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Essex begin their defence of the County Championship tomorrow, with Worcestershire visiting The Cloudfm County Ground for the first competitive red-ball match of the year.

Head Coach Anthony McGrath is looking forward to a summer-long season of cricket, saying: “Understandably, we were only able to have a short season last time around, but we’ve now got four trophies to play for.”

Essex start with nine County Championship matches before the Vitality Blast takes over.

“It gives players a lot more continuity and I think it will allow players to get in a good rhythm.

“As far as individuals and the team are concerned, one thing you’re looking for is for the batsman just to get a few more runs than perhaps they did last year. That will always help improve the team because we know the bowling takes care of itself, our bowlers are always capable of getting 20 wickets.

“Everyone is raring to go for the long season ahead starting on Thursday.”

Squad:

Injury/Absentees News:

Essex have named a 14-man squad for the opening match of the season.

Aaron Beard is an early injury casualty and is side-lined with a groin strain sustained in pre-season during the friendly with Kent last week.

The other absentee is Australian Peter Siddle whose arrival has been delayed by COVID-19 protocols.

Opposition:

Worcestershire bolstered their squad during the winter with the signing of Gareth Roderick. The 29-year-old featured in 84 first-class matches for Gloucestershire, scoring 4,732 runs at an average of 35.25 and recording 259 dismissals behind the stumps.

One to Watch:

Jake Libby – Only Alastair Cook scored more runs than Jake Libby in the Bob Willis Trophy last term with the Essex opener finishing with 563 runs to his name. Now 27 years old, the former Nottinghamshire batsman piled on the runs for his new County last year, amassing 498 in 5 matches, 65 fewer than Cook.

Head-to-Head:

The two counties have faced each other on 150 occasions in the County Championship with Essex claiming 48 wins and Worcestershire 34, whilst 68 games have been drawn.

Potential Milestones:

Alastair Cook requires 76 runs to reach 9,000 first-class runs for Essex.
Tom Westley requires 89 runs to reach 9,000 first-class runs for Essex.
Dan Lawrence requires 289 runs to reach 4,000 first-class runs for Essex.
Adam Wheater requires 194 runs to reach 3,000 first-class runs for Essex.
Jamie Porter requires 13 more wickets to record 350 first-class wickets for Essex.
Sam Cook requires 5 more wickets to record 100 first-class wickets for Essex.

How To Watch:

Our Live Stream service will be available across all four days of this game from 11am, which also includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the day. Access via the Essex Cricket Matchzone is available here.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today reaffirmed its commitment to driving out all forms of discrimination from cricket.

A new Anti-Discrimination Code of Conduct is in place across the professional game and will be rolled out across recreational leagues and clubs that fall under the ECB’s jurisdiction as the season gets underway. This will ensure that any incidence of discrimination can be subject to disciplinary processes and sanctions.

The implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Code of Conduct will build on the work the ECB has undertaken to tackle discrimination and promote greater inclusion and diversity across the game. Over the past six months, these actions include:

· The creation of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which will examine all issues relating to race and equity in cricket.

· A partnership with the PCA to deliver an anti-racism education programme to professional cricketers, academy players, coaches and support staff. The programme, which has already been rolled out to 917 people across 65 sessions, raises awareness of cultural differences and unconscious bias specifically in the context of racism in professional cricket, and address issues such as workplace banter and inappropriate non-verbal behaviour.

· The creation of bursaries to help increase diversity among coaches across the game by enabling people from under-represented groups to gain qualifications. To date, 10 bursaries have been awarded on the advanced and specialist coaching courses and 1,000 on the Foundation course.

· A re-evaluation of the way in which ECB attracts, develops and performance manages its match officials, in order to increase the diversity of our officiating, inspire the next generation of umpires and match referees and ensure a culture of inclusivity and fairness throughout.

Over the coming months, the ECB will build on its existing work with a range of new initiatives to make cricket more inclusive and diverse as well as providing a clear framework to drive out discrimination.

Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “We remain absolutely committed in our resolve to stamp out any form of discrimination and to make the game more inclusive and diverse.

