With the 2022 English domestic season behind us and the 2023 season what feels like an age away, some of Essex’s first-team players have relocated during the off-season in order to keep their skills at the highest level ahead of their return next season.
Eagles Captain, Simon Harmer has just completed the CSA T20 Challenge season lifting another T20 title with Titans Cricket in his native South Africa. Harmer was once again being very tight with the ball, taking 9 wickets at an average of 13 across the eight matches he played. His 22 overs were bowled at the second-best economy of anyone in the tournament.
Having finished top of the group after only losing one game, the Titans went all the way to lift the trophy at the JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom. In the ranks of the Dolphins was the familiar face of Grant Roelofsen, who had an outstanding campaign hitting 333 runs across 8 innings, averaging 48. However, Harmers’ Titans came out victorious winning by 4 wickets
Sam Cook and Dan Lawrence have flown out to Dubai to join up with the 15-player England Lions group for a training camp in preparation for a three-day match against the England Men’s Test side across 23-25 November.
The completion of the Pakistan Junior League last month saw Luc Benkenstein’s Gwadar Sharks fall at the final hurdle as they lost in the Final to the Bahawalpur Royals. On an individual basis, Luc had a standout tournament opening the batting, scoring 227 runs at an average of 32.50. His highlight of the tournament came against the Royals and Warriors, scoring back-to-back 70s.
Josh Rymell started his winter with the Deepdene Bears CC in Melbourne and has enjoyed an incredible stat hitting a blistering century off just 51 balls against Mont Albert CC. Feroze Khushi is also in Melbourne, Australia and has been in the runs hitting a run-a-ball half-century for Port Melbourne CC. Will Buttleman (Northern District CC, Sydney) and Ben Allison (Dandenong CC, Sydney) are also travelling to Australia before Christmas to compete in Australian Premier Grade Cricket.
Membership for the 2023 is now on sale, so whether you’re an existing Member wanting to renew or you’re looking to join the Club as a new Member, head to our Membership Information page to find out more.
Domestic cricket in this country is at an important juncture in it’s history and there’s no more important time for lovers of Essex Cricket and the county game to become a Member and have their say in conversations around the future of county cricket.
Essex County Cricket Club provides a range of Membership options to provide you with the flexibility to support the county in a way that suits you. So whatever your age, financial circumstances or location, there will be an option for you.
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If you act quickly there are discounts to be had, with those who purchase a Membership prior to 31 January 2023 receiving an Early Bird discount.
Renewing Members will receive an additional discount as thanks for their commitment to the Club.
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Anyone looking to purchase a Membership will be able to do so online, over the phone (01245 254010) or in-person by visiting the Membership and Ticketing Office at The Cloud County Ground. Phone lines are open from 10am-4pm, Monday through Friday and the Membership and Ticketing Office will be open on weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
The 2022 Grassroots Cricket Awards have been announced with winners across 11 categories honoured across recreational cricket.
Of the 11 award winners, two hailed from Essex whilst Eight Ash Green CC in Colchester were highly commended in their category.
Kelsey Savage of Galleywood CC won the Rising Star award for playing a key part in the transformation of their Women’s and Girl’s teams. Having been part of the Club from just 8 years old, when she was one of three girls, her dedication to increasing participation in women’s cricket has led to over 25 women now being part of the Club.
Susan Blogg, who sits on the Metropolitan Essex Cricket Board, won the award for Growing the Game. Her visionary thinking led to the Board widening their scope, involving more Clubs and reviving the Jeff Rodriques Trophy. The Trophy, a dynamic under-13 midweek competition, uses a version of the ‘pairs’ format and has been a great success.
Eight Ash Green CC have for a long time been committed to tackling climate change in whatever way they can. The Club have been recognised in national publications for their Carbon Centurions Project and have pledged to achieve carbon net zero by 2030. The Club were highly commended for their achievements in the 2022 Grassroots Cricket Awards.
