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Fixture: Essex v Northamptonshire
Date: Saturday 25 April
Venue: Adelaide Oval
Result: Northamptonshire won by 2 wickets

Match Report:

Essex coach Jamie Porter said he would be calling his players in for “naughty-boy fitness” sessions as punishment after his side collapsed with the bat in their defeat by Northamptonshire.

The Eagles’ Quarantine Cup hopes hang by a thread after finding themselves bowled out for just 16 at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon, and must now win their final match, scoring a plethora of boundaries in the process, and hope a series of results goes in their favour, if they are to reach the last four.

For Northamptonshire, the path to the semi-finals has become a little less treacherous. Ricardo Vasconcelos’s men will likely need to win both of their remaining fixtures, but they can at least rely on some momentum to get them through.

Northamptonshire, bowling first after making the long trip to Adelaide overnight, made an early breakthrough when Nathan Buck had Varun Chopra caught in the ring third ball.

Essex failed to make a run off the bat in Buck’s over, effectively reducing their innings to four overs, and though Cameron Delport launched his first delivery for six back over Ben Sanderson’s head, he was soon on his way back to the Pavilion.

Sanderson produced a remarkable 95mph inswinging yorker to send Delport’s leg stump cartwheeling towards the boundary.

Things went from bad to worse the very next ball for Essex, as Moises Henriques leathered a gorgeous chip through the legside, only to look up to his horror to see Blessing Muzarabani celebrating taking an absurd catch on the boundary.

Muzarabani added a wicket to his excellent catch, drawing Dan Lawrence into a hook which only reached Richard Levi at fine leg, and looked for all the world as if he cleaned up the Essex innings when he pinned Ryan ten Doeschate on the back pad in front of middle stump.

Neither the standing umpire nor the TV official were convinced, however, and a lack of Hawkeye technology gave Northamptonshire minimal recourse.

Still, the reprieve only helped Essex add six more runs, all off the bat of ten Doeschate from a single blow against Muzarabani, and the innings came to an abrupt end when Faheem Ashraf had Westley leg before for 1.

Northamptonshire would have hoped to have sauntered to their target, and for a while they did as they reached 12 without loss, but in the end they fell over the line struggling and wheezing.

Adam Zampa clean bowled Vasconcelos as he marched down the wicket and tried to deposit the Australian over long-on; Simon Harmer struck with his first delivery, as Levi chipped a catch to midwicket; and Keiron Pollard picked out midwicket with four runs still required.

For the briefest of moments, Essex had a sliver of a chance, but Adam Rossington soon clipped Harmer to the legside fence to secure victory with two overs to spare.

Match Highlights:

Essex v Warwickshire
NatWest Trophy Final
Sunday 7 September 1997
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

Warwickshire Team: Nick Knight, Neil Smith (c), David Hemp, Dominic Ostler, Trevor Penney, Dougie Brown, Graeme Welch, Ashley Giles, Keith Piper (wk), Allan Donald, Gladstone Small

Essex Team: Paul Prichard (c), Stuart Law, Nasser Hussain, Ronnie Irani, Darren Robinson, Paul Grayson, Danny Law, Robert Rollins (wk), Ashley Cowan, Mark Ilott, Peter Such

Toss: Essex, who elected to field

Umpires: Mervyn Kitchen, Peter Willey & John Hampshire

Result: Essex win by 9 wickets

Man of the Match: Stuart Law

Match Highlights:

Match Report:

Two comprehensive defeats by your opponents within a 10-day period leading into the Final itself is not the most encouraging way to prepare for a tilt at winning the trophy. Add to that the memory of a Final debacle in the same competition one year earlier (Essex were bowled out for 57 in reply to Lancashire’s 186) and it is easy to understand why even the most fervent Essex follower would have viewed another trip to Lord’s with some trepidation.

However, over the years when following the county, one had learned to expect the unexpected. We have all enjoyed watching the team carve out the incredible victory, many times with panache, when defeat or a draw was a far more likely outcome. Equally we have all squirmed as we watched our heroes snatch defeat from the jaws of victory often in a ludicrous manner as wicket upon wicket fell incredibly and bizarrely.

