Saturday and Sunday saw Essex Women’s First Team take on Middlesex in the opening clash of the Virtual London Championship Race in a hard-fought battle.
Each of the 15 squad members ran for 30 minutes as part of their daily exercise following strict social distancing measures.
The distances were GPS tracked and recorded with the total distance reflecting how many trip between Lord’s and Chelmsford could be made.
Beth Dodd and Mady Villiers were the top performers for Essex with coach Tom Fulk also making a contribution. Middlesex had three players that passed the 6km mark and they took the win by a mere 0.92km.
The team look forward to their fixture next weekend (25/26 April) against rivals Kent in a Battle of the Bridge contest.
Middlesex v Essex – Middlesex won by 0.92km
Middlesex: 78.29 km ran = 1.40 journeys between Lord’s and Chelmsford
Essex: 77.37 km ran = 1.38 journeys between Lord’s and Chelmsford
Surrey v Kent – Surrey won by 2.21km
Surrey: 88.49 km ran – 0.97 journeys between The Kia Oval and Canterbury
Kent: 86.28 km ran – 0.95 journeys between The Kia Oval and Canterbury
Regular updates on how the team are getting on will be available via the players’ channels, as well as the team’s twitter account – @EssexWomen! You will also be able to track their progress on the Club’s social media accounts.
Special thanks also goes to Payntr who have supplied the Essex Women’s team with trainers for the 2020 season!
Fixtures: 18/19 April – Middlesex v Essex – Lord’s to The Cloudfm County Ground (35 miles)
18/19 April – Surrey Women v Kent Women – Kia Oval to The Spitfire Ground 25/26 April Essex v Kent – The Cloudfm County Ground to The Kia Oval (34 miles)
25/26 April – Middlesex Women v Surrey Women – Lord’s to Kia Oval 2/3 May – Essex v Surrey – The Cloudfm County Ground to The Spitfire Ground (59 miles)
2/3 May – Middlesex Women v Kent Women – Lord’s to The Spitfire Ground
In different circumstances, the two teams would have been involved in the opening match of the 2020 County Championship season at Chelmsford but for now, we have to be content with looking back on some memorable encounters between the two counties, some recent and others way back in the passage of time although still worthy or recall.
2019 The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford – Essex won by 8 wickets Yorkshire 208 (Harmer 5-46) & 211 (Maharaj 85), Essex 328 (Westley 81, ten Doeschate 70*) & 94-2
Whilst a draw was the outcome of the clash in earlier in the season at Headingley, the return fixture at Chelmsford saw Yorkshire became the latest side to feel the effect of the Essex red-ball powerhouse. After winning the toss, they were soon reduced to 43 for 3 in 9 overs on a dry wicket. Jamie Porter and Peter Siddle opened the door allowing Simon Harmer to make his entrance before going on to claim his 6th five-wickets haul for the season.
His dismissal of Tom Kohler-Cadmore gave the spinner his 50th wicket in the Championship term as the White Rose county were dismissed for 208 although that was to prove the highest first innings total recorded by any Championship opposition at Chelmsford in the season.
Essex responded with 328, their highest score of the season in the competition at headquarters. For the second time in the campaign, Tom Westley took a half-century off the Tykes bowling, this time scoring 81 and there was a career Championship best 35 from Rishi Patel replacing sickness struck Ravi Bopara whilst Ryan ten Doeschate ended on 70 not out. The skipper found a late-order dependable partner in livewire Aaron Beard whose 41 helped add 75 for the ninth wicket and completed a third batting point before he became the first of two wickets in successive deliveries for Yorkshire’s short-term Overseas signing South Africa international spinner Keshav Maharaj that wrapped up the innings.
At the start of the third day, Yorkshire were still 82 runs behind having lost three second innings wickets as Siddle made early inroads and it was only the arrival of Maharaj on 81 for 6 that averted an embarrassing submission. Deciding that attack was the preferred option, his approach proved rewarding as he clouted 5 sixes and 7 fours in his 85 from 71 balls before Siddle got a ball to straighten to end the batsman’s fun. The Australian, a model of economy and incisiveness, returned 4 for 32 from 21 overs whilst Porter’s three wickets included his 300th first-class victim for the county.
