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Essex County Cricket Club can today announce that Ben Allison is set to join Gloucestershire on a one-month loan starting on Sunday 18 August.

Allison signed his first professional contract with the Club last week and was named in the squad for the Specsavers County Championship fixture against Warwickshire in July.

The 19-year-old will be available for Gloucestershire’s upcoming County Championship Division Two clash with Derbyshire at The Pattonair County Ground, starting on 18 August, as well as the fixture with Sussex at The Brightside Ground next month.

Ahead of his loan move, Allison said: “I’m really looking forward to heading over to Gloucestershire and I want to take full advantage of the great opportunity that has been presented to me.

“It’s been a good season so far with the Essex Second XI and hopefully I’ll be able to make my first-class debut during this loan spell and get some valuable experience.”

Essex Eagles and Glamorgan are set to meet at The Cloudfm County Ground for the Vitality Blast match on Friday night.

Both clubs have been badly affected by the weather, which has left them each with three no result matches in the competition and includes the scheduled clash at Sophia Gardens last Friday.

Both counties also experienced wash-outs this week with the Eagles home clash with Middlesex and Glamorgan’s trip to Kent Spitfires falling victim to the elements with not a ball bowled in either match.

Eagles Head Coach Anthony McGrath remained positive despite the weather, saying: “There’s nothing that we can do about it, but it is frustrating and unfortunate.

“We would have been keen to play on Wednesday against Middlesex even if it had been reduced to a 5-overs per side game because we need to put some wins together.

“Now we must focus on the match with Glamorgan and with five games left, we’ve got to try and win them all. That’s the task ahead of us so let’s hope the weather is better on Friday and we can try and get the first of those wins. 

“We need to be playing these matches because we’ve got a fairly big squad made up of quite a lot of younger players and the only way to improve in this form of the game is is to get out there and play.

“Hopefully, we can get these last five games played and finish on a positive note. If we do win them all, you never know what the table might look like then.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Glamorgan:

Simon Harmer (11) (captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

Scheduled Match Timings:

Tickets: This match is sold out but you can keep up to date with the action via our Match Zone, which includes a live stream of the match, scorecard and stats – here.

Wet Weather Policy: There is rain forecast over Chelmsford on Friday and any decision made on play will be made by the match officials, not based on forecasts. If the game is abandoned due to bad weather then refunds are processed in line with our Wet Weather Policy.

If due to adverse weather conditions, 10 completed overs play or less is possible on the day of the match and the match has not been completed or a result obtained, the Club will refund the full ticket price to the purchaser (Season Tickets will be refunded on a pro-rata basis) without need for application. Wherever possible refund will be made to the credit/debit card used for payment. If not possible the Club will make contact to make other arrangements.

Travel:
By Train – Chelmsford Railway Station is operated by Greater Anglia and is approximately a 10-minute walk from The Cloudfm County Ground. Regular direct train services depart from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline, with 5 trains per hour to and from Central London. There are no disruption or rail replacement scheduled for this day. It takes approximately 8 minutes to walk to the ground from Chelmsford train station – More Information.

By Bus – Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the County. Alternatively, bus numbers 42 and 100, which are operated by First Group, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the ground, via New Writtle Street.

Parking – There is no parking available at The Cloudfm County Ground for this match. Members can park at our Meteor Way car park for the priced of £1 – View Map.

The High Chelmsford multi-storey car park is just a two-minute walk to the ground and will be operating extended hours for this match, closing at 11pm.

Essex will have gone thirty-three days sitting on top of the Specsavers County Championship without a game by the time they rock up in Canterbury on Sunday, and for the fit-again Sam Cook, the wait to get a red ball in his hands has been interminably longer.

It was the middle of June, two months ago, when Cook pulled up in agony four balls into his second over during Hampshire’s second innings at Chelmsford and headed straight to the treatment room with what turned out to be a tear to the muscle just underneath his ribs.

Cook said: “The injury came at a pretty inconvenient time of the season. It’s been pretty tough. At the time I knew it probably wasn’t great, but I didn’t know how long it was going to take.

“Anything that exerted my side, or involved moving my side, was pretty painful. For someone who suffers with hay fever, sneezing wasn’t particularly fun for the first few weeks.

“The gym work I’ve been doing is as much about prevention to try and get it so it doesn’t happen again. Bowling isn’t a natural movement for the body, so injuries come with the territory. But you’ve got to ride these injuries and make sure you’re ready to come back as soon as required.”