Yet again, the outcome of the NatWest Trophy Final appeared to rest heavily in favour of the side that won the toss. Paul Prichard called correctly and decided unhesitatingly to field. Essex fans and players breathed a little easier in their hopes of erasing the nightmare memory of the previous year’s Final.

What followed was a performance of total dominance from the start of play and which concluded with the record of completing victory in the shortest match on record for a final in the competition. The entire game spanned just 86.3 overs and was dominated by Essex throughout.

Whilst the importance of the “lucky call” of the toss should not be underestimated, the manner in which Essex exploited the advantage thus afforded to them was admirable.

Overcast skies hung over Lord’s as the crowd observed a minute’s silence in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, whose funeral had taken place the previous day.

From the moment that Ashley Cowan opened the bowling at the Nursery End, Warwickshire were forced on the back foot as Essex attacked. The third legitimate ball of the day – Cowan had delivered a wide with his previous effort – trapped former Essex opener Nick Knight leg before wicket and the voices of the Essex supporters roared into life.

Essex were on their way.

Cowan and his new-ball partner Mark Ilott frustratingly beat the bat time after time as batsmen produced a series of false shots and mistimed edges. There was also a plethora of shouts for leg before until Cowan found the edge of the potentially belligerent Neil Smith’s bat and Stuart Law took a regulation slip catch. With the scoreboard showing 12 for two, the opposition’s third-wicket pair attempted to entrench but it really was backs-to-the-wall stuff as the Essex bowlers found prodigious swing and seam movement off the pitch.

Cowan ended a fine opening spell with figures of 7-2-13-2, and he was replaced by Ronnie Irani who it had been thought would only play as a batsman following his recent injury. But ‘Big Ron’ steamed in, fired by his usual enthusiasm and the occasion, to maintain the good foundations laid by Cowan.

Stuart Law took over from the frugal Ilott (7- 3-7-0) to keep the tight stranglehold on the batters attempted progress. With 20 overs bowled, Warwickshire’s total was a miserly 44 for two. Irani beat the bat for the umpteenth time bringing a philosophical and rueful smile from the bowler whilst piling the pressure on the batsmen. That led to a moment of impatience and indiscretion from David Hemp that cost his wicket after he and Dominic Ostler deliberated about the merits of a quick single only for the outcome to be settled by Paul Grayson’s direct throw from short extra cover that left Hemp stranded out of his ground.

With often six fielders plus bowler and wicket-keeper often stationed within the fielding circle, Prichard’s aggressive tactics restricted the singles; boundaries were a rare commodity. The introduction of Peter Such continued to curb Warwickshire’s attacking intent as the off-spinner executed his usual features of tight line and length. There was nowhere for the Warwickshire team to run as lunch loomed and Essex struck again before the break when the obdurate Trevor Penney edged the re-introduced Cowan, to wicket-keeper Robert Rollins leaving the Midlanders to reflect on a score of 75 for four wickets from 36 overs at the interval.

Five overs into the post-lunch session, Ostler heaved a pull to deep mid-wicket where Danny Law turned what should have been a uniform catch into one of great achievement as he juggled twice with the ball before falling forward to grab it inches from the ground. Everything was going Essex’s way.
Such brought off a truly magnificent catch, diving to his right to hold a stinging return as Graeme Welsh was dismissed caught and bowled, that reduced Warwickshire to 96 for 6 whilst the bowler’s figures at this stage were 8-1-17-1.

A rare explosion of runs came in the 49th over, nine in all, and raised the pitiful run-rate. Dougie Brown and Ashley Giles combined to complete the first and only 50 partnership of the innings, by the culmination of the 55th over.

With only five overs to go, desperation and impetuosity became a feature of the batting side as they risked the unconventional in an effort to post a reasonable total. An injudicious attempt to run cost Giles his wicket when he was beaten by yards following Grayson’s throw.

Ilott returned to bowl from the Pavilion End and his first ball of a new spell induced a hook from Brown that picked out Danny Law stationed at deep extra cover. This time, the fielder made no mistake, taking the catch cleanly to leave the scoreboard showing 156 for 8.

The remaining 11 balls of the innings produced only 14 more runs, the Essex attack having exerted authority throughout limiting their opponents to 51 runs from the last 10 overs including 24 from the final five.