Left with 92 for victory and with the floodlights on, Cook departed for 6 but Browne played positively with an unbeaten 33 that saw him twice clear the boundary against Maharaj. Westley scored 31 then Dan Lawrence joined Nick Browne to see Essex across the line by 8 wickets with a day and 20 overs to spare and another 22 points haul.
Afterwards Peter Siddle sounded a positive note about the county’s title ambitions. “There’s a real buzz about the boys, the changing room is up and about and it’s exciting to be a part of that,” he stated. “Sure, there are a few games to go and it looks like it’s going to be an exciting finish but there’s no reason why we can’t go on from here and lift another title.”
2018 at Chelmsford. Yorkshire 50 (Cook 5-28) & 329 (Brook 124, Bairstow 50), Essex 142 & 146. Yorkshire won by 91 runs.
A remarkable game staged at the start of May ended with victory for the visitors that had seemed so unlikely when their first innings ended after 91 minutes. They won the toss, opted to bat first but after 8 overs, the score was 22 for 5, one of the departed batsmen being Joe Root who edged a first-ball first slip catch to his former England colleague and predecessor as skipper, Alastair Cook.
Yorkshire were shot out for just 50 in 18.4 overs as Sam Cook (5-28) and Peter Siddle (4-7 on home debut) ran amok. Cook claimed 4 of his victims in 22 balls as the shell-shocked Yorkies were dismissed before lunch. It was their lowest score since 1973 when they capitulated to 43 all out. However, in the remaining 4 overs before lunch, Essex were to experience troubles of their own with the loss of Alastair Cook and Tom Westley for “ducks”.
Essex eventually gained a first innings advantage of 92 but their opponents then rallied with the bat. Galvanised by a maiden first-class century from Harry Brook and 50 by Jonny Bairstow, they carved an overall lead of 237 runs and, in a match of oscillating fortunes, that was to prove enough. Westley completed a “pair” and Ravi Bopara also failed to trouble the scorers in his second trip to the middle but the odds still favoured Essex, when they reached 114 for 4 in pursuit of 238 to win. But the combined threat offered by pacemen Ben Coad and Steve Patterson put the home side to the sword as four more wickets fell without addition to swing the initiative back to the White Rose county who completed victory by 91 runs.
Essex were left to reflect on a bizarre match that lasted just 7 incredible sessions and left them with their first defeat in the Championship at Chelmsford since September 2016 when Glamorgan prevailed.
Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath said afterwards: “It was a crazy game. You would expect to win after bowling a team out for 50 and then get triple their total. It was as if something was happening in every over. So, yes, we are all very disappointed. We’ve been on the wrong side of the result, but we’ll get over it and I’m sure we’ll come back stronger next time.
2017 at North Marine Road, Scarborough – Essex won by 8 wickets Yorkshire 113 (Amir 5-18) & 150 (Leaning 70, Amir 5-54), Essex 231 (ten Doeschate 88) & 34 -2.
Essex arrived at the seaside town having only managed one victory in the previous 50 years at the delightful venue but within two days, they were to record another victory and one that moved them ever closer to a first Championship title for 25 years.
And it was a sensational performance from Mohammad Amir that paved the way for the victory as he underlined his ranking as one of the world’s outstanding fast bowlers. The left-arm 25-year-old Pakistani rocket took 10 wickets in the match and by the time he had finished his torment of the home batsmen, Essex needed just 33 runs to complete their sixth win of the season in the competition.
After an uncontested toss, a staggering opening day watched by a bemused crowd numbering 5,372 saw the Tykes lose 9 wickets for 111 before lunch as Amir and new ball partner Jamie Porter were virtually unplayable. Opening batsman Adam Lyth was the only Yorkshire batsman to offer any fight with 68 whilst the next highest contribution came from Adil Rashid with 12. However, Lyth’s attempts to carry his bat ended in the first over after lunch when he fell to Amir with just 2 runs added to the total. His dismissal ended a last-wicket stand with Ryan Sidebottom worth 39 runs, the highest of the innings, whilst Amir left the field with figures of 5 for 18 and the heartfelt congratulations of his team-mates.
Essex too experienced problems a-plenty losing eight of their first innings wickets before the close of the first day although by that time, they already enjoyed a 75 runs lead thanks to Ryan ten Doeschate’s batting exploits. He was eventually dismissed the following morning for 88 having carried his side to a 118 runs advantage. That included 22 from Amir in a 52 runs ninth-wicket partnership with his captain that temporarily caused a period of some concern for the visitors’ players and their supporters when Amir, attempting a second run, collided with Sidebottom and injured his neck. Play was held up for 7 minutes before the Pakistan Test player – who had been felled during the innocent clash – was able to slowly rise to his feet after due care and attention from physiotherapist Chris Clarke-Irons and continue his innings.