“The new Anti-Discrimination Code of Conduct sends a clear message that any discriminatory behaviour will be dealt with through disciplinary processes and sanctions. Over the coming months we will build on the actions already taken to launch a number of new initiatives that will help us in our next step towards making cricket a truly inclusive and diverse sport.”

The ECB recognises that the support of professional players will be essential in making sure this message remains visible and provides a platform to raise awareness and promote other related initiatives over the course of the season.

Following consultation with the PCA, player representatives from the women’s and men’s game and First-Class Counties, it has been agreed that players will be asked to support a moment of unity before the start of play at specific points throughout the season. The first of the planned moments of unity will be on the morning of the start of the LV= Insurance County Championship on 8 April.

It is intended that these moments will provide a point at which the game comes together and shows solidarity in its commitment to eradicate any form of discrimination from cricket. Individual teams and players will be able choose how to take part and express support for this important message.

The Second XI fixtures for the 2021 season are now available to view online. Ahead of the First XI campaign which begins next week at Chelmsford, the Second XI fixture schedule will commence soon after with a Championship match against Durham at Billericay CC on Monday 12 April.

Essex will also be hosting opposition at two other venues in the county this season with games being played at Garon Park, Southend and The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford.

Due to safety protocols required for players and staff during these games, all home Second XI fixtures this season will be played behind-closed-doors.

Follow the link below to view the fixtures online and where you can also download a fixture pdf.

Essex continue the pre-season preparations with a two-day friendly against Kent starting on Monday at The Cloudfm County Ground.

The county faced Lancashire last week in a back-to-back two-day friendlies. Head Coach Anthony McGrath is looking forward to watching his squad experience further time in a match environment with the new season scheduled to commence on Thursday week when Worcestershire open the campaign at Chelmsford.

“Although it was bitterly cold at times, it was good for the guys to have the competitive involvement over the past few days with Lancashire,” he said.

“As I’ve said before, our pre-season this year has been so different to that of past seasons but to have the opportunity of transferring all the work that we have been doing indoors and in the nets to the middle was good.

“I’m sure that the two days with Kent will be keenly contested and the weather is supposed to be improving which will be most welcome.”

With the new season fast approaching, Mags is looking to forward to defending the Club’s two titles but admits he expects to have a few selection problems along the way.

“We’ve got an excellent squad of established players and young talent who all showed me over the past few days that they are hungry to start the season,” he stated.

“It’s good to have pressure for places and with the heavy workload we have this season, I’m sure that we will need to dig into our rich pool of talent to enhance our prospects of lifting more silverware.

“There will be opportunities for many of the players and that can only be of benefit to the team.”

The two-day action with Kent commences at 11am behind closed doors but the match will be streamed via the Club’s live stream. This is available on the Matchzone at essexcricket.org.uk or on the Essex Cricket TV YouTube channel.

2021 Membership:

Have you purchased your Membership for the 2021 season? Our prices start from as little as £75.90 for Students/Young Adults, £216.70 for Adults and £172.70 for Seniors.

Essex County Cricket Club are thrilled to announce that New Zealand all-rounder, Jimmy Neesham, has signed for the upcoming Vitality Blast campaign.

The 30-year-old will join up with the Eagles after his commitments with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League and will initially be available for the group stages of the Vitality Blast.

Neesham is a regular in New Zealand’s ODI and T20 sides and has represented franchises all around the world, most notably Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, as well as Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.

The all-rounder also played for Derbyshire Falcons and Kent Spitfires in their 2016 and 2017 NatWest T20 Blast campaigns. During his two stints in England, he scored 402 runs at an average of 26.80, whilst also picking up 29 wickets at an average of 29.10.

Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath is elated to add Neesham to his squad and said: “We sat down at the end of last season and concluded that we needed to add another all-rounder to the T20 squad, and with all of his talent and experience, Jimmy fits the bill perfectly.

“He’s excelled with both the bat and the ball on the biggest of stages for his country, as well as in the global franchise competitions and it’s a great match for both the player and the Club.”

Neesham is equally pleased to be heading to The Cloudfm County Ground and added: “I am really looking forward to joining up with Essex Eagles for this year’s Vitality Blast.