Although they could be justly satisfied with their efforts in the field, Essex knew that the task was not yet done. Warwickshire’s 170 for 8 was only 16 fewer than Lancashire’s score in 1996 and so Essex supporters were far from complacent.

However, any apprehension and concerns were quickly dispelled was as the Essex openers quickly executed their game plan. Not for them the steady accumulation of runs towards the victory target but rather a veritable assault on the stunned Warwickshire attack.

With the sun burning away the cloud cover, Essex wrote a totally different batting chapter to the story of this final. Prichard played the second ball of the innings tantalisingly short of Brown at slip but if Warwickshire harboured hopes of vagaries in the wicket, it was to prove a false dawn.

The Essex captain and his buddy Stuart Law put the attack to the sword as they formed a formidable opening pair. It took just 4 overs for the Australian to impose his brilliant batting skills on the game as he took four boundaries when facing Welsh. Prichard followed the Queenslander’s lead taking a couple of fours from the next over and in express time, Essex had reached 45 without loss from 5 overs.

After one further over, Essex reached the total they had posted in their nightmare final 12 months earlier. This time though, there was to be no heartbreak, only joy.

Smith rung the bowling changes frequently in an unsuccessful bid to part the rampaging Essex duo using five different bowlers inside the first 13 overs, but it brought his side now respite as Prichard and Law plundered the attack unmercifully. The Essex skipper reached his half-century via a misfield having faced just 40 deliveries summing up Warwickshire’s beleaguered state.

He finally fell to the pace of Allan Donald, lbw, having contributed 57 out of an opening partnership of 109 but that was to be Warwickshire’s one and only success as Nasser Hussain joined Law.

Together they turned the pursuit of victory challenge into a mere formality. As the sun shone brighter, Law sublimely reached his 50 from 38 balls that included seven boundaries. Essex supporters were savouring every moment and with singing and chanting ever increasing, Law fuelled their delight with more encouragement by the minute.

A wonderful cover drive from Hussain brought up the 150 in the 24th over and tea was taken with Essex on the cusp of victory at 152 for one – and they still had 35 of their allotted 60 overs remaining!

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today agreed that no professional cricket will be played in England and Wales until at least July 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The season remains subject to ongoing advice from government and health experts, and continued consultation with all broadcast partners to determine the optimum way to fulfil fixtures both domestically and internationally.

Essex Members, Season Ticket Holders and Ticket Purchasers can find out further information about how the postponement of cricket until at least July 1 impacts them further down on this page.

The ECB Board approved the following measures:

• Professional cricket will not be played in England and Wales until at least July 1
• Nine rounds of fixtures will be lost in the County Championship season, but blocks for red-ball and white-ball cricket will be held in a revised schedule
• The Vitality Blast will be pushed as late in the season as possible to give it the best opportunity of being staged. All matches previously scheduled in June will be moved later in the season
• International cricket, featuring England men’s and women’s teams, will look to be scheduled from July until the end of September, with the West Indies Test Series and the whole women’s series against India (Vitality IT20s and Royal London ODIs) both moving from their original slots
• An additional Board meeting will be scheduled next Wednesday on The Hundred, following a request to dedicate a further session to the competition

ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: “Our role as a national governing body during a crisis of this scale requires us to carefully plan alongside cricket’s stakeholders and supporters to attempt to overcome COVID-19’s impact on this season.

“As much as we remain hopeful that we can deliver some cricket this summer, we are in the midst of a worldwide crisis and our priority – over and above the playing of professional sport – will be to protect the vulnerable, key workers and society as a whole.

“That’s why simply put, there will be no cricket unless it’s safe to play. Our schedule will only go ahead if Government guidance permits.

“Our biggest challenge, along with other sports, is how we could seek to implement a bio-secure solution that offers optimum safety and security for all concerned. The guidance we receive from Westminster will help us shape how we deliver this.

“Our plan is to reschedule international matches as late as possible in the season to give the best chance of play. The Vitality Blast will also now occupy the latest possible season slot to offer as much time as possible to play a County short-form competition.

“I want to thank everyone involved in this complex and sensitive work. There have clearly never been times like this and my colleagues at the ECB and across the game have been exemplary in this period. It has been refreshing, but not surprising, to see how cricket has come together.”