Amir was to prove his complete recovery by grabbing another five wickets in the Tykes second innings. He and Porter sent the home side crashing to 37 for six and with only Jack Leaning showing any backbone, they were eventually bowled out for 150 on the stroke of tea to the dismay and disbelief of the locals amongst the second day crowd totalling 5,355.
Amir’s match haul of 10 for 72 from 28.2 overs was a personal career-best. Left with just 33 runs for victory, Essex took 40 minutes to reach their goal losing two wickets in the process and the match was concluded in two days.
Head Coach Chris Silverwood said:
“Amir’s shown what a class act he is in this game and to have him coming in fresh for the second half of the season is fantastic.
“He’s fitted in brilliantly. He’s a great lad. He’s great around the dressing room with the lads. He’s very good at sharing knowledge with the younger bowlers as well.”
Captain Ryan ten Doeschate commented:
“To pick up points so emphatically inside two days and what it means for the title charge is fantastic for us. The scoreboard speaks for the performance. To have a team like Yorkshire in trouble over two innings on a slightly helpful pitch is fantastic.”
1932 at The County Ground, Leyton – Yorkshire won by an innings and 313 runs Yorkshire 555-1 dec (Sutcliffe 313, Holmes 224*, Essex 78 (Verity 5-8 & 164 Nichols 59*, Verity 5-45, Bowes 5-47)
One of the attractions of the game of cricket is the game’s ability to throw up incongruous situations time after time. This match with the White Rose county was just such illustration and ended in the most humiliating defeat ever by Essex in the County Championship – a record that still stands although the Australians did invoke a heavier defeat in the tourist match of 1948.
From the moment that Essex stand-in captain Charles Bray lost the toss, a Yorkshire side packed with talented players totally dominated the match. Play had been in progress for seven hours and twenty-five minutes before Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe were parted having posted a world record score for the first wicket beating the previous figure of 554 set by another Yorkshire pair, Jack Brown and John Tunnicliffe 34 years earlier. Or had the record been beaten? More of that later. The 45-year-old Holmes was dropped by wicket-keeper Roy Sheffield off the bowling of Stan Nichols when he had scored 3 of the four runs on the board before runs began to flow with ease. How crucial that error was to prove. The Essex attack were given no further encouragement as the batsmen dictated proceedings so effectively that Bray used 8 bowlers in the final session of the day in an unsuccessful bid to unship the openers. By the close, the total was 423 with plenty to follow.
On day two, Sutcliffe progressed to reach his 1,000 runs for the summer whilst Holmes – for the twelfth time in his career – completed a double-century. Sutcliffe, having scored 305 out of the 547 on the scoreboard, then faced the gentle medium-pace of Laurie Eastman. The first ball of the over was short-pitched which the batsman swiped to the square leg boundary and two deliveries later, he reached the boundary again with a leg-side blow to set the new record. Facing the very next delivery, he was bowled when he played the ball onto his foot and it went from there to his wicket at which point, Yorkshire captain Brian Sellers declared.
The 555 score immediately became the subject of much discussion when the two scorers agreed that the total was in fact 554 and the scoreboard reverted to that figure. A lengthy delay followed whilst intense discussions and re-examination of the scorebooks took place before the two scorers, Charlie McGahey and Billy Ringrose, mutually “discovered” an unaccounted no-ball and the one run was added to the total restoring the new record to the Yorkshire openers.
Against the backcloth of mystery and intrigue, Essex were bowled out within two hours for a miserable 78 having no answer to the pace of Bill Bowes nor Hedley Verity’s superbly-flighted bowling. By the close of the second day, the home side were facing certain defeat having slumped to 92-5 wickets and although Stan Nichols battled stoically, Bowes and Verity continued to humble their opponents completing a stunning victory with two sessions of the match remaining.
On the day preceding the Yorkshire innings, Surrey had beaten Essex by 9 wickets at The Oval where Jack Hobbs and Robert Gregory scored 232 in an unbroken second wicket. The duration of that partnership followed by the Yorkshire first wicket run-fest meant that Essex had fielded for a total of nine hours fifty minutes during which time they conceded 787 runs before taking a wicket.
