Anthony McGrath was ecstatic to add further honours to the Club’s trophy cabinet following the Bob Willis Trophy win.
The showpiece match at Lord’s concluded the 2020 season and Mags was full of praise of Somerset who played their part in a “fitting final”.
Essex Cricket TV caught up with Mags after play to get his reflections on the short but arduous campaign:
Essex spinner Simon Harmer has been shortlisted for the PCA Men’s Player of the Year Award after guiding Essex to more red-ball success in 2020.
The 2019 Overall MVP collected 38 wickets in red-ball cricket for Essex as Tom Westley’s side won the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy at Lord’s.
His scalps came at an average of 15.86 and this is the second year in succession that he has been shortlisted for the main award.
The NatWest Cricket Awards will be the first event of its kind when it takes place on Saturday during the Vitality Blast Finals Day. It will incorporate both the 51st NatWest PCA Awards and the annual NatWest Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards (OSCAs) to produce a ceremony celebrating all aspects of cricket in England and Wales in this most unique of summers.
Following yesterday’s Club statement regarding events during the Lord’s balcony celebrations in the Bob Willis Trophy Final, Club Captain, Tom Westley, has issued this further announcement.
“On behalf of myself and the team, we would like to apologise for any offence that was caused during our celebrations at Lord’s on Sunday.
“At Essex, we believe we have built a strong dressing room culture that supports one another both on and off the field.
“As a group, we have come together today and discussed the event and on reflection, we are disappointed that we let this happen.
“Moving forward, the squad will be more responsible and aware of our actions and will continue to learn and develop with the help of the ECB and the PCA.”
The conclusion to our 2020 season takes place on the biggest stage of all for the Bob Willis Trophy Final this week at the Home of Cricket.
The weather is set to play a part over the five days against Somerset with many more twists and turns expected between to the two best red-ball sides in the country.
The Club’s official photographer, Nick Wood brings you closer to the play at Lord’s through his camera lens with updates after each day’s play.
Scroll through the images and hit the i for further information.
© Unshaken Photography
Tom Westley headed over to Weston Homes’ new Prospects development in Southend-on-Sea during the season to talk all things Essex and cricket.
Watch the interview with Tom who discusses his inspirations, the Essex support, and how his career has developed over the last few years, which have helped to bring success and silverware to the Club.
Built with passion, delivered with pride, Prospects in Southend-on-Sea is a remarkable development by Weston Homes, offering stylish one, two, and three-bedroom homes located in the charming and historic suburb of Prittlewell. The main shopping area is approximately half a mile from the development, as is the award-winning seafront.
With over 80 parks and green spaces in the borough, those who love to be outdoors are spoilt for choice. Also, Essex County Cricket ground is only 30 minutes away from the development!
Weston Homes are one of the major housebuilders in the South East, with an established history building in London and the Home Counties. As well as new-build housing developments and apartment complexes, Weston Homes have extensive experience in the restoration and refurbishment of historic buildings.
The show home and marketing suite at Prospects are open 7 days a week from 10am – 5pm. To find out more, please visit here or call 01702 841664.
Join our matchday host, Simon Ward as we preview the Bob Willis Trophy Final which begins on Wednesday at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Simon is joined by Club legend, Graham Gooch plus some of those who will be pulling on the Essex shirt in the 5-day clash against Somerset.
This is available to view on the Essex Cricket YouTube and Facebook page as we build up to another special day in the Club’s history.
Coverage of the Final will be available to view via a number of different online channels, making it easier than ever to watch Essex in action. These include:
• Essex Cricket Matchzone
• BBC iPlayer
• BBC Sport Website
• Sky Sports Cricket YouTube channel
Essex have the opportunity to lift another trophy when they meet Somerset in the Final of the Bob Willis Trophy starting at Lord’s on Wednesday.
The competition was introduced into the domestic calendar this year after the effects of COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the County Championship. All 18 teams were split into three regionalised groups, with the two highest-scoring teams meeting in a decider at The Home of Cricket.
The match will be staged over five days and if a positive outcome cannot be reached, then the team with the most runs after the first innings will be declared the winners. Should the weather prevent that criterion, then the title will be shared.
Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath is excited at the prospect of the opportunity to bring another major trophy to Chelmsford following the County Championship and Vitality Blast double last year.
McGrath said: “I think over the last couple of years, both teams have proved themselves to be very, very consistent and most people in the game wouldn’t argue that the two best teams in the country are meeting in the Final.
However, the Head Coach insists that the Bob Willis Trophy winners must not be considered as County Champions.
“I don’t think anyone can kid themselves about that, “he stated.
“Normally in a County Championship, you are rewarded for consistency, skill and stamina over the full 6 months, but this competition hasn’t been that, it’s just been 5 games.
“So it’s not the County Championship but we are going out to win this competition. We discussed this with the players at the start of the tournament and we all agreed that the opportunity of playing a red-ball Lord’s Final over five days might not happen again.
“So that, of course, is special and I know that all the lads are looking forward to it and are desperate to get their place in the team and play their part in what we hope will be in Essex victory.”
Essex will pick their team from a 13-man squad.
Somerset Head Coach Jason Kerr is backing his side to overcome Essex and lift the Bob Willis Trophy.
He said: “The best two teams in the country have reached the Bob Willis Final and if we continue to play the brand of cricket we produced in the group stage of the competition we can come out on top.
“As things stand, Essex are the number one red ball team and we are number two. It would be great to reverse those standings and that is the aim.
“I believe we have improved on our skills from last season, not least through the emergence of some really exciting youngsters and I am really looking forward to the game.
“The prospect of seeing how they perform against a side as good as Essex with a trophy at stake is incredibly exciting for me as a Coach.”
