Essex Cricket have entered into a three-year partnership with Smile Group Travel, which will see the worldwide sports tour operator become the provider of choice for all Pathway and Women’s team tours.
In addition, several selected school competitions will be sponsored by Smile, and prizes for the winners will be provided by the company.
Smile branding will be visible across Essex Cricket channels, including the big screen at all Men’s and Women’s First XI fixtures at The Cloud County Ground.
Daryl Townson, Commercial Manager at Essex Cricket, said: “It’s wonderful to partner with Smile Group Travel as we look to expand the Club’s portfolio of partners.
“This announcement is especially exciting as, ahead of the new professional Essex Women’s team which is coming in 2025, this is our first partnership focused on that area of the Club.
“We are very much looking forward to working with Smile, with our new professional Women’s team and our Pathway players set to benefit.”
“I’m delighted to have agreed this partnership with Essex, particularly being from here,” added Smile Group owner Graeme Walker.
“Cricket is a lifelong passion for me, and I can see huge opportunities for the partnership at all levels of the sport.
“Smile are vastly experienced in organising tours, especially cricket, to all parts of the world and we are committed to providing fantastic experiences at all levels.
“The keys for us are to promote cricket and help as many people as possible have the joyous experience of a Smile tour.”
To help launch the partnership, Smile are organising a trip at the end of February 2025 to Barbados with Essex legends Graham Napier and John Lever as tour hosts.
The tour includes flights and accommodation, a VIP Sandy Lane Gold Cup horse racing day experience, as well as numerous social events that include the opportunity to play golf and cricket.
The tour will be a wonderful experience for all lovers of sunshine and with Smile’s exceptional ground team, travellers are guaranteed to see the very best of the paradise island of Barbados.
The event is open to everyone, although Essex Members will be able to take advantage of the offer of a free catamaran cruise whilst on the island.
Contact Graeme and his team via [email protected] or on 01708 948817 to discuss this special offer further.
Enter the ballot for international tickets
The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.
What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.
Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.
You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
The competition names of the Vitality Blast and the Metro Bank One Day Cup have aligned with women’s cricket from 2025 to drive professionalism and growth.
Men’s and women’s professional domestic T20 and 50-over competitions will be fully aligned for the first time next season in further steps to fuel the growth and reach of women’s professional cricket.
The move will see men’s and women’s teams competing side by side in the Vitality Blast and the Metro Bank One Day Cup from the 2025 season.
The eight women’s Tier One professional county teams will compete in the Vitality Blast women’s competition and Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition, played alongside the Vitality Blast men’s competition and Metro Bank One Day Cup men’s competition.
The development comes in collaboration with ECB’s partners, health and life insurer Vitality and Metro Bank, as they continue to work with the ECB to invest in, grow and support the women’s game, seeking to inspire many more women and girls to play and watch the game.
The aligning of the men’s and women’s competitions and the decision from Vitality and Metro Bank to further their ongoing support for women’s domestic cricket signifies the next step in the game’s evolving professionalism.
The new professional structure will see £8m new funding per year being invested into women’s domestic cricket by 2027 – taking annual investment in this area to c.£19m – and could produce an 80% increase in the number of professional female players in England and Wales by 2029.
Like the Vitality Blast Men’s Finals Day, the women’s competition will culminate in a Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day, while the men’s and women’s Metro Bank One Day Cup competitions will each have two semi-finals and a flagship final.
Competition schedules and venues will be announced later this year, with the expectation that men’s and women’s double headers are likely to form some part of the aligned Vitality Blast schedule.
In addition, the eight women’s Tier One professional county teams have confirmed their names ahead of the new season.
In the Metro Bank One Day Cup the eight women’s teams will compete as: Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire and The Blaze.
In the Vitality Blast the eight women’s teams will compete as: Birmingham Bears, Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey and The Blaze.
A knock-out cup competition consisting of teams from all three tiers of the expanded women’s domestic structure will also form part of the 2025 schedule. The aim of the cup competition is to provide all Counties with the opportunity to compete against each other, play at some of the country’s biggest venues, and give players across the pyramid the chance to test their skills on an elevated platform.
Director of the Women’s Professional Game Beth Barrett-Wild said: “A big driver for the re-organisation of women’s professional cricket has been to enable us to better use the leverage and existing scale of men’s county cricket to accelerate fanbase growth for our women’s teams and players.
“Looking ahead to the 2025 season, we’re therefore really excited to fully align our men’s and women’s domestic white-ball competitions for the first time.
“The next step in the growth of the women’s professional game is to produce commercially vibrant and visible teams and competitions that excite fans and continue to showcase the quality of women’s cricket.
“As we have seen through The Hundred and alignment of our England Men’s and England Women’s teams, we believe that by putting our men’s and women’s competitions and players on the same platform we can exponentially increase the reach of the women’s domestic game and intensify the depth of feeling fans have for our women’s teams moving forwards.
