Cast your vote for the DeVines Player of the Month for the opening month of the season in April. There are four contenders nominated for the award during a period that saw the team record a win a first win of the season over Durham as the LV= Insurance County Championship got underway.
Sam Cook has been impressive form and was the stand-out pace bowler during the period of four matches, taking 18 wickets. Simon Harmer continued to do what Simon Harmer does best by taking 21 wickets, including 10/136 in the match against Durham at Chelmsford.
With the bat, Tom Westley led the way with a stunning 213 in the win over Durham and ended the month with two centuries and 385 runs. Dan Lawrence also started the season in good touch after spending the winter away with England and struck 304 runs across just 6 innings, averaging 50.67.
Vote now:
Voting closes on Friday 21 May with the winner announced across the Club’s social media channels and website soon after.
Vitality Blast Tickets Now On General Sale
The highly anticipated return of crowds to The Cloudfm County Ground is fast approaching with the Eagles set to play in front of a full house from Friday 25 June for the Battle of the Bridge clash against Kent Spitfires.
The Stage Four guidelines which permit an increased attendance in sports grounds begins from June 21 and will see the Eagles play the four remaining games in the South Group.
Secure your tickets for 2021 which are now on General Sale online from today (Saturday 15 May) and by phone from 10am on Monday 17 May.
Tickets are selling fast after going on sale to Members and the Club’s Over & Out! e-news subscribers, so secure you tickets now to avoid missing out this season.
You are also able to purchase tickets for the Royal London Cup and LV= Insurance County Championship, plus our women’s cricket fixtures this season, which will see England Women and Sunrisers play in front of the Chelmsford crowd.

Essex Cricket Launch Foundation Lottery
Essex Cricket are delighted to launch an exciting new lottery in conjunction with Lancashire Cricket.
The aim of the lottery is to raise funds for the Essex Cricket Foundation to excite, engage and enhance the Communities via Cricket across the region.
Established as the official charity of Essex Cricket, the Essex Cricket Foundation looks to provide funding for the game and experiences that make a positive difference to the lives of the individuals and communities we engage in order to grow the appeal of the game at all levels focusing on physical/mental health, employability, community cohesion and player development.
Now you can also play your part, by becoming a ‘Friend of the Foundation’ our new weekly draw which offers members the chance to win cash prizes of up to £5,000 and receive invitations to exclusive events which will also create an exclusive group of people to help support and sustain our important work within the community.
The cost is just £2 per week and joining is easy – all you need to do is complete the application form to pay by direct debit (£8.68 per month) and select your own four lucky numbers. We will do the rest!
By becoming a ‘Friend’ you will be making a positive contribution to support the Club’s Foundation.
Essex County Cricket Club Chairman of the Cricket Advisory Board, Ronnie Irani, represented both Club’s during his 17-year career and is delighted to launch the lottery.
Irani said: “This is a fantastic initiative for Essex Members and supporters to be involved in and it’s great to see the Club working alongside Lancashire Cricket who have done a great job in growing their ‘Friends of the Foundation’ fundraising project.”, Irani said.
“The Essex Cricket Foundation continues to support the fantastic work carried out across the Essex and surrounding counties to develop the sport we all love.”

Match Preview: Essex v Derbyshire
Essex v Derbyshire
LV= Insurance County Championship
The Cloudfm County Ground
Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 May
11am start
Essex make a welcome return to home territory when they continue their LV= Insurance County Championship schedule with a match against Derbyshire at The Cloudfm County Ground commencing on Thursday.
Three successive matches on the road has seen Essex lose two and draw one and they start the clash with Derbyshire just one place off the foot of Group One after the five matches played so far have produced just the single win when they overcame Durham at Chelmsford.
The home side have so far collected 52 points, 12 more than Thursday’s opposition who have only played four games. Pace-setters are Nottinghamshire with 73 points, 6 ahead of Warwickshire who visit Chelmsford next week. Both those sides have won two of their five matches.