Essex Cricket’s Community Network Operations Manager Ben Wallis said: “It’s fantastic to see such a high proportion of National awards going to Essex-based nominees.
“A massive congratulations must go to Kelsey, Susan and Eight Ash Green whose commitment to cementing the sustainability of cricket’s future is commendable.
“Their achievements reflect a county of cricket lovers who are willing to go above and beyond and that is hugely encouraging.”
Essex County Cricket Club are pleased to confirm that Club Captain, Tom Westley, has signed a three-year contract extension that will see him stay at The Cloud County Ground until at least the end of the 2025 season.
The 33-year-old came through the Essex Academy and has made 376 appearances across all formats for the Club, scoring 15,517 runs in the process.
He was named Club Captain in January 2020 and led the side to the Bob Willis Trophy in his first season, which was followed up with the LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two title last year.
Westley had no hesitations in extending his contract and said: “I’m thrilled to be staying at Chelmsford and I’m excited about what the next three years have in store.
“It was an easy decision for me to make. We have an extremely talented squad full of high-quality players and I feel we have a team that’s capable of competing for trophies across all three formats.
“It’s also a special Club to play for. I’ve said it countless times, but I genuinely believe Essex have the best Members and fans in the country.
“The support they show us week in week out is phenomenal and it’s a pleasure to play for them, and I hope that over the next three years, we can reward them with more silverware.”
Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “Tom is not only a fantastic batter, but a great leader and the perfect role model for the players in our team.
“The skills and qualities he adds are integral to what we are trying to build and achieve at the Club, so it’s terrific news for everyone that he’s staying for at least another three years.”
The ECB has today published the final men’s High-Performance Review (MHPR) report in which it has set out 17 recommendations for cricket to consider and implement.
The review was established following last winter’s men’s Ashes defeat in Australia with the goal of establishing England Men as the world’s best team across all formats within five years. The recommendations focus on developing an aligned high-performance strategy across the men’s professional game, while ensuring that a thriving domestic game is sustained and enhanced.
The ECB Board and Executive acknowledge the extremely thorough work undertaken by the review team, led by Sir Andrew Strauss, and have endorsed the recommendations of its final report.
It is within the ECB’s remit to implement 15 of the 17 recommendations and it will now begin the process of understanding the best ways it can efficiently and effectively deliver them.
Two of the review’s recommendations relate to the men’s domestic structure and it is now for the First-Class Counties (FCCs) to determine how those will be delivered.
The FCCs have requested that there is no change to next year’s men’s domestic schedule in order to allow for sufficient time to reflect and debate the recommendations.
The ECB will continue to consult with the FCCs on the structure for 2024.
Under the ECB’s constitution, any change to the number of domestic competitions, matches in each competition and promotion/relegation will require the support of two-thirds or more of FCCs.
Chief Executive & Interim Chair, John Stephenson, commented: “We are pleased with the initial outcome of the High Performance Review and the Club, our Members and stakeholders can now plan accordingly for the 2023 season.
“Protecting the status of county cricket will always be a main priority for the Club, whilst also playing our part in growing the game and developing players for the Test Arena.
“Our latest Forum was an opportunity for Members to share their thoughts on county structure and we look forward to representing their opinions throughout the consultation period with the ECB.”
Men’s High Performance Review Lead, Sir Andrew Strauss, said: “I am delighted that we are today able to publish the report, which sets out the fundamental changes that we believe are needed to achieve sustained success for our England Men’s team and to enable the men’s domestic game to evolve in the face of a rapidly-changing environment for cricket globally.
“The game must be united if we are to achieve those ambitions and we must be open-minded to change. The most consistent message we have received, from players to fans and coaches, was that the status quo is not an option.
“I encourage people to consider our proposals as a package, and I welcome the opportunity for informed debate on the recommended changes to the men’s domestic structure.
“There are no easy answers on the men’s domestic structure. The recommendations have prioritised a more coherent schedule which is more manageable for overworked players, coaches and groundstaff while providing the quality and quantity of cricket that fans want to watch and which meets our high-performance objectives.