1935 at Huddersfield – Essex won by an innings and 204 runs Yorkshire 31 (Read 6-11) & 99 (Nichols 7-37), Essex 334 (Nichols 146, Belle 63)
Star-studded Yorkshire, with eight present or future England players in their side, had not been beaten since August 1934 and lost only one match whilst retaining their title in 1935 winning 19 matches and drawing 10 of their 30 games. Their blemish came at Huddersfield against Essex where play lasted only until 1pm on the second day. The hosts were completely undone by the marvellous bowling of Stan Nichols and ‘Hopper’ Read who ran riot to dismiss the opposition for 31 runs in an hour with five batsmen failing to score. At one stage, the home side were 9 for 6 but Arthur Wood scored 13, the only batsman to reach double figures in an innings that spanned just 12 overs and 4 balls to leave Yorkshire reflecting on their lowest total for 26 years.
The initial response by Essex was also beset with problems and half the side were dismissed by the time 65 runs were showing on the scoreboard. Frank Rist though proved resolute before Nichols took centre-stage again, this time with the bat. He and Oxford Blue and amateur Brian Belle, who played infrequently, added 174 for the sixth wicket that effectively batted Yorkshire out of the game. The brilliant 146 scored by Nichols on a difficult wicket was an extraordinary effort and included two sixes and 16 fours and was to prove more than the two combined totals achieved by the home side.
Nichols then reverted to bowling mode to rip out the home side once again who were unable to cope with the exhilarating pace and accuracy of both he and Read. For the second time in the match, Nichols claimed the wicket of 18-year-old Len Hutton who bagged a “pair” and the bowler, who took his one-hundredth wicket of the season during the game, concluded the match with figures of 11-54 to add to his outstanding batting performance as the visitors left the field to a generous standing ovation from the home crowd. The result allowed Essex to turn the tables on their opponents following Yorkshire’s record-breaking first innings partnership three seasons earlier.
Herbert Sutcliffe, having been caught by wicket-keeper Roy Sheffield off the bowling of Nichols is reported to have said, “At least I was good enough to touch it.” Essex player Peter Smith recounted that he fielded the ball just once in the match and that was when he caught Hedley Verity to end the game.
In recognition of his outstanding match contribution, the Essex Committee voted to give Nichols a payment of £10. By the end of the season, the prolific all-rounder now 35 years of age, had completed the “double” scoring 1249 runs and claiming 157 wickets in all matches
Wisden described Nichols performance as “the sensation of the season,” whilst Charles Bray, who played for Essex between 1927 and 1937 and who captained intermittently, offered this praise of Nichols.
“He was a great-hearted player and an indefatigable worker,” he stated. “He was a magnificent bowler who had the misfortune to be at his best in an era of fast bowlers in this country. Consequently, he did not receive as many representative honours as he would have done had he come to the fore ten years later. With the new ball, he could be deadly. Fast bowlers have bowled faster but few have bowled for such long spells at a time. Often, I had to bowl him for well over an hour at a stretch when he looked the only bowler likely to take wickets and he would always continue without complaint. He had many personal triumphs but probably he was most proud of his brilliant hundred against Yorkshire in 1935 at Huddersfield and his 11 wickets for 54 in the same match.”
Other leading facts in matches between Essex and Yorkshire:
> The highest total recorded by Essex is 622-8 declared at Headingley in 2005
> The highest total recorded by Yorkshire is 555-1 declared at Leyton in 1932
> The lowest total recorded by Essex is 30 at Leyton in 1901
> The lowest total recorded by Yorkshire is 31 at Huddersfield in 1935
> The highest individual innings by an Essex batsman is 219* by Doug Insole at Colchester in 1949
> The highest individual innings by a Yorkshire batsman is 313 by Herbert Sutcliffe at Leyton in 1932
> Best bowling in an innings for Essex is 8-44 by Fred Bull at Bradford in 1896
> Best bowling in an innings for Yorkshire is 9-28 by Wilfred Rhodes at Leyton in 1899
Anthony McGrath spent his entire playing career at Yorkshire before moving south to join up with former teammate, Chris Silverwood.
This weekend was set to mark the start of his third season in charge of Essex after taking the reigns from Spoons after the 2017 season but that is now on hold. We sat down with Mags to discuss his time playing for his home county and the memorable games he played in against Essex.