“I’m excited about linking up with Ryan ten Doeschate again, having played with him for a few seasons when he was with Otago, and hopefully we can replicate the success of 2019.”

Essex’s Overseas signings are in partnership with Seven Investment Management.

Essex v Lancashire

Pre-season friendly

The Cloudfm County Ground, Thursday 25 – Friday 26 March

Squad News:

Essex: Nick Browne, Varun Chopra, Michael Pepper, Dan Lawrence (c), Ryan ten Doeschate, Josh Rymell, Will Buttleman, Aaron Beard, Jack Plom, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Feroze Khushi, Robin Das

Lancashire: Dane Vilas (c), Keaton Jennings, Owais Shah, Alex Davies, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Rob Jones, George Lavelle, Danny Lamb, Luke Wood, Tom Hartley, Tom Bailey, Saqib Mahmood, Liam Hurt, Jack Blatherwick, Jack Morley

Match Details:

Umpires: Neil Bainton & Nigel Llong
Toss: Uncontested, Essex to bat first
Result: Match Drawn

Day Two: Close of Play Report

Shane Snater returned figures of 5 for 19 as Essex drew their second two-day friendly with Lancashire at The Cloudfm County Ground with the visitors posting 141-9 from 50 overs in response to the Essex score of 170-7 from 55 overs.

The Dutch International added another couple of wickets to his trio of successes achieved on the opening day whilst the impressive Sam Cook also claimed two victims in figures of 2 for 30.

The 25-year-old was rewarded for his accuracy and excellent line as a series of Lancashire batsmen fell to his right-arm fast-medium bowling.

The Red Rose had started the day on 71-4 but lost a wicket to the third ball of the morning and without addition when George Lavelle was caught by wicket-keeper Will Buttleman off the bowling of Aaron Beard.

In cold conditions and windy conditions, the score had edged onto 9 when Cook pinned Tom Bailey in the crease for 11 and then in his next over, removed Rob Jones for a duck. Jones had scored an unbeaten century in the match earlier in the week between the two sides but Cook had his measure on this occasion striking him on the front pad as the batsman pushed forward.

Enter Snater who wasted little time in announcing his arrival when with his second delivery of the day, Dane Vilas drove to cover and was caught by Michael Pepper without score to leave the visitors 99-8.

Only Owais Shah appeared comfortable against the lively Essex pace attack and the former Scotland under-19 player took on the responsibility at holding the innings together to finish with 39 not out.

He saw Tom Hartley become another Snater scalp when he edged a ball into the gloves of Buttleman to leave Lancashire 113-9 but found a dependable ally in Liam Hurt as the pair staved off any further problems with Hurt 19 not out when the morning session concluded.

And that was to prove the end of the action. With an adverse weather forecast accurately predicted for after Lunch, the teams decided to settle for the draw.

Essex are now scheduled to entertain Kent in a two-day friendly starting on Monday in their final pre-season warm-up match ahead of the 2021 season.

Day One: Close of Play Report

Michael Pepper and Shane Snater proved the pick of the performers for Essex who reached 170-7 from 55 overs before Lancashire responded with 71-4 from 20 overs on the opening day of the second two-day friendly match between the teams at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Pepper scored 40 and then late in the evening session, Snater grabbed three wickets in four balls to trigger a dramatic Lancashire collapse.

Pepper played confidently throughout his 99 minutes at the crease striking eight boundaries during which he figured in the highest partnership of the innings adding 52 runs with Dan Lawrence in a little more than 13 overs.

Lawrence, captaining Essex and fresh from his laudable performances for England in their recent Test series in India, also timed the ball with precision. He made 34 that included half-a-dozen boundaries.

Openers Nick Browne and Varun Chopra put on 43 before being parted. Both fell to leg before decisions, Chopra the first to go having scored 26 when becoming a victim of Josh Bohannon and then Browne fell to Keaton Jennings for 24 to leave the home side 72-2.

Pepper was joined by Lawrence, who was soon into his stride, and the pair made pleasing progress with both playing with fluency and quick to punish the looser deliveries.