Essex Cricket Members, Season Ticket or Ticket Holders

The ECB are continuing to work with their partners across the game to determine the best options to reschedule fixtures in 2020 following the relevant guidance and in accordance with the safety of all supporters, staff and the playing squad.

The ECB and all counties are engaged in dialogue with regard to how the current situation will affect all Members.

Please keep an eye on your email, the Club website and social media channels for more information on a revised schedule and the impact this will have on Membership of the Club.

Original ticket purchasers will be notified by the Club in the event of a match being rearranged or cancelled.

Domestic

What has been the ECB’s priority in modelling a revised schedule?

The ECB are being guided by four key priorities:

1. Public safety, health and wellbeing of players, operational staff and cricket fans;
2. The most financially important forms of cricket for our First-Class Counties: International cricket and the Vitality Blast to help ensure the future of 18 First-Class Counties and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC);
3. Working closely with our broadcast partners to provide as much live cricket as possible to cricket fans; and
4. Supporting the women’s game to continue its growth journey

With professional cricket postponed till at least July 1, what impact will this have on the County Championship?

In total there were nine rounds of County Championship action scheduled up to July 1 which due to the postponement have been cancelled but blocks for red-ball and white-ball cricket will be held in a revised schedule.

What matches will be impacted by the delayed season start to July 1?

1. The English professional domestic cricket season was scheduled to get underway on March 24 with the traditional Champion County match between holders Essex and MCC in Galle, Sri Lanka.
2. The MCCU matches were due to commence in the first week of April while the County Championship would have started on Sunday April 12.
3. In total there were nine rounds of County Championship action scheduled up to July 1.
4. The Vitality Blast was due to commence on May 28 and would have had 11 group matches up until the end of June.
5. England men’s three-match Test series against West Indies was due to start at the Kia Oval on June 5 followed by the second Test at Edgbaston on June 12 and the third Test at Lord’s commencing on June 25.
6. Two England women’s T20Is against India were planned for June 25 and June 27 at Bristol at Taunton.

What’s happening with the Royal London Cup?

The Royal London Cup is an option that is incorporated into some of our models and our thinking. The ECB are fluid with our thoughts at this stage and, once they are in a position to do so, they will be able to confirm the revised schedule.

How can supporters get refunds for the Vitality Blast given the dates have changed?

The ECB are continuing to work with their partners across the game to determine the best options to reschedule fixtures in 2020 following the relevant guidance and in accordance with the safety of all supporters, staff and the playing squad. Further advice from the ECB and the Club as to rescheduling plans and how this impacts ticket holders will be announced once this has been confirmed in due course.

Original ticket purchasers will be notified by the Club in the event of a match being rearranged or cancelled.

International

When will international cricket take place?

International cricket, featuring England men’s and women’s teams, will be focussed on being scheduled from July until the end of September, with the West Indies Test Series and the whole women’s series against India (Vitality T20Is and Royal London ODIs) both moving from their original slots.

Will women’s international cricket still be scheduled?

International cricket, featuring England men’s and women’s teams, will be focussed on being scheduled from July until the end of September, with the West Indies Test Series and the whole women’s series against India (Vitality T20Is and Royal London ODIs) both moving from their original slots.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ECB’s announcement that professional cricket is postponed until at least 1 July, the following international fixtures at The 1st Central County Ground have been postponed and are intended to be rescheduled to a later date in the 2020 season:

England Women v India Royal London One Day International series, The Cloudfm County Ground (4 July)

Recreational

When will recreational cricket be played?

Based on the Government’s advice, the ECB recommended the suspension of all recreational cricket on March 18. This suspension remains in place until further notice in order to keep everyone in the cricket family safe – this is our upmost priority.

The latest Essex Cricket in the Community update can be found – here

The Hundred

What is the latest with The Hundred?

The Hundred is under ongoing review and a confirmed approach will be released in due course. If you are a ticket holder, you do not need to do anything at this stage. Original ticket purchasers will be contacted in line with any future announcement about the competition.

Have a Question?