Anthony has played a huge influence on the squad since his move with the Club meteoric rise to the top of county cricket. This was also an opportunity to look back on the matches he has experienced on the other side of the boundary rope with some special memories of games against Yorkshire both as Assistant and Head Coach.
The immediate match which springs to mind is the onslaught from Mohammad Amir in 2017 which left Yorkshire battered and bruised, as Essex secured the win at Scarborough en route to the title.
On this day in 1926, Doug Insole CBE was born in Clapton, London and he would go on to become one of the most influential people in the history of Essex County Cricket Club.
With an Essex playing career which spanned from 1947-63, Doug played 345 first-class matches during this time, whilst also captaining the side between 1950-60.
Later on in life, he had roles which included President of the MCC, Chairman of Selectors, followed by President of Essex County Cricket Club before passing away in 2017 at the age of 91.
We delved into the archives on what would have been his 94th birthday to bring you a feature-length interview with Doug by the late Ralph Dellor, and we hope you enjoy listening…
With the start of the county season delayed, Essex Women’s First XI squad will be competing against Middlesex, Surrey and Kent in a series of matches with a difference.
Starting this weekend, the squad and coaches will be running for 30 minutes and submitting their distances to be collated into a team total. Then it’s the simple matter of the team that records the most gets the victory!
Each team will come up against a side once with an overall winner announced after the third and final week of fixtures.
Essex Captain, Kelly Castle, said: “We’re all looking forward to competing against the other counties in an event that will hopefully keep people active and motivated during the daily exercise limits in lockdown. It’s a great way to keep in competition with our neighbours whilst also maintaining the important social distancing measures.”
The opening fixture sees a tricky away tie with Middlesex and the challenge see how many times the players can run the same distance between Chelmsford and St. John’s Wood!
Regular updates on how the team are getting on will be available via the players’ channels, as well as the team’s twitter account – @EssexWomen! You will also be able to track their progress on the Club’s social media accounts.
Special thanks also goes to Payntr who have supplied the Essex Women’s team with trainers for the 2020 season!
Fixtures: 18/19 April – Middlesex v Essex – Lord’s to The Cloudfm County Ground (35 miles)
18/19 April – Surrey Women v Kent Women – Kia Oval to The Spitfire Ground 25/26 April Essex v Kent – The Cloudfm County Ground to The Kia Oval (34 miles)
25/26 April – Middlesex Women v Surrey Women – Lord’s to Kia Oval 2/3 May – Essex v Surrey – The Cloudfm County Ground to The Spitfire Ground (59 miles)
2/3 May – Middlesex Women v Kent Women – Lord’s to The Spitfire Ground
This weekend should have seen the start of the 2020 season but we will be bringing activities and content over the weekend to try and make up for the lack of cricket!
Welcome to our the second part of our Eagle Eye activity series, with a new set of colouring-in sheets for adults and juniors, as well as a brand new quiz to test your knowledge.
Our Eagle Eye activity series is supported by Felsted School and we thank them for their continued support.
All activities are available in pdf format and can be saved or printed off.
Don’t forget to share your artwork with us via our social media channels on Twitter and Facebook.
Junior Activities:
Adult Colouring In:
Enjoy an afternoon colouring in your favourite Essex players, along with some familiar faces from yesterday year. There are a further 8 designs to try in the second part, which now include Simon Harmer, Graham Gooch and Essex & England Womens player, Mady Villiers!
Test Your Essex Knowledge:
Give the latest Essex quiz a go and test your knowledge of the Club’s Wisden Cricketers of the Year, which date back to 1898. There are 6 minutes on the clock to try and get all 26 players!
A message from Dan Feist, Head of Cricket Operations, Essex Cricket
“In these unprecedented times it is fundamental that we first acknowledge the role we can all play in supporting each other to be safe, but once some form of normality starts to return, the role of Clubs as a Community Hub to spark excitement and engagement for all is going to be more important than ever before.
“Throughout history, Cricket Clubs have provided a united and reliable place for the community to come together and it has been great to see and hear so many positive stories about how this is continuing, despite the current situation. The news this week about the financial support that will be available for Clubs alongside other government initiatives comes at a welcome time for all.
“We will be now working with Clubs across the County to make sure they have all the support they need to ensure that they can continue to support their local community and remain a vital part of the wider Essex Cricket family.”