Pepper retired out for 40 and seven balls later, Lawrence succumbed to the left-arm spin of Tom Hartley for 34 to leave Essex 129-4, but without addition, another wicket fell when a mix-up between Josh Rymell and Ryan ten Doeschate ended with the former Essex skipper being run out without scoring.

Rymell spent 20 minutes at the crease before he was summoned back into the pavilion having retired out with 12 and allowing ten Doeschate another opportunity.

However, he only managed 9 before he was trapped in front by Bohannon and a couple of overs later, the innings closed leaving Will Buttleman 20 not out.

Sam Cook and Aaron Beard shared the new ball for Essex but despite passing the bat of both openers, Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies, the pair went unrewarded.

However, it was the alternative pace duo of Shane Snater and Jack Plom that found the breakthrough.

In an incisive spell of lively bowling, Snater accounted for Davies for 38 and Bohannon for a first-ball duck, before having Danny Lamb caught for 5 by Chopra at first slip.

With Plom bowling Keaton Jennings behind his legs for 18, the visitors had lost four wickets in 10 balls for the addition of just 5 runs.

Play is scheduled to resume tomorrow morning at 10:30am with the format of the day dependent on the weather.

Essex Women are set for a return to action and renew rivalries in a new, revamped 50-over London Championship competition.

Kelly Castle’s side will begin the season with the Vitality Women’s T20 competition in late April for a doubleheader against Sussex. The London Championship then gets underway soon after on 1 May, with Essex coming up against Kent, followed by Middlesex, Surrey and, for the first time, Sussex.

The inaugural London Championship took place in 2020 to create a platform for the development of aspiring and talented cricketers. The introduction of Sussex will provide further competition across the five County sides in the region from April through to July.

Each win earns 10 points with bonus points awarded for batting and bowling performances. The side topping the table after all the teams have faced off once will be crowned as Champions.

The date for this year’s Battle of the Bridge against fierce rivals, Kent, has been confirmed for Monday 5 July at The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury.

Jim Crapnell, Head Coach of Essex Women, said: “We are excited to be playing in the London Championship again this year. It is a great opportunity for players to continue to build their skills in a high performance and competitive environment.

“It’s important to have this level of competition for our pathway girls to aspire to and for our squad players to push for success at a higher level, while continuing to represent Essex Cricket and it’s Members to build on the strong foundations and success the Club has always had with women’s cricket.

“The London Championship provides a great opportunity for the team to come up against some of the best players in the game across a regional format and we’re looking forward to developing our white-ball skills across the T20 and 50-over formats this year.”

Essex Women’s Fixtures:

Essex v Lancashire

Pre-season friendly

The Cloudfm County Ground, Tuesday 23 – Wednesday 24 March

Squad News:

Essex: Alastair Cook, Paul Walter, Tom Westley (c), Feroze Khushi, Robin Das, Adam Wheater, Ben Allison, Jamie Porter, Matt Quinn, Eshun Kalley, Harry Phillips, Josh Rymell, Will Buttleman

Lancashire: Dane Vilas (c), Keaton Jennings, Owais Shah, Alex Davies, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Rob Jones, George Lavelle, Danny Lamb, Luke Wood, Tom Hartley, Tom Bailey, Saqib Mahmood, Liam Hurt, Jack Blatherwick, Jack Morley

Match Details:

Umpires: Ben Debenham & Nigel Llong
Toss: Uncontested, Essex to bat first
Result:

Day Two: Close of Play

Dane Vilas underpinned the Lancashire success in their two-day friendly with Essex at The Cloudfm County Ground.

The visiting skipper was in fine early season form striking the ball cleanly and sweetly on both sides of the wicket as the home attack tried unsuccessfully to find a way past his bat.

Having totalled 161 on the first day, Essex gained their first wicket through the pace of Jamie Porter who won an lbw shout against Alex Davies who had raced to 29 runs from 31 balls.

Keaton Jennings was also trapped lbw to Matt Quinn to leave the visitors 50-2, and one further wicket fell before Lunch when Academy bowler Eshun Kalley struck the front pad to dismiss Josh Bohannon for 22. When the interval arrived Lancashire were 101-3, with Vilas unbeaten on 32 and Robin Jones on 4.