“That includes playing first-class cricket in each month from May until September, increasing the standard and intensity of the LV= Insurance County Championship and ensuring more opportunities for the best players to play across all domestic competitions.”
ECB chair, Richard Thompson, said: “The ECB Board and Executive unanimously support the men’s High Performance Review’s recommendations.
“This is a significant piece of work that has the potential to benefit all parts of the men’s professional game.
“The depth of analysis and detail provides clear guidance at a time cricket faces much uncertainty and, importantly, at its heart recognises that a thriving men’s domestic game is the foundation for sustained success on the international stage.
“The majority of the recommendations fall to the ECB to deliver and I look forward to beginning that process now.
“Decision-making regarding the recommendations around the men’s domestic structure ultimately belongs to the First-Class Counties. It is now right that they are given the time to digest those recommendations before consulting their members, staff and other stakeholders.
“We are aware of the challenges within many counties over the reduction in red-ball cricket in particular. Those concerns have been taken on board and reflected in the recommendations. If there is a reduction in the volume of cricket for a sensible and workable schedule along with seeing the best players more often, I believe that is a good trade-off, particularly as it will improve England’s chances of success in the future.
“It is important that heading into next season that the First-Class Counties are aware of what they are playing for in 2024.”
A sizable crowd believed to be numbering over a thousand congregated at Upminster Cricket Club for a day of events in aid of the Essex Cricket Foundation.
Upminster has enjoyed a hugely satisfactory campaign both at youth and senior levels. The festival, returning after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, culminated with a T20 fixture against a strong Essex team, which included first teamers, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Porter, Nick Browne, Matt Critchley, Robin Das and Eshun Kalley. Talented Essex Women’s cricketers, Grace Poole and Tilly Callaghan took their place in the side along with Alfie Jeeves, Isaac Elles and Benny Fryett from the Essex Cricket Ability team. Bradley Donovan and Kelly Castle took up the managerial mantle for the day.
In advance of Essex’s appearance, Upminster’s youth section took centre stage with an under-11s fixture against a Haveing League XI and Softball Competition. Meanwhile, the Windmill Whack Women’s Edition, final and various net sessions provided cricket players and enthusiasts alike with plenty to keep themselves occupied with.
An eagerly anticipated under 9s festival took place during the interval. As for the main vent, the strong Essex side took the honours by eleven runs. Robin Das (76), Jamie Porter (64) and Dan Lawrence (46) provided the bulk of the visitors 225 for four total, while Elles excelled with the ball, returning figures of three for 35 in what proved to be an exciting contest, played in the right spirit.
Head of Cricket Operations at Essex Cricket, Dan Feist, said; “Once again Upminster the club and the local community showed what sport and Cricket can offer in Exciting and Engaging every individual. Ollie Peck and his large team of volunteers once again pulled together to provide a true celebration of the season, it was once again an honour that the club decided to support the Essex Cricket Foundation, which focuses on being able to use Cricket to develop opportunities around every part of the community focusing on physical and mental health, employability and education. We look forward to the return of the benefit game in 2023.”
During the lunch break of Essex’s final home game of the season against Lancashire, Shane Snater became the 165th player to be awarded their County Cap.
Shane has become an integral part of the First Team and has had an incredible season with both bat and ball, which has seen him take 27 wickets and score 455 runs in first-class cricket.
This has included match-winning and match-saving innings across the season with games against Yorkshire, Lancashire and Hampshire coming to mind.
Snater has passed fifty on four occasions this season with his match-saving innings against Yorkshire being the highlight for fans. This saw Shane score an unbeaten 65 after coming in with the score 64-6 with Essex requiring 161 to win. Shane batted with the bludgeoned ten boundaries on his way to carrying the side home by 1 wicket.
As well as this, the Dutchman hit unbeaten 70s in back-to-back Championship games against Lancashire and Hampshire, with both innings setting up competitive first innings totals in memorable wins.