Further to ECB’s announcement on 31 March, today the ECB announced its Loan and Grant Scheme:
The Grant has been launched as the final resort so we would, therefore, encourage all Clubs and Leagues to ensure they have applied for the following first:
1. Government’s Local Authority Small Business Grant. For more information – click here
2. Sport England Funding – click here
3. The ECB Loan scheme – click here
4. The ECB Grant – click here
ECiC has put together the following guidance that member clubs are recommended to act on.
Club Roadshows – Webinars
After the success of hosting a Roadshow at The Cloudfm County Ground earlier this year, the feedback was to continue communication and updates where possible. To support this, the ECiC Team and wider Essex Cricket Staff are delighted to be hosting a number of Virtual Webinar Roadshows, here are the details of the roadshows:
A UK Coaching Online Safeguarding and Protecting Children course will be on the following days and are available to book online by clicking on the relevant link. This is the full certificate and will last for three years.
We are working with the ECB to verify both renewals and new applications for Enhanced DBS certification.
The ECB has temporarily suspended access for CWOs and club personnel to initiate DBS Disclosures or verify them. They have brought in temporary measures enabling County Staff only to carry out ID verifying via ZOOM /WhatsApp/.
If you do have anyone who needs to initiate a DBS please email Phil Knappett ([email protected]) with the following information and this will initiate the process.
Please write in for ‘subject’ of your email DBS application:
• Their full name (as it appears on their passport/driving licence)
• Their salutation (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss)
• Their date of birth
• Their email address
• Their club
• Their role (e.g. Coach, CWO, Activator, Umpire etc)
The applicant will receive an email from [email protected]. They will be asked to complete an online application form, including details that will be used to verify their application. When they have completed and returned the form, they should email me and I will send details on how we can complete the process. The email will contain information about which documents they will need to have ready for the verification.
As soon as the situation changes and CWOs can log back into their accounts, I will let you know.
Anyone requested to submit an overseas certificate of good conduct will be asked to email their certificate to the Safeguarding Team instead of posting.
Bank Details Security Reminder
In these turbulent times, we are aware of a number of clubs and leagues sharing information on their finances including bank account details. On advice from ECB’s IT Security Officer below is a timely reminder. Always remember, email is not secure.
When in receipt of personal or confidential information never assume it is authentic and always check its source. In the case of bank details always confirm before making payment but not using the contact details provided. If sending out a club or league’s bank details ideally use a secure route such as a secure email service or encrypted within a password-protected attachment. Personal or confidential information must always be sent securely.
Update Club Contact
Could Club Committee Representative from each respective club kindly complete the survey monkey questionnaire. The updated information will ensure we are able to streamline relative information to the right contact.
To date we have received around 50% responses, please kindly complete the simple form.
Club Development Plan
With the updates announced by Sport England and the ECB, we advise that clubs and leagues to work up contingency plans covering various eventualities. We also suggest that they should develop, or where appropriate update, their development plans – including a way forward – and perhaps include a financial assessment of the club’s current and estimated future position, with a comparison to the past three seasons. Projected cash flow will be particularly crucial.
Please do consider how your club can stay relevant and in people’s minds in the local community through online games/videos, members webinars…
Affiliation
Through consultation with a number of stakeholders, ECiC has taken the decision to amend the affiliation fee for ALL clubs to a £20 deposit which will be reviewed again at the end of September. As in previous years a percentage of this amount will be retained by the local Cricket Participation Group to support junior cricket development. Please inform clubs in your league and it will be communicated and processed up the chain.
Affiliation fees ensure the provision of support for clubs from ECiC and the ECB. If your league or club has not affiliated in the past and you wish to do so, then please make contact with your regional/district contact in the first instance.
Invoices
During Tuesday evenings APG meeting, a number of leagues will not be invoicing clubs until they have a clearer picture of the season. We ask all our leagues to consider if this is a workable option for them, too. If you have other suppliers who have invoiced you for supplies, kit etc it would be sensible to contact them to discuss the situation.
Councils & Landlords
We recommend that each club in your league makes contact with their landlords and discusses the possibility of a rent holiday and/or reduction. We are keen for updates to be shared with your respective Essex Cricket contact.