Squad:
Hear from McGrath:
The defeat at Trent Bridge was the first time that Essex has lost two red-ball matches in the same season since 2018. Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath said:
“It’s never nice losing but we have not been good enough with the bat in either innings. We had a chance when we had them 80-4 to try to limit their lead in the first innings but we couldn’t do that.
“In the last two years we have been good at being consistent and controlling the game and though we have pulled ourselves out of mires in the past, like against Durham when we were bowled out for 90-odd in the first innings, you are not going to be able to do that every time.
“This format means that if you lose a couple of games early on you can find yourselves under a bit of pressure but if you win a game, the picture can change pretty quickly at this stage.
“With the amount of character we have in that dressing room I’m confident we can put it right.”
Injury/Absentees News:
Essex have named a 14-man squad with Ben Allison, Feroze Khushi and Sam Cook added to the team that played against Nottinghamshire.
Opposition:
Former Essex and Middlesex batsman Billy Godleman is Derbyshire Captain although he missed their previous fixture after struggling to overcome a groin strain.
In his absence, 37-year-old Wayne Madsen took on the skipper’s role of a side that combines experience and emerging young talent.
One to Watch:
One of the up-and-coming Derbyshire prospects is Matt Critchley, who was named as the PCA Player of the Month for April following his impressive start to the 2021 campaign.
The all-rounder has been in brilliant form with bat and ball so far, scoring one century, four half-centuries and claiming 15 wickets in the LV= Insurance County Championship. His 483 runs have come at an average of 60.37, while his tally of leg-spin victims includes a five-wicket haul against Worcestershire.
Head-to-Head:
The two teams last met in red-ball cricket in 2016.
At Chelmsford back in May, Nick Browne hit a career-best 255 and was supported by Dan Lawrence who struck 116 before the home side declared on 538-7. Derbyshire were made to follow-on when they were dismissed for 280 with Ravi Bopara returning 5 for 49 but Essex were unable to force the victory as their opponents reached the conclusion of the match on 261-4 with Billy Godleman contributing 75, Hamish Rutherford 68 and Chesney Hughes 66 not out.
In the return clash at Derby in August, Essex won by an innings and 62 runs. Browne’s remarkable love-affair with the Derbyshire bowling continued as he posted 229 whilst Tom Westley contributed 72 and Ryan ten Doeschate 60 in an Essex total of 530-9 declared.
Graham Napier then proved destroyer-in-chief as the home side were dismissed for 165 (Napier 4 for 28) and 303 (Napier 4 for 50). Paul Walter made his Championship debut in this fixture scoring 47 and returning 3 for 44 and 1 for 68 having shared the new ball in both innings with Jamie Porter.
In the 181 Championship clashes between the teams so far, Essex have secured 78 victories, there have been 72 draws and Derbyshire have won on 31 occasions.
Potential Milestones:
Nick Browne has made 99 first-class appearances for the county scoring 5,914 runs.
Adam Wheater requires 2 runs to reach 3,000 first-class runs for Essex.
Jamie Porter requires 7 more wickets to record 350 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.
Snater looks back on career-best figures
It was bittersweet for Shane Snater who following his first-class debut in the match against Worcestershire last week, marked his second red-ball appearance for the Club in the defeat to Nottinghamshire this week with career-best bowling figures.
Paceman, Snater was rewarded for his tireless persistence and perseverance with career-best figures of 7 for 98 from 26 overs to stake a claim for the upcoming home match against Derbyshire which begins on Thursday.
“It’s nice to take wickets and it was obviously great to pass my previous best figures,” he reflected. “I can’t really pick out any of the seven and say which gave me the most pleasure in particular, they were all pretty satisfying to be honest but overall, I’m just delighted to be taking wickets for Essex.”

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, the 25-year-old is a prominent member of the Dutch side and made his Essex debut in 2018, playing in the Royal London One-Day Cup against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Having also appeared in the title-winning Vitality Blast campaign in 2019, the player has been patiently awaiting his opportunity in the red-ball game and was finally given his county Championship debut at New Road just a couple of weeks ago.
Now, playing against Nottinghamshire in only his second game, he took his opportunity with commendable determination.
“I’ve had to be patient waiting for my first team chance in red-ball cricket but that’s understandable because Essex have been so successful over the years and so it’s a really hard team to get into.
