Dutchman has also confirmed that he has played his final game for the Club and won’t be featuring in the Northamptonshire fixture.

Ryan spoke to Essex Cricket TV following the announcement to express his thoughts on the decision:

There will be an opportunity for Members and supporters to bid our Club legend ‘goodbye’ during the lunch break and we welcome you to join us for the celebrations.

Tickets for all four days are now on sale online, priced at £13 Adults, £10 Student/Young Adults (18-24) and Juniors (U18s). Members can come along to this match as part of the 2021 Membership and are required to scan their Membership card on the entry gate.

The annual Essex Cricket Golf Day took place last Thursday with players joining sponsors and partners on the beautiful course at Benton Hall Golf & Country Club.

The playing conditions were ideal and, for the most part, the standard of golf lived up to the occasion.

Taking part were Club Captain Tom Westley, Simon Harmer, Ryan ten Doeschate, Jamie Porter, Sam Cook, Paul Walter and Michael Pepper. The mind-games amongst the players started well in advance of the 1pm tee-off time as it soon became clear that they weren’t prepared to give each other an inch.

The team from Club Partners Tiptree prevailed on the day, with their team including all-rounder Paul Walter. An honourable mention must go to the Greene King team who finished in a close second.

Greene King didn’t have to wait long for an award, however, as Dave Williamson won Nearest to the Pin.

The Longest Drive award was a foregone conclusion from the first shot of the day when Simon Harmer, teamed with Cloudfm’s Jeff Dewing, launched into a monstrous tee shot from the 10th.

After much speculation as to which of the cricketers is the best around a golf course, Jamie Porter put together an excellent round to take the award of Best Individual. His performance was no doubt stoked by teammates of past and present, Peter Siddle, Jimmy Neesham and Dan Lawrence calling his golfing ability into question and giving him the nickname, ‘Shanky’.

For the first time, the Golf Day was sponsored by Integral Sports Management and we’d like to thank them for their support both before and during the day. Sky Sports Journalist and Media & Communications Consultant for Integral Sports Management, Bianca Westwood was present on the day to show her support and catch up with the players and Club Ambassador, Graham Gooch.

Essex County Cricket Club can today confirm that Ryan ten Doeschate will retire from professional cricket at the end of 2021.

The all-rounder joined Essex in 2003 after impressing Graham Gooch during a pre-season game in South Africa. He’s gone on to make 554 appearances across all formats for the Club over his 19 seasons at Chelmsford, scoring 17,046 runs and taking 348 wickets.

His first piece of silverware came in 2005, with the Eagles capturing the totesport League. The side successfully defended their title in 2006, whilst ten Doeschate was awarded his County Cap later that year. He also made the highest score of his career in 2006, making an unbeaten 259 for the Netherlands against Canada in Pretoria.

In 2008, ten Doeschate played an instrumental role as he and Grant Flower saw the Eagles over the line in the Friends Provident Trophy Final at Lord’s. Later in 2008, he was named the ICC Associate Player of the Year for the first time; an award he went on to win again in 2010 and 2011.

He was picked by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2011 Indian Premier League and forged a successful and solid relationship with the franchise, winning titles in both 2012 and 2014.

A pivotal moment in the Club’s recent history was his appointment as Club Captain in 2016, which saw an immediate return to the County Championship’s top tier by winning the Division Two title.

The following season, he and his team defied all the odds and went unbeaten on their way to a first County Championship title in 25 years. Two years later, the team achieved the feat once again under his stewardship in a landmark double-winning campaign.

Despite stepping down as Club Captain at the end of 2019, ten Doeschate continued to play an instrumental role and was a huge factor in Essex claiming the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy in 2020.

On his retirement, ten Doeschate said:

“From the bottom of my heart I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved with Essex during my time at the Club. It’s been the greatest professional experience to grow in this environment, to watch the organisation and the individuals within it evolve and become something that I am extremely proud to have been a part of.

“The support that the team and myself personally have enjoyed has been phenomenal and is greatly appreciated. The staff, members, sponsors, and supporters have made Essex a fabulous place to play cricket. My professional career would not have been the same without some very special teammates, who I know will be lifelong friends.

“Your profession shouldn’t define you as a person, and I realise that cricket is just a sport and that Essex is just one cog in the wheel of county cricket, but I’m not ashamed to say that for 19 summers Essex has been my purpose and focus. We have all had varying degrees of satisfaction and peaks and troughs in form but I always had the drive of giving my all for Essex.

“Coming from Cape Town to be given a chance to pursue my dream seems a million moons ago. We’ve shared some remarkable times but for me, the biggest achievement has been making a home away from home. I have a collection of memories from Chelmsford to keep me happy long into retirement.”