Grounds Maintenance
The Institute of Groundsmen (IOG) on 02 April provided the latest guidelines and specifications for cricket grounds maintenance, respecting the Governments current guidelines – view here
Indoor/Outdoor Nets
In line with the ECB statement on 18th March, the county has suspended all indoor cricket and all outdoor cricket activities are postponed until advised. If you have not already done so,please take the appropriate action.
Overseas Players
Do contact them and their agents as the situation obviously will alter their plans.
All Stars Cricket/Dynamos
The ECB have suspended All Stars Cricket and Dynamo Cricket until further notice. However as recently communicated by the ECB, ASC Packs and games at home will be posted out shortly to all that have registered. – more information
Next week we are excited to be able to share an updated All Stars Cricket 2020 Activity Booklet with all past and present All Stars parents for them to download. Jam packed with eight different activity areas, introductions to cricket skills, quizzes and recipes from England players, the booklet has been adapted to be suitable for families whilst they are at home.
We’ll share the booklet with you in next week’s update so that you can access.
Active Essex Webinar
Organised by Active Essex, Essex Cricket amongst a number of NGB’s shared, discussed and debated a number of factors. The group will meet again in a few weeks’ time to ensure a cross-sport discussion with the focus of keeping our communities as active as possible and supporting young people.
The group also discussed funding and the following two links were signposted as a guide outside of the Sport England, ECB and Government funding.
Most importantly it is clear that we want everyone to look after their own health and that of their members; this is the main priority of all.
Contact
In line with Government guidance, Essex Cricket in the Community staff as of Wednesday 18 March are working from home. Wherever possible, the team will continue to give support and will continue to provide updates as often as necessary.
It’s that time of the week when you have the chance to test your Essex knowledge!
Seeing as Simon Harmer was recently announced as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, we thought we’d give you 6 minutes to see if you can remember every Essex player to claim that title.
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.
Fixture: Warwickshire v Essex Date: Tuesday 14 April Venue: Edgbaston Result: Essex won by 3 wickets
Match Report:
Simon Harmer recorded the first hat-trick in Quarantine Cup history as Jamie Porter’s Essex side demolished Warwickshire on their first outing in the 2020 tournament.
Harmer, the side’s T20 Captain and recent winner of a coveted Wisden Cricketer of the Year title, picked up where he finished off a prolific 2019 season by claiming wickets with the only three deliveries he bowled as Essex knocked over their hosts for just 13 at an embarrassed Edgbaston.
Steered by Porter behind the PS4, Essex briefly faltered in their pursuit of such a tiny total, but eventually they saw off the challenge of Warwickshire’s Dan Mousley.
Warwickshire made a disastrous start to their innings when Ed Pollock was ran out by several feet to leave the hosts 1-1.
Dom Sibley displayed a rare aggressive streak to lift Adam Zampa over midwicket for six but the opener was soon gone, too, failing unsurprisingly to repeat the feat and dishing up a simple catch inside the ring.
At 13-2, though, Warwickshire did at least have a chance of staging a revival. That was until Harmer came into the attack.
On his return to the ground where he led Essex to T20 Blast glory last September, Harmer utterly bewitched the home side’s middle order.
With three consecutive deliveries, Harmer knocked over the stumps of Liam Banks, Ambrose and Adam Hose. Carnage for Essex. Calamity for Warwickshire. Catastrophe for the batting coach.
Essex quickly reached 8 without loss in reply, but when Cameron Delport was stumped off Oliver Hannon-Dalby, having failed to regain his ground, tentativeness was suddenly injected into the innings.
Dan Lawrence, the ball after taking a single but still finding himself at the striker’s end, lifted a catch to long-on, and Jeetan Patel initially caused Tom Westley some difficulty.
However, Westley was in no mood to be denied and with a 100-metre six off Patel, clipped off his hips over wide fine leg, Essex claimed victory.
Porter was pleased with victory but unconvinced by some of the extremely athletic fielding on display.
“There was some questionable batting from both sides, and I think the bowlers got off the hook lightly.
“I got stumped when my batter made an attempt to come back and decided to give up within an inch of his crease; I hit one over the top, the fielder was in the ring and he’s somehow managed to catch it on the rope. I need to get used to what fielders to take on.”
Had it not been for the Coronavirus pandemic, Essex would be commencing the domestic cricket campaign this week with the traditional visit to Fenner’s to face Cambridge MCCU.
With the start of the season now deferred, we take the opportunity to look back at some past encounters with the students, starting on the match last year.