“But, it’s nice to be a part of it and hopefully, I can carry on keep taking wickets and add something to the team.”
In December last year, Snater took 8 wickets in the Logan Cup competition for Southern Rocks back in his native Zimbabwe including 5 for 45, his previous best figures in the longer format, and he maintained impressive form when he returned for pre-season training with the county.
Essex Bowling Coach Andre Nel, the former South Africa fast bowler, was delighted with Snater’s performance at Trent Bridge.
“It’s nice to see him come through and he’s deserved the credit he got during the Nottinghamshire game for all his efforts and hard work he’s put in,” he stated.
“He’s put in a lot of effort off the field on stuff away from cricket and that’s actually benefitted him more on the field, so that’s been really good.”
“He always swings the ball and he is quite skiddy. Last year, he missed his length quite a lot but now he has nailed down how to bowl a consistent length more often and he always does something with the ball.
“He actually has the capability to bowl what you might almost call a “miracle” ball and he does that quite often.
“He bowled a lot outdoors in Zimbabwe, did well, and since he’s come back, he’s worked really hard and has really grasped what we want to do as a team and how he fits into our team plans.
“He has been really good in that sense, his attitude to training has been good and I’m really happy for him that he has been able to reap his rewards.”
Sunrisers Tickets Now On Sale
Tickets for the Sunrisers fixtures hosted at The Cloudfm County Ground this season are now on sale.
Chelmsford will play host to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy once again, as well as the new Regional T20 competition, with two fixtures taking place at the home of Essex Cricket.
Saturday 29 May:
Rachael Heyhoe Flint 50 Over v South East Stars (10.30am start time)
Friday 02 July:
Women’s Domestic T20 v Diamonds (6.30pm start time)
Danni Warren, Sunrisers Women’s Regional Director, said: “Following the inaugural season of the domestic 50-over competition in 2020, we are excited at the prospect of playing in front of spectators for the first time as a team.
“The Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and introduction of women’s Regional T20 fixtures is a chance for cricket fans to watch talented female cricketers across the country. I know the Sunrisers players are looking forward to showcasing their skills in front of the supporters at across the region this season, it will be a great experience.”
Tickets for the two matches at Chelmsford are priced at £10 for Adults and £5 for Juniors (U18s) and can be purchased online by clicking here.
Match Report: Nottinghamshire v Essex
Nottinghamshire v Essex
LV= Insurance County Championship
Trent Bridge, Thursday 06 – Sunday 09 May
Team News:
Nottinghamshire: Ben Slater, Haseeb Hameed, Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke, Lyndon James, Steven Mullaney (c), Tom Moores (wk), Liam Patterson-White, Stuart Broad, Luke Fletcher, Dane Paterson.
Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley (c), Dan Lawrence, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Shane Snater, Jamie Porter.
Match Details:
Umpires: Robert Bailey & Steve O’Shaughnessy
Toss: Notts won and elected to field first
Result: Notts won by an innings and 30 runs
Day Four Match Highlights:
Day Four Match Reaction: Anthony McGrath
Day Four Match Report:
Essex suffered their second defeat in three LV= Insurance County Championship matches when they lost by an innings and 30 runs to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
It took the home side just under two hours to complete their win after the visitors started the final day on 129-3 and still trailing by 95 runs on first innings.
Medium-pacers Lyndon James and Dane Paterson claimed five of the wickets to fall in the morning although it was Luke Fletcher that bookended their contributions with the first and last wickets of the session.
Fletcher, who had taken 6 for 24 in the first innings, removed Nick Browne with his 13th ball of the morning with a delivery that the left-hander edged behind to give wicket-keeper Tom Moores a uniform catch.
Browne, the pick of the Essex batsmen in this match with two half-centuries, departed for 64 having added just one boundary to his overnight score.
After an hour’s play, Essex were 165-4 with Paul Walter and Ryan ten Doeschate both on 21 but then James captured two wickets in three balls with away swinging deliveries. The first trapped ten Doeschate in the crease before Adam Wheater, who was still to get off the mark, lost his off stump.