Tom Abell (c), George Bartlett, Dom Bess, Jack Brooks, Eddie Byrom, Josh Davey, Steve Davies, Ben Green, Lewis Gregory, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton and Roelof van der Merwe.
Essex and Somerset have clashed on 146 previous occasions in first-class cricket, with Essex claiming victory on 58 occasions, whilst Somerset have won 36. There have been 51 drawn matches plus 1 tied game.
The last time that Essex played in a Final at Lord’s was back in 2008 when they beat Kent Spitfires to clinch the Friends Provident Trophy. After dismissing their old adversaries for 214, Essex won by 5 wickets with 7 balls to spare, with Grant Flower guiding them to victory with 70 not out.
Somerset are more recent visitors to a Lord’s Final having lifted The Royal London One-Day Cup in 2019 by 6 wickets, with James Hildreth posting an unbeaten 69 from 68 balls.
However, a major red-ball title still eludes the West Country outfit whilst their opponents have proved themselves masters of that format, with County Championship titles in 2017 and 2019.
In the last two years, Somerset have had to settle for the runners-up position in that competition. Last season, they entertained Essex at Taunton in the final match of the campaign needing victory to be crowned Champions for the first time but in a rain-affected match, Essex gained the draw they needed to deny the Cidermen their taste of glory.
Now both teams go head-to-head once more in a winner takes all clash. They arrive at Lord’s with identical group records of 4 wins and 1 draw apiece although Somerset did record more batting and bowling points.
While we will go head-to-head with old rivals Somerset on the pitch in search of honours at Lord’s this week, off the pitch the focus will be on one man – Bob Willis.
The former England captain and Sky Sports pundit, who made over 90 test appearances for his country in a playing career that spanned two decades, died from prostate cancer in December 2019. His death united the cricket world, with the ECB ensuring his legacy would live on in the sport by naming the first tournament of 2020 – and the first following the Covid-19 pandemic – the Bob Willis Trophy.
Captain, Tom Westley, said: “Bob was a true England legend and a player that we all looked up to and were inspired by as youngsters. Everyone in the sport was devastated to hear of his passing last year, so it’s great to see his life and career remembered through the Bob Willis Trophy.
“Hearing that prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK and that it kills one man every 45 minutes is pretty shocking. But they’re stats that we can all help to overcome by supporting the work of Prostate Cancer UK.
“Prostate Cancer UK is blazing a trail in raising awareness of the disease across the sporting world, and it’s excellent to see that extend into cricket with their presence at the final of the Bob Willis Trophy this week.
“The Man of Men pin badge has become iconic in football, and I’m hoping that it can help drive awareness and change in cricket too. It represents Bob, and all the men lost to the disease and their families and shows why we must come together in the fight against prostate cancer.”
His wife, Lauren Clark, has teamed up with leading men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK to raise vital funds and to encourage men at greater risk of prostate cancer to visit their GP.
“The fact that in the UK, prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed of all the cancers goes to show why a lot more needs to be done into prostate cancer research,” she said.
“Yes, it’s true that only men can get it; I can’t get it, but like too many wives, partners and families – I couldn’t have been more affected by it. I want to help people with prostate cancer. I want Bob to have a legacy.”
One in eight men in the UK will be affected by prostate cancer at some point in their lives, with that statistic rising to one in four for black men. It is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, reinforcing the need to take action. This month, Prostate Cancer UK launched a new online risk checker, when men and their families can find out if they are at increased risk of the disease and what steps they can take – and that extends to the Essex cricketing family.
The inaugural Bob Willis Trophy final at Lords will see branding from Prostate Cancer UK around the ground and on the stumps, with the winner’s trophy based on a drawing of Bob by Lauren. Royalties from Bob’s book, Bob Willis – A Cricketer and a Gentleman, have also come to the charity.
Fans can text BOB to 70004 to donate £10 to Prostate Cancer UK or visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bobwillis
Essex Cricket are pleased to welcome Greys of Ely as the Club’s new Away Travel Provider.
Greys have provided the First Team squad with COVID secure travel during the 2020 season, which concludes with the most important trip of all as the team make their way to Lord’s for the Bob Willis Trophy Final this week.
Cricket Operations Director at Essex Cricket, Dan Feist, said: “We have been very impressed by the service provided by Greys of Ely this season, especially with their high-level COVID secure protocols.
“It has been a challenging time for cricket with player and coaching staff safety paramount to our day-to-day operations, of which away travel is an important component.
“We’re looking forward to an exciting trip to Lord’s this week and continuing this partnership in the season’s ahead.”
Grey’s of Ely Managing Director, Richard Grey, said: “It’s with great pleasure to partner with Essex County Cricket this season as their newly appointed away travel provider and we wish them well in the Bob Willis Trophy Final this week.
“We look forward to continuing to provide the highest standards of travel in terms of quality of vehicle provided, but more importantly the cleanliness standards needed to ensure their safety moving forwards.”
The 2020 Essex County Cricket Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held virtually for the first time on Tuesday 22 September at 6pm. Members are invited to the event and will have now received their unique link to join by email.
The AGM was postponed from April 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent delay to the start of the cricket season. Following this postponement, the 2019 Report & Accounts document has also been shared with Members ahead of the revised AGM date.
This virtual AGM meeting will be hosted by the Essex County Cricket Club Chairman, John Faragher, along with the following panelists;
Derek Bowden, Chief Executive
Peter Northfield, Deputy Chairman
Ian Patterson, Treasurer
David Acfield, President
Due to the requirement for the Club’s Members to join this meeting in a webinar format, the opportunity for both Q&A and voting will not be available, although a Members’ Forum will also be held virtually on Tuesday 6 October following the end of season and questions will be welcomed.