Snater made his debut for Essex in May 2018 against Hampshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup and has since taken 116 wickets across all formats with best bowling figures of 7/98, which came against Nottinghamshire last year.
Recently, Shane took career best-match figures of 8/28 which involved his seventh five-wicket haul for Essex recently against Lancashire.
Listen to what receiving his County Cap means to Shane, when he spoke to Essex Cricket TV.
LV= Insurance County Championship
The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Tuesday 20 – Friday 23 September
10:30am start
Inspired by yet another gutsy Shane Snater performance Essex snuck home to complete a narrow victory against Yorkshire, their second one-wicket win this season.
The victory moved Essex to within five points of third-place Lancashire and the winner of next week’s clash will be firm favourites to finish behind the top two.
The fixture, starting on Tuesday 20 September, will be the final time the Men’s First XI appear at The Cloud County Ground this season. Tickets are available online, over the phone or at the gate.
Squad:
Essex welcome Simon Harmer back to the squad after his stint with the South African Test side.
The Opposition:
Lancashire have had a ‘what if’ sort of season after falling just short in both the Vitality Blast and Royal London Cup finals, with the latter coming as recently as Saturday.
Their good form has extended to the LV= Insurance County Championship where they sit in third place after consistently challenging the top spots all season.
Only first place Surrey have fewer than Lancashire’s one defeat in red-ball cricket this season, that defeat coming at the hands of Essex in Manchester. It was a performance which arguably kickstarted Essex’s season after a relatively slow start.
In the spotlight at the start of the season was young batter Josh Bohannon, however, it has been the more experienced heads of Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells who have excelled with the bat this season. Jennings has already reached the 1000-run mark and has done so at an average of over 70, Wells’ 940 runs have come at 58.75 while Bohannon himself has 792 runs at 46.58.
Will Williams began his Lancashire career on a short-term overseas contract but shortly after ended his career in New Zealand to sign for Lancs as a local player. The move has paid off as he has since taken 27 wickets at under 20 apiece, but it’s Tom Bailey who leads the wicket-taking charts with 43 scalps at 25.04.
Last time out:
When the sides last met in red-ball cricket in May, Essex had won one of their opening five Championship fixtures and were searching for momentum.
They found their spark in Manchester with a comprehensive victory that started a run of three successive wins and five in seven since making the trip North.
Batting first Essex posted 391, largely down to a wonderful 120 from Dan Lawrence who reached three figures despite struggling with a hamstring injury. The innings was bolstered by 71 from Nick Browne and 72 from Shane Snater, neither his first nor his last contribution with the bat this season.
Sam Cook and Jamie Porter then delivered four early breakthroughs as Lancashire were reduced to 14-4, which soon became 24-5 when Snater was introduced. Despite a 44 from Phil Salt, Lancashire stumbled to 103 all out, with Cook picking up 4/18 and two wickets each for Porter and Snater.
With the follow-on enforced, Essex’s opening pair of Cook and Porter once again made early inroads to leave Lancashire struggling on 43-3. This time they were joined by Simon Harmer who picked up his first five-wicket haul of the season to finish with 5/89 as Lancashire were bowled all out for 232. The winning margin for Essex was an innings and 56 runs.
How To Watch:
A free live stream of the game will be provided via The Essex Cricket Matchzone, which includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the game.
The broadcast can be accessed via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, courtesy of our hosts, Yorkshire – here.
When Sam Cook arrived in Canterbury in August 2019, he was a young seam bowler on the up. Having made his Essex debut in the title-winning 2017 season, he demonstrated enough promise to be trusted in sharing the new ball with Jamie Porter the following year.
Despite this, the 22-year-old wasn’t the main topic of Kent’s team meetings in the run-up to their County Championship fixture tie. Mohammad Amir, having just announced his retirement from Test cricket, agreed to play a one-off fixture for Essex which was due to be the last red-ball appearance of his career.