It has been a difficult period in the 22-year-old Cook’s nascent career, as Cook says: “I’m a terrible watcher. From a personal point of view, it’s pretty gutting not being able to be out there contributing. As well as the boys did, I just wanted to be part of it.

“It was tough watching from the sidelines, but I was there every day supporting the boys. It’s quite an Essex thing: if anyone gets injured, everyone gathers around and still makes you feel part of it. It’s brilliant.”

During his rehabilitation, Cook played half-a-dozen white and red-ball games for the Second XI in readiness for his return to First Team action.

“As bowlers we know we are going to pick up injuries but, yes, it’s good that I’ve got back fit now. We’ve got a good squad, good depth, and that’s been our strength. Of course, Sids is going to be a big loss and we know we’re going to have to step up now and fill his boots.

“We had a similar thing happen in our Championship season [2017] when we lost Mo [Amir] earlier than we thought. But some of us came in and we did pretty well. So we back ourselves to do it again.”

Essex lead Somerset by four points as the Championship season enters its last, four-game phase, and Cook says: “We’re in the box seat and we’ve just got to concentrate on our own games.

“There’s as much pressure on them as there is on us. Yes, we could slip up, but they could slip up as well. We’re just concentrating on what we’re doing and keep playing the brand of cricket that’s been so successful for us over the last couple of years.

“I’d be lying if I said we didn’t look at what’s going elsewhere. When we come off the field at lunch or tea at the end, of course, we’ll check on the other scores. But while we’re out there it’s 100 per cent focus on what we’re doing.

“We’ve been in this position before and I think that’s going to stand us in good stead. We’re confident that we’re capable of finishing it off and we can bring the Championship home.”

The penultimate home match in this year’s T20 group stages sees the Eagles take on Glamorgan at The Cloudfm County Ground.

The Welsh county haven’t endured a positive Vitality Blast campaign to date and are still looking to record a first win the competition.

However, with captain and star player, Colin Ingram in the ranks they always have a strong chance to clinching a victory.

Titles: 0

Finals Days: 2

Coach: James Foster – Essex legend, Foster is working alongside Head Coach, Matthew Maynard as a T20 consultant for the duration of the competition. Foster is expanding his portfolio after coaching roles in Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia since leaving the Club.

Captain: Colin Ingram – The South African leads by example and will take the captaincy for the second successive year. Ingram has been the club’s outstanding batsman in one-day cricket since he signed in 2015, and during the winter appeared in numerous T20 competitions including the IPL and the Big Bash.

Overseas Signing: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) & Shaun Marsh (Australia).

The Narrative: Glamorgan have reached just two Finals Days – albeit the last two summers ago – but enter this year’s tournament in high spirits with just one defeat in the Championship and designs on promotion.

Star Man: Colin Ingram – The skipper has been Glamorgan’s leading runscorer for the past three years and his performances have been rewarded with inclusion in all the leading T20 competitions around the world. At his best he Ingram a destructive hitter capable of changing the course of a game in a few overs.

Mr Consistency: Graham Wagg – The 36-year-old all-rounder is one of those players that continues to endure on the domestic scene with a combination of smarts with the ball, heavy-hitting with the bat and a competitive instinct to ensure he remains a key part of Glamorgan’s ambitions.

Under the Radar: Dan Douthwaite – Signed at the start of the season after impressing with Cardiff MCCU, the 22-year-old bats in the middle order, can strike the ball vast distances and is also a useful medium-pace bowler. He gave a glimpse of his all-round potential in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Sussex during the Royal London One-Day Cup and will have an eye on making a Blast impact.

Killer Stat: Ingram holds the Glamorgan record of scoring the fastest century in T20 cricket – 46 balls against Sussex at Arundel in 2017.

Essex Eagles continue their Vitality Blast campaign on Wednesday night when Middlesex come to The Cloudfm County Ground. 

Wednesday’s fixture is the first of two home matches for the Eagles within 48 hours as they meet Glamorgan at Chelmsford on Friday night.

At the start of the week, the Eagles were four points away from a top-four position in the South Group and with 12 points still up for grabs, Simon Harmer’s side will be hopeful that a winning run can help them make up for lost ground.