Ryan spoke to Essex Cricket TV following the announcement to express his thoughts on the decision:

Club Captain and close friend, Tom Westley, added:

“It’s difficult to begin to put into words Tendo retiring. Not only have I had the honour of sharing a changing room with him for 15 years, but I’ve also had the privilege of changing next to him for 8 of them! To know that he won’t be playing for Essex again is a sad day for the club.

“I have always admired him, not only as a cricketer, who I believe has won more games for Essex than anyone else I have played with. It’s his values and qualities as a person, that means his name is alongside the greats of the club.

“I can assure you that I’m speaking on behalf of every player that has been fortunate enough to play with and share a changing room with Tendo. He has had a positive impact on all of us at some stage in his illustrious career. His selflessness as a teammate and leader is one of the leading factors to Essex’s success in the last decade.

“He epitomises what it means to play for this great club, and his name deserves to be alongside the likes of Fletcher, Gooch, Bailey and Insole.

“Thank you Ryan for everything you’ve done, I along with everyone will miss you. I wish you and your family all the best for the future.”

Essex meet Surrey at The Kia Oval in the penultimate LV= Insurance County Championship match of the season starting on Sunday at 10:30am. Tom Westley’s men have won both of their Division Two games this season in comprehensive fashion, beating both Glamorgan and Gloucestershire in little more than two days.

The latest victory was completed with a day to spare with the bowlers completing within two hours of the resumption of play on Day Three.

Gloucestershire had been demolished before lunch on day one for 74 when Jamie Porter (4 for 32) and Sam Cook (3 for 27) ran through the to-order leaving Simon Harmer to wrap up the innings with the last three wickets at a personal cost of just two runs.

Paul Walter will be looking to build on his important innings with the bat, where he struck 96 to lead Essex to a sizeable first-innings lead.

Squad:

Hear from the Head Coach:

Head Coach, Anthony McGrath is understandably ecstatic with the current form of his Essex squad.

With just two matches remaining this season, he rightfully extended full praise to his players after their latest success when they outplayed Gloucestershire at Chelmsford.

“I’m delighted with all the guys and their attitude because they have gone about their work in a totally professional manner,” he insisted.

“We dominated the game from ball one and Gloucestershire made us fight hard in our first innings. Paul Walter was superb and with excellent support from Adam Wheater and the tail, we forged a 200-run lead.

“We were 70-odd for 5 when Paul and Adam got together. If Gloucestershire had knocked a couple more over then we might have only got a small first-innings advantage and it could have been a difficult game. But that partnership plus the contributions from the lower order proved so important.

“It was just a shame that Paul couldn’t get to three figures because he really deserved it but we always challenge our players to put winning performances in and Paul certainly did that.

“Although we haven’t been able to end the season in Division One, we’ve wanted to show that we believe we are still one of the best teams in the country in red-ball cricket.

”I’ve stated on a number of occasions about my reservations with the Conference system and the fact that going into the last month of the season, 12 teams have little to play for apart from pride.

“They can’t challenge for the Championship title and there is no promotion or relegation but our players know how important it is for them to stay fully focussed and ensure that collectively we do our best to win each match.

“We are representing Essex and we want to prove to people that we are still right there as a competitive side, so these games in this final few weeks are very important to us.

“We want to make sure we finish strongly and take that into next season.”

Our Opposition:

Surrey have only played one of their four scheduled matches in Division Two after their fixture with Durham was cancelled following a positive case of COVID-19 within the squad.

They did get on the field though this week when meeting Northamptonshire but suffered a two-wicket defeat at Wantage Road where the victors achieved their highest ever successful run-chase against Surrey in first-class cricket after requiring 320 to win.

One to Watch:

Hashim Amla has accrued the most Championship runs for Surrey this season with an aggregate of 713 @ 47.53, which includes one half-century and two centuries.

When he retired from international cricket, he was the second-highest Test run-scorer in South African history with 9,282 runs in 124 matches.

He spent an all too brief and successful period with Essex in 2009 when he recorded 410 runs @ 103.50 in his five first-class innings.

Now 38 years of age, Amla has enjoyed some standout moments in 2021, including 173 in the victory over Gloucestershire and a 278-ball 37 not out to save the match for Surrey at Hampshire.

Head-to-Head:

The last time the two teams met in the County Championship at The Kia Oval was in April 2019 when the match ended as a draw.

Peter Siddle claimed 6/104 in the Surrey first innings but thanks to an unbeaten 100 by Ryan Patel – his maiden first-class century – the home side totalled 395. Ryan ten Doeschate led the response with 130 whilst Dan Lawrence scored 93 as Essex gained a first-innings lead of 53.

Surrey continued the run-fest reaching 324 for 6 before declaring, although Simon Harmer took 5/88.