Alastair Cook and Adam Wheater combined for a fourth-wicket stand worth 217 out of a total of 386 for 5 declared with contributions of 150 not out and 130, respectively. In reply, the home side had reached 93 for 2 when Aaron Beard made a telling impact broke with three wickets in 2 overs on his way to a final return of 3 for 24. Now on the backfoot, Cambridge were dismissed for 176.
Nick Browne then took advantage of the true-paced wicket and was just two runs short of his century when he was dismissed shortly before Essex declared once again, this time at 232 for 3 setting the hosts a mammoth 444 to win. None of the home batman made more than 21 as the students were bowled out for 157 to leave their opponents victors by 286 runs. Stand-in skipper Simon Harmer posed the chief threat with 3 for 28 whilst there were also a couple of wickets apiece for Aron Nijjar and Ravi Bopara.
For Wheater, his season was to be prematurely interrupted when he damaged a thumb on the first day of the next match – a Championship clash with Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl – and he was to spend the next two months on the side-lines.
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In 1949, Brian Taylor made his debut for the county at the age of 16 years and 322 days. The wicket-keeper/batsman was to make a total of 539 first-class appearances for Essex, second only to Keith Fletcher, before retiring at the end of the 1973 season.
The match honours, though, belonged to a couple of Light Blues batsmen. John Dewes (204*) and Hubert Doggart (219*) shared in a second wicket partnership of 429, an English record, before the University declared on 441 for 1. Essex replied with 304 for 9 before Cambridge reached 142 for 3 declared to set their visitors 280 runs to win. At the close, Essex had reached 222 for 6.
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Cambridge University were dismissed for just 37 in 1965. Having been put into bat, Essex scored 226 thanks to 68 from Geoff Smith and 50 from Gordon Barker. Although, the headline performance came from Guyana-born off-break bowler Rupert Roopnarine who returned figures of 48.2-23-88-8, the best bowling figures against Essex by a Cambridge player.
However, the Students were undone by the fast-medium pace of Trevor Bailey who took 5 wickets for 3 runs from 7.2 overs of which 5 were maidens.
Left-hander and opening bat Keith McAdam accounted for 22 of the sorry University total. They did make a better effort when asked to follow-on reaching 201 before being bowled out leaving Essex to reach the 14 runs required for victory for the loss of Mickey Bear.
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One year later, Keith Boyce made his debut for Essex when they met Cambridge University at the delightful setting of The Old County Ground, Brentwood. And although he started his county career with a “duck”, it proved a sensational start with the ball for the West Indian all-rounder from Barbados. He took 9 for 61 including 5 victims who were bowled and, after being dismissed for 6 in his second knock with the bat, he followed up with 4 for 47 to guide Essex to a 188-run victory.
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Essex legend Graham Gooch enjoyed his trips to Fenner’s to face the Light Blues attack. In 1980, he stroked his way to the first double-century of his career when posting 205. Three years later, he again battered the Cambridge bowling hitting 174 in an opening partnership of 263 with Brian Hardie.
Brief facts and figures in matches between Cambridge University and Essex:
> Past Meetings – The teams have met on 76 occasions with Essex winning 29 of them, and losing just three.
> The first clash came in 1910 when the students were beaten by an innings after Percy Perrin (144) and Frank Gillingham (141) posted 291 for the third wicket.
> The three defeats to the Light Blues came in a four-year period –
1932 (Fenner’s) – Cambridge won by 3 wickets
1933 (Chelmsford) – Cambridge won by 31 runs
1935 (Chalkwell Park, Westcliff) – Cambridge won by 7 wickets
> The highest total recorded by Essex came in 2001 at Fenner’s when the county side posted 533 for 5 declared. Four batsmen Paul Prichard (111), Paul Grayson (127), Darren Robinson (109) and Graham Napier (104) scored centuries to set a new county record for the most centuries scored in one innings.
> The Students highest tally was 464 for 8 declared in 1929.
> In a bitterly cold and rain-affected game at Fenner’s in 1951, despite 64 from opener Dickie Dodds, Essex were bowled out for 120, their lowest score in a completed innings in these encounters. Cambridge replied with 144 for 9 dec. but, with Essex on 8 without loss in their second innings, rain washed out the third and final day.
> In 1952, Cambridge’s Robin Marlar, later to play for Sussex, took a hat-trick (Paul Gibb, Ray Smith, and Doug Insole).
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