Head Coach Anthony McGrath is urging his squad to find the consistency that has been so evident in their red-ball game.

McGrath said: “You look back at the Surrey game earlier in the competition when we scored 226-4 in 15 overs against an attack packed with international bowlers and we were outstanding in that game.

“We were also superb against Gloucestershire down in Bristol recently when we scored 206-3. Both of those were brilliant performances but around those wins, there have been some disappointing results.  

“Now we need to string a run of wins together to get some confidence going forward, and the two games this week gives us an opportunity to show the better side of our T20 cricket. 

“The players know they’ve got to take responsibility out on the field but as I’ve said so many times before, it comes down to executing the basics really well. I know it’s a cliché but it’s a fact.

“We have been very consistent in red-ball cricket, we need to start transferring that to the short form of our game, starting with the two home games this week.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Middlesex:

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

Scheduled Match Timings:

Tickets: This match is sold out but you can keep up to date with the action via our Match Zone, which includes a live scorecard and stats – here.

This match is also live on Sky Sport Cricket from 6:55pm.

Wet Weather Policy: There is rain forecast over Chelmsford on Wednesday and any decision made on play will be made by the match officials, not based on forecasts. If the game is abandoned due to bad weather then refunds are processed in line with our Wet Weather Policy.

If due to adverse weather conditions, 10 completed overs play or less is possible on the day of the match and the match has not been completed or a result obtained, the Club will refund the full ticket price to the purchaser (Season Tickets will be refunded on a pro-rata basis) without need for application. Wherever possible refund will be made to the credit/debit card used for payment. If not possible the Club will make contact to make other arrangements.

Travel:
By Train – Chelmsford Railway Station is operated by Greater Anglia and is approximately a 10-minute walk from The Cloudfm County Ground. Regular direct train services depart from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline, with 5 trains per hour to and from Central London. There are no disruption or rail replacement scheduled for this day. It takes approximately 8 minutes to walk to the ground from Chelmsford train station – More Information.

By Bus – Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the County. Alternatively, bus numbers 42 and 100, which are operated by First Group, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the ground, via New Writtle Street.

Parking – There is no parking available at The Cloudfm County Ground for this match. Members can park at our Meteor Way car park for the priced of £1 – View Map.

The High Chelmsford multi-storey car park is just a two-minute walk to the ground and will be operating extended hours for this match, closing at 11pm.

Essex County Cricket Club are pleased to welcome The Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation to The Cloudfm County Ground for tomorrow’s Vitality Blast fixture against Middlesex.

The JE3 Foundation will be holding a bucket collection at tomorrow’s game and fans will have the chance to donate to the charity throughout the evening, with collectors being located at both the Main Gate and River Gate.

We’re also pleased to welcome Justin’s son Charlie to the game. Charlie will be talking to fans around the ground and speaking to the crowd prior to the match starting about the foundation and what they are setting out to achieve and campaign for.

The Club are proud to be supporting The JE3 Foundation and if you’d like to donate online, you can do so by clicking here.

The 2019 Vitality Blast competition at The Cloudfm County Ground is sold out for the summer!

Following the news earlier this month that tickets for the remaining Friday night fixtures against Glamorgan and Kent Spitfires were no longer available, the final tickets for Wednesday’s clash against Middlesex were snapped up on Tuesday morning.

Essex Cricket Chief Executive, Derek Bowden said: “The support for the team has been fantastic over the course of the season, especially in the Vitality Blast.

“It’s been great seeing spectators of all ages coming down to watch Essex so far this season, especially following the big summer of cricket we’ve enjoyed with England’s World Cup success and the current Ashes series.

“We thank everyone who has supported the team so far in the competition or those looking forward to their trip to The Cloudfm County Ground over the course of the next couple of weeks.”

The cricket season continues into September for the Specsavers County Championship run-in. Currently sitting in pole position, there are just 4 more games to go in the 4-day game, with the final home match of the season taking place on Monday 16 – Thursday 19 September against Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Wednesday’s opponents have already had the upper hand over the Eagles this season in the opening match of the competition at Lord’s.

This was largely due to a match-winning performance from overseas star, AB de Villiers. However, they bring a wealth of experience and skill to Chelmsford with the likes of Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan.

Titles: 1 (2008)

Finals Days: 1

Coach: Stuart Law – The former Australia star arrived over the winter to take charge in all formats, resulting in the departure of Daniel Vettori after two largely unsuccessful campaigns as Middlesex T20 coach.