“I’d like to thank both Charlotte Edwards and the family of Rachael Heyhoe Flint for allowing us to name our two domestic trophies the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy during this first chapter in the professionalisation of women’s domestic cricket.
“There are no two women in the history of the game in this country who are more synonymous with and symbolic of the progress that has been made in recent times, and it was truly fitting that their names be lent to our first women’s professional competitions across the 2020 to 2024 seasons.
“Teams in the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition will compete to lift the Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy.”
Neville Koopowitz, CEO at Vitality, longstanding supporter of men’s and women’s cricket and title partner of the Vitality Blast women’s competition and men’s competition, said: “The power of sport and activity to change and help people live healthier lives is at the very centre of what we do.
“Having role models and people you identify with playing at the very highest level of cricket is important in helping increase participation of the game at every level.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of close collaboration with the ECB and our commitment to further invest in the game in a way that brings about greater visibility and further growth within women’s cricket and women’s sport in general.
“This is undoubtedly an important moment and step in pushing for greater equality and further professionalising the women’s game.”
Danielle Lee, Brand and Marketing Director at Metro Bank, Official Champion of Women’s and Girls’ Cricket and title partner of the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition and men’s competition, said: “We’re thrilled that our support for the game, that spans from recreational cricket up to England Women, will now extend to the naming of the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition.
“At Metro Bank we’re committed to driving transformational growth of girls’ cricket, and through this evolution in the women’s professional game we hope to see even more role models for young girls wanting to get into and stay in cricket.”
Enter the ballot for international tickets
The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.
What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.
Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.
You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
The four-player shortlist for August’s wefinanceanycar.com Player of the Month has been revealed.
A huge amount of cricket was played throughout the month, as the Eagles competed on red- and white-ball fronts with both Metro Bank One Day Cup and Vitality County Championship matches.
Remind yourself of the standout performances from the four contenders and cast your vote in the poll below, with one lucky voter set to receive a signed replica shirt from the winning player.
The Contenders
Jamie Porter
A cornerstone of Essex cricket over the past decade, Porter continued to showcase his value to the Eagles as he returned from an injury lay-off in the middle of August.
Bowling at an economy rate of just 3.93 per over, he claimed seven wickets in three One Day Cup matches, including a four-for in the final game against Sussex.
Returning to the Championship side, Porter then rounded out the month with another five-wicket haul in the first innings against Worcestershire.
Luc Benkenstein
Leg-spinning all-rounder Benkenstein shone with the bat in the early part of August, and took on the role of opener in the final two matches of the One Day Cup with aplomb.
He particularly enjoyed playing by the sea, top-scoring with 68 against Yorkshire in Scarborough, before following it up with a swift 49 against Sussex in Hove.
Jamal Richards
Having worked especially hard on remodelling his bowling armoury during the last winter, Richards reaped the rewards during the entire One Day Cup campaign.
His white-ball zenith in 2024 came in Nottingham in the Eagles’ penultimate match, where he returned 5/31 for a maiden white-ball five-wicket haul.
Robin Das
The other half of the Eagles’ new-look opening partnership alongside Benkenstein for the final two One Day Cup games, Das also profited heavily in white-ball cricket.
He posted his first List A century with a magnificent unbeaten 100 against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge, less than a week after hitting 67 in Scarborough.
Das capped a fine individual month by being called into the Championship side for matches against Hampshire and Worcestershire, applying himself well to total 83 runs in those matches.
The full terms and conditions for the competition can be found here.
Enter the ballot for international tickets
The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.
What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.
Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.
You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
Ben Allison has signed for Worcestershire on a permanent basis from the start of the 2025 season.
The 24-year-old bowling all-rounder has played a combined 54 matches in all formats for Essex since making his First Team debut in September 2020 against Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast.
A native of Colchester, he came through Essex’s Player Pathway and, other than short loan spells to Worcestershire and Gloucestershire where he made his first-class debut in 2019, he has spent his entire career with the Eagles.
Allison has taken 54 wickets for Essex, with a first-class innings best of 5/32, while as a lower-order batter, he has hit 513 runs with three red-ball fifties.
“Firstly, I would like to thank everyone at the Club for the fantastic memories.
“The decision to leave has been incredibly difficult. I’ve been with the Club since I was eight years old, and I love it here.
“But at the same time, I need to think about my career development, and right now, that means I need to be playing more cricket. While it’s a tough decision, I believe it’s the right one for my career.
“I am indebted to the many coaches I have worked with during my time at Essex and they have each played their part in my development so far. In particular, I owe a huge amount to Barry Hyam who has been instrumental in my career so far and has given me valuable support throughout my journey since under 9’s cricket.
“Lastly, I would like to thank the Members and supporters who have given me support whenever I have played. I grew up supporting the Club so to wear the shirt as a First Team player has been a huge honour.”
Essex Director of Cricket, Anthony McGrath, said: “We’re obviously disappointed to lose a player of Ben’s calibre, especially as he is also a great member of the dressing room, but we understand his reasons for wanting to explore a new challenge elsewhere.