Left with an unlikely target of 272 to win in a minimum 19 overs, Essex were then asked to bat for one over in order that Surrey could get there over rate level and thus avoid a points deduction for the overall slow over-rate in the match.

Jamie Porter, with Alastair Cook watching on from the non-striker’s end, faced the maiden over sent down by Burns in ultra-fast time before the draw was agreed.

The teams have clashed on 198 occasions in first-class cricket with Surrey holding bragging rights with 73 wins and 78 draw, whilst Essex have won 44 matches.

Milestones:

The race between Simon Harmer and Sam Cook to become the first Essex bowler to take 50 Championship wickets this season gathered momentum with a clutch of wickets for both bowlers during the victory with Gloucestershire.

Off-spinner Harmer is just one victim away from the milestone having bagged 49 scalps @ 23.18, whilst paceman Cook goes into the Surrey game with 46 wickets @ 16.23.

With the bat, Dan Lawrence heads the averages with 529 runs @ 52.90 followed by Paul Walter with 485 runs @ 37.30. Tom Westley has aggregated the highest number of runs for the county in the Championship this summer with 584 @ 36.50.

When he took the third wicket of his seven-wickets haul against Gloucestershire, Simon Harmer took his tally of first-class wickets to 300 for the county, including 49 Championship wickets this season.

Adam Wheater requires one more victim to reach 150 first-class dismissals for Essex. He currently has 137 catches and 12 stumpings. Additionally, when he had scored 9 in his innings against Gloucestershire, he completed 7,000 first-class runs.

The match with Gloucestershire saw Jamie Porter make his 100th first-class appearance; 93 of those representing Essex.

How To Watch:

Our Live Stream service will be available across all four days of this game from 10:30am, which also includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the day.

The broadcast will be courtesy of Surrey and can be accesed via the Essex Cricket Matchzone here.

The Cloudfm County Ground hosts Sunrisers once again on Sunday for the conclusion of their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy ‘home’ fixtures.

Play begins at 10:30am with tickets available to purchase online now. We advise buying in advance of the game as walk up sales will not be permitted on the day of the game.

A limited section of the ground will be available for unallocated seating with the Doug Insole Pavilion bar and benches open for all spectators.

Scheduled Timings:

Ahead of your visit:

We want to make sure supporters are all set ahead of visiting The Cloudfm County Ground. We continue to work closely with the Chelmsford City Council Safety Advisory Group, Chelmsford Trading Standards, and the ECB to ensure that games can operate safely whilst continuing to mitigate against the risk of COVID-19 within the new guidelines.

We must stress that COVID-19 numbers are still prevalent and please do not travel to the ground if you have any symptoms and follow the Government guidelines.

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 Cloudfm County Ground’s ‘@HomeOfEssex’ Twitter channel.

The Cloudfm County Ground is now a cashless ground for 2021, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit. Find out more – here

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 Cloudfm County Ground.

• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open on Sunday and closes at 6pm.

• Meteor Way will not be open for this fixture.

Ground Entry:

Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate.

A limited section of the ground will be open for spectators and please follow steward guidance when entering.

• 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.

• All spectators will be required to purchase tickets in advance.

• Tickets must be scanned using the QR code included in the confirmation email sent 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.

Moving Around the Ground:

• We kindly request that masks continue to be worn when moving around The Cloudfm County Ground. You will not be required to wear a mask when seated.

• We also ask that spectators try and keep to social distancing where possible although The Club recognise that this is not always practical nor possible.

• Additional hand sanitisation stations and toilet facilities will continue to be in place for the remainder of the season.

• Whilst restrictions continue to be lifted, the threat of COVID-19 has not yet disappeared. We ask all spectators to take a common-sense approach when moving around The Cloudfm County Ground.

• Spectators are able to access behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players’ area and walkway. We also ask that spectators do not request autographs or photos with players who are required to remain socially distant.

• Toilets are located across The Cloudfm County Ground with wheelchair accessible by the main scoreboard and rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion.

• The Club Store (10am-2pm) and Membership & Ticketing Office (9am-2pm) will be open for spectators.

If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloudfm County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can text ‘CROWD’ including your stand and issue to 60070.

Food & Drink:

• The Doug Insole Pavilion and Spinners Bar will be open for the duration of the game, offering a wide range of hot & cold drinks and snacks.

• Anne’s Pantry will also be offering up home-cooked hot meals with a wide choice of options available.

• Spectators can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture. There’s a limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person but strictly no glass or sharp objects is permitted into the ground.

• Please note that The Cloudfm County Ground is now a cashless ground for 2021, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit.

Leaving the Ground:

At the conclusion of the day’s play, we ask spectators 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 Cloudfm County Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on 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.