Captain: Dawid Malan – Barring an Ashes call-up, Malan should captain the side for the duration of the tournament and, if so, will provide a consistency of leadership in this format not seen at Lord’s in recent years.

Overseas Signings: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), AB De Villiers (South Africa – misses this game due to be only available for first seven matches).

The Narrative: To reference D: Ream’s 1997 hit, ‘Things can only get better,’ as far as Middlesex and T20 are concerned. They finished bottom of the South Group last season with just two wins, losing their final eight games. However, the Seaxes’ white-ball game showed notable signs of improvement in the Royal London One-Day Cup where they reached the play-offs and they’ll be aiming for a similar leap forward in T20.

Star Man: Paul Stirling – While he will miss some of Middlesex’s early games due to Test commitments with Ireland, hard-hitting Stirling provides an explosive presence at the top of the batting order, having racked up over 4,500 runs in T20 cricket.

Mr Consistency: Nathan Sowter – Leg-spinner Sowter has developed an encouraging knack of taking wickets in T20 during the last two years, especially in his first over.

Under the Radar: George Scott – All-rounder Scott has featured regularly for the first XI this season and, as well as hitting the ball a long way, he is an outstanding fielder either inside the circle or guarding the boundary.

Killer Stat: Tom Helm’s figures of 5-11 against Essex in 2017 are the best by a Middlesex bowler in T20.

Essex County Cricket Club are pleased to announce that Ben Allison and Will Buttleman have both signed professional contracts with the Club running until the end of the 2020 season.

The pair signed summer contracts back in April and have been heavily involved with the Second XI over the last few years.

Upon signing his contract, Allison said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to sign my first professional contract with Essex.

“I’ve been at the Club since I was 8 years old and all I’ve ever been focused on is being a professional cricketer, so signing my first professional deal is a very special moment for myself and my family.”

On his contract, Buttleman said: “I’m delighted to have signed a contract with Essex. I’ve really been enjoying my cricket and feel like I’m improving all the time.

“I’ve gained some First Team experience this year too, which has been really beneficial to my development and I’m looking forward to the remainder of the campaign as well as next season and pushing for a place in the side.”

Buttleman was drafted into the First Team during the opening Specsavers County Championship fixture against Hampshire after Adam Wheater suffered a hand injury. A few months later, he made his first-class debut in a draw against Yorkshire at Leeds.

He impressed with the gloves and Head Coach Anthony McGrath said: “Will has been called upon a few times for us this season and every time he’s come into the First Team he’s done a great job behind the stumps.

“Both he and Ben have shown huge potential and have been involved in the First Team set up since the beginning of the season. Everybody at the Club has high hopes for them and we’re all eager to see how they develop as players.”

The Professional Cricketers’ Trust is set to hold its first ever dedicated bucket collection at Glamorgan’s Sophia Gardens this Friday 9 August.

As the home side take on Essex Eagles in the Vitality Blast South Group fixture, with play starting at 6.30pm, spectators will be given the chance to donate to the players’ charity throughout the evening.

One hundred percent of the money raised will be going to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust, helping to support current and ex-professionals when they need it most. Home and away fans alike will be reminded of the positive effect their generosity will have via videos on the big screen and PA announcements inside the ground with videos and awareness of the charity also being promoted via social media.

The leading cricketing charity provides support to PCA members and their immediate families both proactively and reactively, with an emphasis on educating current players to help avoid potential issues in the future.

A number of players have chosen to speak out about their personal experience of receiving support from the Trust, including ex-Glamorgan men Keith Newell and Lloyd Smith. Christine Derrick, wife of former Glamorgan player John, also received support from the players’ charity before her late husband’s passing.

Find more information about individuals who have previously benefitted from the Trust by clicking here.

On the night itself, Glamorgan academy players will be helping to carry buckets around the ground, with guidance and support from the Welsh county’s PCA rep Ruaidhri Smith alongside staff from the PCA.

Head Coach Matt Maynard, who founded the Tom Maynard Trust in the wake of his son’s tragic death in 2012, will be interviewed on the pitch too.

Maynard has previously collaborated with the Cricketers’ Trust on a number of physical fundraising challenges, and is looking forward to taking on the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of both charities later on this year.

Click here to find out more information about the Professional Cricketers’ Trust.