19-year-old Kalley, on his first senior appearance, bowled well maintaining a consistent line with his right-arm fast-medium and another Academy recruit, 18-year-old Harry Phillips, also impressed with his tidy left-arm fast-medium bowling.

During the afternoon session, Vilas and Jones dominated the play with Vilas retiring unbeaten on 79 and Jones moving to his half-century.

Phillips then collected the wickets of Lamb and Shah in successive deliveries, whilst Westley accounted for Lavelle, Hartley and Hurt for 21 runs in his 10 overs.

Phillips then bowled Blatherwick for just 1 to end the day with figures of 3/40 from his 11 overs, whilst all that was left was for Jones to reach his century, which he did with the final ball of the day when clearing the ropes from England man Dan Lawrence.

The two teams meet in another two-day friendly at Chelmsford starting tomorrow.

Day One: Close of Play

Paul Walter with 42 and Tom Westley who scored 38 proved the best of the Essex batsmen on the first day of their two-day friendly with Lancashire at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Under the match arrangement, both sides bat for a day and after a clatter of wickets post-lunch, a number of Essex batsmen paid two visits to the crease as the home side lost 13 wickets to post a final total of 161 runs by the close of play.

Walter and Westley added 84 for the second wicket but when both were dismissed within 15 balls after Lunch, the innings completely fell away as nine wickets were lost for the addition of just 30 runs.

Walter opened the innings with Alastair Cook but after striking a trademark cover boundary, the former England opener was dismissed three balls later for 4 when he edged a ball from Saqib Mahmood to Keaton Jennings at first slip, one of four wickets for Mahmood.

Despite some initial moments of playing and missing, Walter and Westley prospered with patience the watchword. A splendid cover drive by Walter raised the half-century partnership from 153 balls and at Lunch, the score was 74-1 from 31 overs.

But when Westley was caught off the thinnest of edges by the wicket-keeper for 38 with the total on 88, the innings fell into freefall.

Although Walter made 42 before edging to first slip, Feroze Khushi, Robin Das and Will Buttleman all failed to score. The fall of Buttleman’s wicket leaving the score on 91-6 brought the return of Cook to the middle but he managed only 5 before he was trapped in front of his stumps by Mahmood, the second time in the day that the England white-ball international had claimed his wicket.

Khushi and Das had another trip to the middle but departed for 10 and 0 before the enduring Adam Wheater collected 14 from 56 balls then became one of five catches behind the stumps and the tenth wicket to fall on the day.

Josh Rymell and Ben Allison combined for 19 in 14 overs with Rymell stroking the only maximum of the day but both fell to the gentle medium-pace of Jennings for 12 and 11 respectively.

Walter’s second knock of the day was brief, lasting seven balls for nought and it was left to Westley and Wheater to carry the side through to the close with Westley adding another 13 to his earlier contribution and Wheater 6 not out at the end of the 86 overs in the day’s play.

The 2021 season is set to get underway on April 8 with domestic cricket across the UK continuing to be played behind-closed-doors until Government restrictions permit.

However, the Club is delighted to continue offering our live stream platform to bring Members and supporters close to the action with a new and improved service across every game at The Cloudfm County Ground. Following the success of our production last season, further developments will be introduced as we begin our title defence of the LV= Insurance County Championship and Bob Willis Trophy.

Ahead of the game against Worcestershire next month, there will be an opportunity to watch Tom Westley’s men in action during three pre-season friendlies beginning on Tuesday 23 March against Lancashire. A live test stream will be broadcast via the Essex Cricket Match Zone and Essex Cricket TV YouTube channel as the new enhancements are rolled out for supporters to enjoy.

Please note that ball-by-ball commentary will not be available for these games but we welcome back the BBC Essex for the opening match of the new season following the new 4-year deal between the ECB and BBC – read more.

Have a question about the Club’s Live Stream service? We welcome questions or feedback regarding our live stream production and you can get in touch by emailing [email protected] or via the Club’s social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.