Essex were still 59 behind at this stage and looking for a tail-end rally but sadly it was not forthcoming.
With the total on 170, the seventh wicket went down when Simon Harmer went across his stumps and was leg before wicket to Paterson for a duck. Four runs later, Walter’s patient resistance for 30 and spanning 171 minutes ended when steering James to Ben Duckett at second slip and the same fielder, similarly positioned, collected another catch to remove Peter Siddle for 6.
Fletcher returned with the new ball to have Jamie Porter pouched by keeper Tom Moores for a single leaving Shane Snater 12 not out and Essex comprehensively beaten.
Impressive 22-year-old James enjoyed a fine match with figures of 4 for 51 to add to his 2 for 3 in the first innings and half-century with the bat whilst Paterson picked up 3 for 41 and Fletcher 2 for 42, the latter grabbing match figures of 8 for 66.
After three successive matches on the road and having completed the halfway stage of the Group One schedule (one win, two draws and two defeats), Essex will be eagerly looking forward to back-to-back home matches starting with the visit of Derbyshire to The Cloudfm County Ground on Thursday.
Day Three: Abandoned without a ball bowled
Day Two Match Highlights:
Day Two Match Report:
Despite a career-best 7 wicket haul by Shane Snater, Essex still face an uphill battle if they are to avoid their second defeat of the County Championship season.
At the close of the second day at Trent Bridge, they were 129-3 and still trailing Nottinghamshire by 95 runs after the home side were dismissed for 323 thanks to Snater’s bowling exploits.
Essex began their second innings half an hour after Lunch with a deficit of 224 runs but once again, Nick Browne has anchored the innings providing an unbeaten and vigilant half-century with a serenely effective innings.
He arrived at the close having scored 60 and faced 184 balls in a stay that has so far spanned almost four hours although he was given a life when he was spilled by Haseeb Hameed at third slip on 18 when facing Lyndon James.
He found a dependable and equally watchful ally in Paul Walter with the pair providing meaningful resistance combining for a stand of 40 runs in an hour and a half and they will resume in the morning with the diligent Walter on 14.
Alastair Cook had scored 35 out of 63 before the opening stand lasting 72 minutes was ended when he was adjudged leg before to Lyndon James.
Five runs later and with just a single to his name, Tom Westley joined him back in the Pavilion having deflected a ball from Stuart Broad to the wicket-keeper.
Dan Lawrence had just moved into double figures laying the foundations of a promising innings when he played down the wrong line against Dane Paterson and lost his off-stump as the visitors recoiled to 89-3 after 35 overs.
But Browne and Walter showed admirable defensive technique and resolve to combat the home attack.
Earlier, Snater had been rewarded for his tireless persistence and perseverance with figures of 7 for 98 from 26 overs. Playing only his second first-class match for the County, the 25 year-old found nippy pace and generated swing movement on a pitch that offered good carry.
The right-arm, medium-pacer who joined Essex in 2018 made his first-class debut in July 2016 for the Netherlands against Afghanistan in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and in December last year, he took 8 wickets in the Logan Cup competition for Southern Rocks back in his native Zimbabwe including 5 for 45, his previous best.
He has patiently been awaiting his opportunity in the red-ball game with the County and grabbed the opportunity with commendable determination.
Snater had already claimed three of the four Notts wickets to have fallen on the opening day and might have had a wicket in his first over when play resumed but Browne, at third slip, was unable to complete a sharp catch with Mullaney on 67.
However, the bowler’s disappointment soon turned to celebration when he struck twice in as any deliveries. He had James brilliantly caught by Simon Harmer at second slip for 51 before Tom Moores was caught by Adam Wheater for a duck. That gave Snater figures of 5 for 68 and left Nottinghamshire who had started the day on 188 for 4 with Mullaney on 63, now 207-6.
Snater was given a well-earned rest with Simon Harmer taking over at the Pavilion End and in his fifth over, he had Liam Patterson-White caught at short fine leg by Ryan ten Doeschate for 22
Mullaney though was resolute and his clean and uncomplicated hitting and driving brought him to a 148-ball century completed with the 18th boundary of his innings.