If you have any questions regarding your Membership, ticket purchase or hospitality booking, please get in touch with the Club:

Membership & Ticketing Office – [email protected]
Hospitality Department – [email protected]

Essex County Cricket Club can today confirm that Overseas signing Peter Siddle will not join up with the side during the 2020 campaign, with his contract now revised for the 2021 season.

The Australian was due back in Chelmsford for the 2020 Royal London Cup and County Championship campaigns, however, given the suspension of all domestic fixtures until 28 May as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been mutually agreed that his contract will be postponed for a year.

Siddle said: “It’s a shame I won’t be returning to Chelmsford this year as I was really looking forward to the season with the Eagles, but there are plenty of things more important than cricket going on in the world at the moment.

“In light of the current situation, it makes sense for me to come back over for the 2021 season when hopefully we’re back to normal and playing cricket again.

“It feels like a long way off at the moment, but I’m really excited to see all the boys and play at The Cloudfm County Ground again. Until then, stay safe and look after yourselves and your loved ones. See you soon.”

Derek Bowden, Chief Executive of Essex Cricket, added: “The postponed start to the season is going to have an impact on Overseas players in the squad.

“Peter Siddle was scheduled to be arriving in the UK last week, but we have together made the decision to defer his contract to the 2021 season.

“We are constantly reviewing the situation with our other Overseas players in light of when various competitions will commence, together with their own personal safety and ability to travel.

“I’d like to thank Peter and his management for their understanding and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back next year.”

Essex’s Overseas signings are in partnership with Seven Investment Management, the Eagles’ Vitality Blast shirt sponsor.

It’s that time of the week when you have the chance to test your Essex knowledge!

We’ve been reflecting on cult heroes over the last few weeks, so we thought we’d give you 5 minutes to see how much you know about one of England’s and Essex’s finest, Alastair Cook.

Make sure you share your score with us afterwards via our social media channels on Twitter and Facebook.

Look out for our latest quiz each week, as well as a choice of new content available soon across the Essex Cricket platforms, including classic matches, interviews and competitions.

The country’s support for the NHS is growing daily in recognition for their extraordinary efforts every day on the frontline to help the fight against coronavirus.

The support runs deep into communities and the Club continues to offer help through volunteering with Supporting Humanity; a charity based in Leyton who deliver hot meals to NHS ICU staff at 14 hospitals in London and Essex.

The charity based at Saffron Kitchen in Leyton is expanding each week and now making 1,700 meals per day to help hospital staff and the vulnerable.

The latest volunteer to be involved is Graham Gooch, who has joined the group of Club volunteers to deliver meals each week to Broomfield Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

Gooch said: “I’m delighted to be part of the Club’s outreach campaign and it’s fantastic to see the inspirational work that charities such as Supporting Humanity are doing.

“The Club are trying to do our own bit to help the hospitals and the NHS, and it’s been a privilege to deliver food for the staff.

“The key workers are doing a fantastic job. Everyone in the community in east London, Essex and across the country are really appreciative for what all they are doing for people in need at this terrible time – they deserve a medal, all of them.”

Graham has been joined by a number of the First Team and Women’s squads in recent weeks, including captains Tom Westley, Kelly Castle and Simon Harmer. There has also been fantastic support from Club Partners, Cloudfm, Woodland Group and Allen Ford, who have helped to deliver meals to Basildon and Colchester hospitals.

Idris Patel said: “The support we’ve had since in recent weeks has been fantastic and this is purely run by the help of the local community. A big thank you goes to the businesses and all the volunteers who continue to support us, plus the daily public donations which are keeping the deliveries going.

“Having Essex Cricket be part of our work has been great and it shows a real team effort to support an inspiring group of people who are fighting this pandemic on a daily basis.

“With their help, we have now surpassed over 30,000 hot meals in three weeks and it’s been great to expand our reach into other hospitals in Essex.”

The Club have set up a Just Giving to help the great work by Supporting Humanity. The fundraising appeal is also supporting the Essex Community Foundation, who are working across the county to support charities and voluntary groups in the fight against COVID-19 through their Essex Coronavirus Response and Recovery Programme.

Fixture: Nottinghamshire v Essex
Date: Monday 20 April
Venue: Adelaide Oval
Result: Essex won by 2 wickets

Match Report:

Nottinghamshire’s Tom Moores claimed hackers had been responsible after his side suffered the ignominy of being bowled out for just 9 in their Quarantine Cup clash with Essex.