Three days later, Cook had claimed match figures of 12/65 and picked up 7/23 as Kent were bowled out for 40 in their second innings. The limelight was his.
As the pandemic intervened, it was three years before Cook returned to Canterbury to play County Championship cricket, but his memories of the ground remained strong.
“It’s a ground I enjoy bowling at. It’s similar to Lord’s in that there’s obviously a big slope and I’ve enjoyed bowling and trying to use that slope, particularly when it’s not swinging or not doing much in the air. It gives you something to work with.
“2019 was a special win that set us on the way to winning the title, so it’s becoming a nice ground that I enjoy bowling at.”
What followed was another incredible spell of seam bowling, he followed 3/27 in the first innings with a devastating spell of 7/33 in the second as Essex wrapped up their largest ever victory over their rivals.
It was a performance that prompted talk of him being a potential heir to James Anderson, a claim which Essex skipper Tom Westley agreed with: “I’d echo that. I haven’t seen a seamer bowl better than him whenever we’ve played against any team. He’s improving year on year.
“When he started he probably was mid to late seventies, but the work he puts in in the winter, in the gym, he’s obviously maturing, he’s getting faster as well, so for me he ticks all the boxes and he can bat a bit as well.
“We could keep talking about Sammy Cook and I have done relentlessly, but he’s absolutely world-class, I don’t think there’s a better seamer.
“The stats will back it up, he gets wickets in the first innings, the second innings, at Chelmsford and away from Chelmsford and he’s phenomenal. We’re very lucky to have him at Essex.”
And the stats are good. They are very good. Cook now has 198 first-class wickets at an average of 19.70 and his performances have been recognised by England Lions call-ups.
At the age of 25, he appears to be entering his prime and as he routs opposition batting units up and down the country, his name is top of the agenda during pre-match briefings.
The Spitfire Ground, Monday 05 – Thursday 08 September
Team News:
Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley (c), Dan Lawrence, Feroze Khushi, Matt Critchley, Adam Rossington (wk), Shane Snater, Ben Allison, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Kent: Ben Compton, Ollie Robinson, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Joe Denly, Jack Leaning, Jordan Cox, Sam Billings (c & wk), Grant Stewart, Matt Milnes, Harry Podmore, Matt Quinn.
Match Details:
Umpires: Mike Burns & Ben Debenham Match Referee: Dean Cosker Result: Essex won by an innings & 260 runs
Essex comprehensively defeated Kent by an innings and 260 runs on day four of the LV= Insurance County Championship match at Canterbury.
Tom Westley’s team needed just 4.4 overs to claim the remaining two wickets on the final day and claim 23 points after bowling Kent out for 149.
Sam Cook took 10/60 in the match, including 7/33 in the second innings, while Jamie Porter claimed 3/50.
Jordan Cox was Kent’s top scorer with 65, but the result leaves in the hosts in deep relegation mire, having taken just a single point.
Torrential rain delayed the start until 12:38pm, with Kent resuming on 137-8 in their second innings, needing 272 runs to make Essex bat again.
In reality, with Milnes’ mobility drastically reduced due to a stress fracture in his back, Kent’s only hope of escaping with a draw was to bat for as long as possible and hope the rain returned.
Milnes, in what may be his final act as a Kent player before he moves to Yorkshire next season, lasted three overs before getting a bottom edge to Cook that was taken by a tumbling Nick Browne.
Although dark clouds were hovering, the rain stayed away and the victory was sealed when Cox edged Porter and fell to a juggling catch by Matt Critchley in the slips.
Day Three Highlights:
Day Three Report:
Kent batters will be sick of the sight of Ben Allison and Sam Cook, who tormented them on a day where 16 Kent wickets fell and Essex came unbearably close to completing a victory inside three days at Canterbury.
Each of the seamers came into the day in high spirits after striking their highest first-class scores in Essex’s first innings and Allison would have more to cheer about before the Lunch break, picking up 4/31 in the session on the way to another career-best.