The second new ball was taken at 280-7 and shared by Snater and Peter Siddle but Broad and Mullaney were in rampant form. In 25 minutes together, they posted a half-century partnership and had added 66 in 9 overs when Siddle ended their fun by bowling Mullaney for 117. That wicket would have come as welcome relief to the amiable Australian who had sent down 68 overs spread over four innings since his last wicket.
But it was Snater who wrapped up the innings with the last two wickets in the space of four balls having Luke Fletcher lbw for 2, to give Essex a third bowling point, and Broad caught at first slip by Cook for a highly entertaining 41 made from 42 balls that included 1 six and 6 fours.
Siddle’s wicket came at a cost of 72 runs, whilst Porter and Harmer picked up a wicket apiece costing 75 runs and 40 respectively but they were only part of a support act to Snater’s admirable effort.
Day One Match Highlights:
Day One Reaction: Nick Browne
Day One Match Report:
14 wickets fell on the opening day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match at Trent Bridge where Essex were bowled out for 99 before Nottinghamshire reached the close on 188-4.
Only Nick Browne for the visitors effectively addressed a pitch that offered swing and seam movement. The opener batted for two and a quarter hours before being caught at backward point for 53 but elsewhere, it was a tale of woe with the only other double-figure contribution coming from Dan Lawrence who hit 14.
Despite a trio of wickets for Shane Snater (3 for 54), the home side then rubbed salt into the wounds ending the day with an overall lead of 89 thanks to a rapid 63 not out in 69 balls by Captain Steven Mullaney that included 12 fours, supported by 49 from Haseeb Hameed and an unbeaten 42 by Lyndon James.
The architect of the Essex meagre total was Luke Fletcher who returned career-best figures of 6 for 24 including a spell of 5 wickets in 28 balls at a personal cost of 7 runs after lunch.
The 32-year-old maintained a persistent line to trouble a series of batsmen who faltered against his accuracy and swing plus seam movement.
The visitors, who were put onto bat, had ended the first session of play on 71-4 with Browne 39 not out but the afternoon period spelt disaster for the men from Chelmsford with the remaining wickets toppling in 59 balls including the last four of the innings in 12 balls without addition.
Browne prevailed by virtue of disciplined batting but elsewhere a series of nicks and leg before decisions left Essex in tatters.
The match got underway 6 minutes late due to a shower just before the scheduled start but Browne made an immediate favourable impression.
He launched the innings and his own account with a straight drive to the boundary from a Stuart Broad half-volley and two deliveries later, he steered the ball down to the ropes at fine leg.
The left-hander’s first four scoring strokes all found the ropes as he dominated an opening stand of 23 with Alastair Cook in 8 overs.
The battle between Broad and his one-time England Captain Cook proved fascinating although brief. Cook had faced 24 deliveries, 12 from Broad, when the paceman bowling round the wicket found the edge to have Cook caught by wicket-keeper Tom Moores for 3.
Tom Westley, having just got off the mark with a single, fell victim to a fine delivery form Luke Fletcher that pitched middle and knocked out off stump to leave the visitors 34-2 after 12 overs.
Dane Paterson replacing Broad had Lawrence dropped one run later by Hameed at third slip but the batsman took a single two balls later to get off the mark. A boundary by Lawrence through mid-wicket brought up the 50 towards the end of the 19th over but having taken his score to 14 out of 61, Lawrence was undone by James who had just joined the attack.
Nine balls later and things were to get worse for Essex when the return of Broad, now having switched from the Pavilion End, accounted for Paul Walter who had still to get off the mark when he was struck on the back pad by a full-length ball.
All the while, Browne remained steadfastly resolute timing the ball well and shoring up the innings before Lunch.
But real problems emerged five overs into the resumption when Fletcher, bowling from the Radcliffe Road End, trapped Ryan ten Doeschate in the crease for 6 with the total on 80-5.
In his next over, the bowler encouraged Adam Wheater (5) to dab at a leg-side delivery to give his opposite number Tom Moores a comfortable catch.