Three players made ducks and nearly half of the Notts runs came via overthrows, as Moores slipped to a second defeat from two outings in this season’s competition.

And afterwards he made the astonishing claim, which will prick up ears at the ECB’s Anti Corruption Unit, that external factors were to blame.

“I just think I got hacked,” Moores said. “Genuinely, some of the buttons weren’t working.

“I’m not quite sure if it’s hacked or if it’s the controller, or a bit of both but it’s a tough one.
“Getting bowled out for nine is just unheard of, isn’t it.

“In that game it didn’t just quite go my way. I got caught a few times, which was a bit iffy. It was a low-scoring game but you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth.

“We’ll put that one to the side; new controller, new day.”

The writing was on the wall early on for Moores, as he saw Alex Hales fall to Porter’s digital self in the first over of the game. Hales took a fair chunk of an outswinging delivery, with Adam Wheater completing a comfortable catch, and proceeded to waste his team’s review trying to overturn the decision.

Dan Christian lasted just one delivery, slapping the ball to mid-off, to leave Nottinghamshire 2-2, and though Porter fluffed his lines on his hat-trick delivery, lobbing a wild return throw back over his own wicketkeeper’s head for four runs, Essex soon had another scalp.

Moores called himself through for an audacious single and barely managed to get halfway down the track by the time Wheater took five paces to the ball and threw down the stumps. It was nightmarish.

Duckett was beaten by Zampa’s googly, losing his off stump, before Samit Patel holed out to leave the home side, temporarily playing in Adelaide for logistical reasons, all out in single figures.

An easy task for Essex, you might have thought. You’d have been wrong.

Although Varun Chopra successfully appealed against an lbw decision first ball from Luke Fletcher, the visitors lost Cameron Delport when the South African attempted to heave his first delivery over the top and only managed to pick out Hales at mid-off.

Dan Lawrence nearly halved the target when he flicked Stuart Broad through midwicket, but Broad responded by taking out middle and leg stumps to leave Essex 5-2.

That wasn’t the end of the wicket-taking.

Chopra lost two stumps to Broad with two runs still required and, for a few seconds, there was a sliver of a chance of an almighty upset.

But Porter and his batsmen held their collective nerve to edge their way to victory. They still stand a good chance of qualification. Moores, hacked or not, is staring down the barrel of an early exit.
Porter was happy with the win, even if his batsmen once again struggled to get going.

Porter said: “I was well assisted by Mooresy’s batting. Chasing nine, I was able to mask our batting problems that had started to unfold over the previous two games.

“I had a little wobble but I sweated more chasing 14 in the first game.

“If I can get a win out of the next game then it takes a lot of pressure off going into the last.”

Match Highlights:

Essex Cricket are pleased to announce that Saffron Building Society have signed a three-year partnership with the Club, and will be our official Building Society Partner until at least the end of the 2022 season.

This new partnership will see the two businesses work closely together to offer a range of incentives, which will benefit Essex supporters and Saffron Building Society customers.

Darrell Fox, Commercial Manager at Essex Cricket, said: “We’re delighted to welcome another prestigious Essex brand to complement our portfolio of Partners.

“We’re looking forward to working with Colin and the team at Saffron Building Society, and we really appreciate their support for the Club during these uncertain times.

“I’m sure the partnership will be mutually beneficial for us and our stakeholders over the next three years.”

Colin Field, Chief Executive Officer at Saffron Building Society, said: “It’s fantastic for us to be in partnership with Essex Cricket and we hope that we can share more of the on-field success with them over the course of the partnership.

“There is a great synergy between the two businesses and this will certainly open up new channels for us. These will also be exciting times for Saffron Building Society members who will be able to access a wide choice of rewards such as tickets when the season gets underway.”

About Saffron Building Society:

Saffron Building Society is a mutual organisation and is owned by its member base. Saffron offer a variety of mortgage products to meet a range of individual needs, assist with remortgages and further advances and have specialist alternative lending products. In addition, saving services include a range of savings including cash ISA’s, notice accounts, immediate access and children’s savings.