Beginning the day on 74-4 and trailing by 499 runs, Kent were in desperate need of a wicketless session. Cook put those hopes to bed when he had Leaning caught by yesterday’s hero Khushi at mid-wicket.
From that point onwards, every other wicket to fall in the morning session went to Allison. The tall fast-bowler produced an unerringly accurate spell using his height and the width of the crease to angle the ball into the Kent batters and finding late movement away.
This proved too much for Sam Billings, who batted with a runner but was clearly hampered by injury, Grant Stewart and Harry Podmore, all of whom offered catches of varying difficulty to Adam Rossington behind the stumps.
Allison then found some extra bounce from a pitch that had extra zest after intermittent bouts of rain. Jordan Cox, Kent’s joint highest scorer with 34, was stuck on his crease as the Allison delivery lifted into the underside of his elbow and then down onto the off stump to give the bowler his fourth wicket.
Rain intervened to bring an early Lunch, but it was barely a relief to Kent who were on 145-9 and still miles behind.
Shane Snater wrapped the innings up shortly after Lunch by removing two of Matt Quinn’s stumps, leaving Matt Milnes, the second of Kent’s batters to require a runner after picking up a back injury, stranded and the innings wrapped up for 164.
With a sketchy forecast, it was no surprise that Essex enforced the follow-on and opted to attempt to wrap up proceedings as soon as possible.
The Kent opening pair survived the first five overs with few scares, however, one ball later Cook drew Ollie Robinson forward and took the edge to get the breakthrough. When he repeated the trick later in the same over to remove Daniel Bell-Drummond, Kent were 23-2 and Rossington had catch number seven of the match, two short of equalling Essex’s record.
In Cook’s next over he took two further wickets, this time in consecutive balls as Ben Compton and Jack Leaning edged to Critchley at second slip. Cook was agonisingly short of completing hattrick as Joe Denly edged his next delivery inches short of Matt Critchley’s open hands.
Denly was, however, eventually Cook’s man as the bowler pulled his length back and Denly miscued an attempted pull to a grateful Nick Browne. When the same bowler and fielder combined to dismiss Stewart, Kent were 68-6 and Cook had the ridiculous figures of 6/20.
Despite resistance from Cox and Podmore, Kent’s battle was now surely a losing one and when Porter was reintroduced into the attack he duly ripped out Podmore’s off stump.
At 105-7 and the evening session now well underway, Billings hobbled to the crease with a runner for the second time in one day, surely hoping that if they could see out the day then the weather will do the rest.
That wasn’t to transpire as he picked up an unfortunate same-day pair when he chipped Porter to Essex’s skipper Tom Westley at mid-off. Cue the rather unusual scene of a batter walking off while their runner stays in the middle waiting for the incoming batter to meet them. Milnes it was who still required assistance after sustaining a back injury on Day One.
Despite Milnes clearly struggling to get underneath numerous Snater bouncers, he was able to offer enough resistance to see Cox through to an excellent fifty and to take the game into the extra half hour.
More dogged defence from the pair frustrated the Essex bowlers as Kent finished the day 137-8. All eyes will be on the sky tomorrow as Kent’s season-defining month looks set to start needing a gift from the heavens.
Day Two Highlights:
Day Two Report:
Feroze Khushi’s 164 was the highlight of Day Two in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Canterbury, where Essex posted 573 before reducing Kent to 74-4 in reply as bad light brought proceedings to an early close.
Khushi resumed play on 46 and brought up his half-century off the first ball of the day, striking a Grant Stewart delivery through mid-wicket for four. A classy maiden first-class century arrived for the 23-year-old in his third Championship match and it came from 228 balls and included two sixes and 18 fours.
He was duly supported by an impressive knock of 90 from Matt Critchley who was soon the victim of a Kent breakthrough when Daniel Bell-Drummond had him caught behind by Ollie Robinson, who was keeping wicket because Sam Billings suffered a groin injury on Day One.