A single off Fletcher took Browne to his half-century having spent 2 and a half hours in the middle and collecting nine boundaries from the 103 balls faced.
A six-minute delay for the briefest of showers halted the action but Fletcher was soon tormenting Essex when play re-commenced taking the next three wickets in five balls with the total on 99.
Browne was caught by Ben Slater at backward point for 53, Snater edged to Moores having yet to score whilst Peter Siddle was trapped lbw first ball.
James then wrapped up the innings with the dismissal of Simon Harmer (8) who became the fifth lbw victim of a sorry innings.
Ben Slater and Hameed put on 31 before the former chipped Snater to Walter at mid-wicket and three runs later, Ben Duckett edged his first ball to Adam Wheater.
Hameed, batting with confidence and executing a number of pleasing drives, was joined by Joe Clarke and the pair carried the total onto 77 before Snater struck again when Clarke chased a ball outside off to become Wheater’s 11th victim of the campaign.
Hameed, who had faced 92 balls, then clipped Snater to Harmer at second slip to leave Nottinghamshire 84-4.
A boundary down to the vacant third man area by James took the hosts into the lead shortly before Westley brought Harmer into the attack to replace Snater who had bowled impressively passing the bat on several occasions without further reward.
But the Notts fifth-wicket pair of James, who was dropped at third slip by Westley off Snater on 1, and Mullaney combined to put their side into a dominant position with a 50 partnership that arrived from 77 balls.
By the end of the day, the stand was worth 104 runs from 130 balls to give the home side an overall lead of 89 runs.
Introducing the New 2021 T20 Shirt
The new Essex Eagles T20 shirt brought to you by Captains, Simon Harmer and Kelly Castle is now officially launched!
The latest design retains the yellow with the addition of the red and blue Club colours which pay homage to one of the earliest coloured kits worn by the Essex squad. It features our new Vitality Blast title shirt sponsor, Woodland Group for the first time since their new multi-year partnership extension, plus Cloudfm on the collar and reverse, and Seven Investment Management on the sleeve.
New threads 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Q4WWSCWBfV
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 5, 2021
The retro design is inspired by the AXA Life League strip from the 1997 season which featured the likes of Nasser Hussain, Ronnie Irani and overseas star Stuart Law, under the stewardship of Captain, Paul Prichard.
The shirt will be worn by the Eagles First Team squad in this year’s Vitality Blast competition as well as the Essex Women’s Regional T20 competition which continues this weekend against Middlesex.
You can purchase your shirt now via The Cricket Store online or in person at The Cloudfm County Ground, priced:
• Kiddie Sizes – £30.00 (1-2 Years, 3-4 Years, 5-6 Years
• Junior Sizes – £34.95 (Small Junior, Medium Junior, Large Junior)
• Adult Sizes – £41.95 (Youth, Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL

Match Preview: Nottinghamshire v Essex
Nottinghamshire v Essex
LV= Insurance County Championship
Trent Bridge
Thursday 06 – Sunday 09 May
11am start
Essex continue their run of away fixtures with a visit to Trent Bridge for an LV=Insurance County Championship match with Nottinghamshire starting on Thursday.
It is the team’s third successive match on the road and they face a side who secured their first red-ball win since 2018 when they swept aside Derbyshire last week.
Essex meanwhile drew their contest at New Road with Worcestershire on a wicket that offered little encouragement for bowlers.
After four rounds of matches, only 5 points separate five of the six teams in Group One. Leaders Warwickshire, who are the only side in the section to have won more than one match, have 54 points and that is 5 more than fifth-placed Essex. At the foot of the table, Durham have 40 points.
Squad:
Hear from McGrath:
Nottinghamshire recorded their first victory in 31 red-ball matches when they overcame Derbyshire last week, but Anthony McGrath is all too aware of their threat.
“Their results have not been great over the last year or two but that win last week would have given them great encouragement,” he said.
“They are a very dangerous team with a number of quality players and we’ll need to be at our best if we want to get a positive result.”
And he is also keen to point out the demanding workload on the Essex squad so far.
“Every game this year has gone to the last day and apart from the Durham game, each one has gone to the last session.
“So it’s been a real grind, especially for the bowlers who effectively bowled for two full days in both of the Worcestershire games whilst the Warwickshire game went down to the penultimate over.
“We always knew that with nine back-to-back Championship fixtures, it would be tough and with three successive away games, it’s more challenging with all the travel involved.
“But you’ve got to get on with it and frankly, we are happy to be playing with all that has happened over the last 12 months or so.”
Regarding the few points that separate the six teams in Group One, he admits that the extra points introduced for the draw this season (increased to 8 from 5) has had an effect.
“It’s still early days and there is still a lot of cricket to be played but I think in our Group, there have been a lot more draws with wins harder to come by. It could be closely fought all the way through before the top two are decided.
“We couldn’t have done more against Worcestershire either home or away and we tried to force the games all the way through, we lost a close one against Warwickshire and won against Durham so, yes, it’s been very tight.
“The guys have given everything, we’ve been pushing for wins in all the games which is a good sign and I’m confident if we can keep that level of fighting spirit and performance, we’ll soon get on a roll.”
Injury/Absentees News:
Essex have named a 13-man squad with Ben Allison and Jamie Porter added to the team that played against Worcestershire.
Opposition:
The win over Derbyshire gave Nottinghamshire their first red-ball success since June 2018, a sequence of 31 first-class matches.
England’s Stuart Broad leads a group of seamers that includes Luke Fletcher who claimed 5 for 28 in the first innings against Derbyshire, whilst Dane Paterson and Broad claimed 11 wickets between them.
Notts Coach Peter Moores praised his players and coaching staff after the game, saying: “There’s a lot of hard work being put into the way we go about our red-ball cricket which has been taking place over a long period of time, so this is a great moment for us all and something for us to continue to build on.
“We are going to have to keep working hard, getting better and being able to play tough cricket against good teams.
“We have a great game coming up against Essex, the Champions. That’ll be a really good test to see if we can back up what we have done.”
One to Watch:
In Stuart Broad, Nottinghamshire boast one of England’s finest new-ball bowlers.
On Broad, Notts Coach Peter Moores said: “Like most of the great players, he seems to get better. He seems to be bowling quicker now than he has ever bowled as well.
“There’s a lot of cricket left in Stuart and if I were an England selector, I would be very pleased with what I was seeing.”
Head-to-Head:
The two teams last met in 2019 at Trent Bridge where Essex inflicted a heavy defeat on their hosts to win by an innings and 123 runs.
The home side scored 213 and 183 either side of a run-fest from the team destined to win the title who totalled 519-9 declared. Nick Browne top-scored with 163, Ravi Bopara contributed 135 whilst Dan Lawrence scored 64.
Pacemen Jamie Porter, Peter Siddle and Aaron Beard each took three wickets in Notts’ first trip to the crease and then Harmer collected four wickets second time around with Porter and Beard sharing another four wickets.
In the 136 Championship clashes between the teams so far, Essex have won 37, there have been 66 draws whilst Notts have secured victory on 33 occasions.
Potential Milestones:
Adam Wheater requires 7 runs to reach 3,000 first-class runs for Essex.
Jamie Porter requires 8 more wickets to record 350 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.
Matt Quinn Joins Kent On Loan
Essex County Cricket Club can today announce that Matt Quinn has joined Kent on loan for their next four LV= Insurance County Championship matches.
The 28-year-old will join up with his new teammates immediately and will be available for the upcoming red-ball fixture against Yorkshire at Emerald Headingley, which begins on Thursday 06 May.
Quinn joined Essex ahead of the 2016 season and has taken 50 first-class wickets at an average of 30.80, with his best figures of 7/76 coming against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.
Ahead of his loan move, Quinn said: “I’m really excited to be going to Kent and can’t wait to get started.
“Hopefully it will be a great opportunity for me to get some game time and get back to taking wickets.”
Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “Matt is an excellent bowler who has found First Team opportunities hard to come by this season.
“We’re lucky at Essex to have an extremely talented squad with such depth and this loan move will give Matt the chance to play more frequently and perform at the highest level.”