Bell-Drummond, who was bowling because Milnes was struggling with a back issue, then removed Adam Rossington, who was caught at cow corner by sub-fielder Hamid Qadri for 6.
Shane Snater soon followed after being caught by Matt Quinn for 11 off the bowling of Harry Podmore, but Essex were able to regroup and advance to 408-7 at lunch. A total of four batting bonus points were secured for surpassing the 350-mark inside 110 overs.
Khushi reached three figures 40 minutes after the restart, cutting Joe Denly to backward point and leaping in the air as he completed the single and marked another landmark moment in his short career.
As Essex went through the gears, Allison reached 50 with a straight driven four off Denly, but after passing his previous highest first-class score of 52, he was then out to the former England man after being bowled for 53.
Khushi took Essex past 500 by hitting Denly back over his head for six and rapidly put on 69 for the ninth wicket partnership with Sam Cook, who made 38 before he holed out to Denly and was caught on the boundary by the sub, Joey Evison.
The innings finally ended when Khushi miscued a drive off Podmore and was caught by Jack Leaning, who held the catch despite a collision with the inrushing Stewart.
The final Essex wicket brought the lunch break but soon after, Essex were able to pile on more misery to their rivals. Kent’s reply began with Ben Compton’s leg stump sent flying as Jamie Porter bowled him behind his legs for just 2. A questionable hook shot by Ollie Robinson soon left Kent two wickets down after he cracked Porter to Allison at point to depart for 14.
Daniel Bell-Drummond fell to a smart one-handed catch by Rossington off Sam Cook for 18 with Denly hanging around for 45 balls before Cook got his second of the evening session as Rossington caught him behind for 11.
Play was halted officially at 5:27pm due to bad light with six overs remaining, to the audible relief of the home supporters with Jack Leaning (19) and Jordan Cox (1) the not out batters.
Porter and Cook finished the day with two wickets apiece and figures of 2/30 and 2/14, respectively.
One notable absentee from Canterbury was Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath who was at the birth of his son. Everyone at the Club would like to congratulate Mags and his partner, Jane on the arrival of their second child and the newest member in the Essex Cricket family.
Day One Highlights:
Day One Report:
Essex are in the ascendancy at Canterbury after reaching 327 for four at Stumps on Day One of their LV= Insurance County Championship fixture against Kent.
Matt Critchley took advantage of being given a life on six to finish the day not out on 80 after Alastair Cook and Tom Westley had made half-centuries earlier in proceedings.
Despite winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Kent’s bowlers struggled to consistently challenge the bat on a slow pitch and too often they gave the Essex batters chances to score, which they accepted gratefully.
When these two sides last met in red-ball cricket, Cook and Browne posted in excess of 200 for the opening wicket, they had to be content with a century opening stand this time around as, on 45, Browne offered a return catch to Matt Quinn.
The opening pair had looked relatively untroubled up until that point, with the only two moments of discomfort being edges that dropped short of the slips as the slow pitch thwarted Kent even in overcast and humid conditions.
Tom Westley joined Cook and picked up where the opening pair had left off, striking 10 boundaries in his 50 and continuing his good form from the Royal London Cup.
Cook had looked in fine touch, but to his disgust edged a Grant Stewart delivery to the right of first slip where Ollie Robinson took a wonderful catch.
Dan Lawrence fell soon after as he struggled to settle at the crease and when Westley was run out for 54 going for a third run, Essex had been reduced to 221-4 and Kent felt back in the game.
That feeling was to be short-lived, however, as Critchley played fluently and, after a watchful start, Feroze Khushi demonstrated his stroke-playing ability to race to 46 from 65 balls at the close.
There was more to worry about for Kent as wicketkeeper Sam Billings was forced off the field with an injury and Ollie Robinson had to take over work with the gloves. Kent will be keeping everything crossed that Billings is able to make a recovery as, with Essex well-placed in their first innings, his ability with bat in hand will be priceless to the hosts.
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