“We are grateful for his efforts in an Essex shirt across all formats of the game, and we wish him the best of luck for the future.”
Enter the ballot for international tickets
The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.
What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.
Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.
You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
Kent Women: Megan Belt*, Charlotte Pape, Coco Streets, Emily Thompson+, Ella Darlington, Zeena Bilal, Liv Barnes, Genevieve Jeer, Izzy Kirby, Naomi Scott, Kaya Clark, Daisy Brandon.
Match Details
Umpires: Tracey Murphy & Paul Richardson Scorers: Jo Johnson & Lin Martin Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bat first Result: Essex won by 18 runs
Amu Surenkumar’s strong batting display helped Essex to victory over rivals Kent in the Battle of the Bridge at The Cloud County Ground.
Despite two wickets apiece for Kent’s Daisy Brandon and captain Megan Belt, the hosts were able to post a strong score of 160-6 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.
In their final T20 of the summer, Essex were able to protect this score and restrict Kent to 139-4, ending the season on a high.
Kent’s Kaya Clark ended a 69-run partnership scored by Surenkumar and Tilly Callaghan, with the former hitting an impressive 47 runs including seven boundaries.
Captain Kelly Castle and Jasmine Westley also contributed with the bat, scoring 23 and 21 runs respectively.
This came after opener Grace Poole began the Essex innings with intent, with the hosts scoring sixteen runs in the first over of the game – which included a four off the first delivery of the match.
This dominance with the bat continued throughout the innings, with Essex proving too strong for their youthful Kent opponents.
Essex’s intensity continued into the field, where they confined Kent to 139 runs.
This was despite the visitors’ high score of 64, courtesy of opener Ella Darlington.
After starring with the bat, Surenkumar was also responsible for ending Kent’s most prominent partnership of Streets and Darlington, which contributed 48 to their tally.
Wickets were shared between three Essex bowlers, with Esmae McGregor also impressing by taking the key Kent wicket of Darlington.
Despite a determined showing by Kent with the bat, Essex were able to secure the victory in what was a controlled performance with both bat and ball.
Enter the ballot for international tickets
The 2025 international fixture list has been revealed, with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex.
What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.
Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale.
You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
Thursday 29 August – Sunday 01 September 2024 | 11:00am start
Team News
Essex: Dean Elgar, Robin Das, Tom Westley*, Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper+, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Worcestershire: Jake Libby, Gareth Roderick+, Kashif Ali, Rob Jones, Adam Hose, Brett D’Oliveira*, Ethan Brookes, Logan van Beek, Tom Taylor, Joe Leach, Amar Virdi.
Jordan Cox replaced Noah Thain in the starting XI after being released before play on Day One by England.
Match Details
Umpires: David Millns & Steve O’Shaughnessy Match Referee: Peter Such Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Sue Drinkwater Toss: Worcestershire won the toss and chose to bat first Result: Worcestershire won by 43 runs
Sam Cook completing a four-wicket haul on the final morning of Essex’s Vitality County Championship clash with Worcestershire was not enough to save the Eagles from a gut-wrenchingly narrow 43-run defeat.
Cook claimed the two Pears wickets that were required within the day’s first five overs, ending the visitors’ second innings on 321, to set up a chase of 184 for victory.
However, despite a confident start that at one point saw Essex 53-1, an almighty Worcestershire fightback dismissed the hosts for 140, with Robin Das’s 32 the top score.
Cook finished with figures of 4/23 as he removed Tom Taylor, caught behind by Michael Pepper for 17, and last man Amar Virdi, caught and bowled for two, to wrap up the Worcestershire innings early on.
Das and captain Tom Westley then made a confident start to the chase, with the former overcoming the loss of opening partner Elgar, pinned lbw by Joe Leach, to guide the Eagles past 50.
It was at that point, however, that the chase began to slip from the hosts’ grasp, as Westley, Das, and Jordan Cox all fell before lunch to leave Essex 75-4, still 109 away from winning.
Das’ dismissal was the most exceptionally unlucky of the three, run out backing up after Brett D’Oliveira, fielding at short mid-off, had deflected Cox’s drive off Logan van Beek onto the stumps.
Although Pepper and Simon Harmer fought back in the afternoon with a partnership of 38 following the further dismissals of Matt Critchley and Paul Walter, the latter’s wicket for 19 precipitated the end.
Pepper followed three overs later, and although last pair Cook and Jamie Porter held out for as long as they could, the Pears wrapped up a surprise win midway through the afternoon.
Day Three Reaction: Matt Critchley
Day Three Highlights
Day Three Report
Fifties by Jake Libby, Brett D’Oliveira, and Adam Hose ensured Worcestershire made Essex bat again in their rollercoaster match at Chelmsford. When bad light ended play 20 overs early on day three of the Vitality County Championship match, Worcestershire had turned a 138-run first-innings deficit into a 165-run lead.
Libby laid the foundation for the recovery with a 112-ball 65 at the top of the order. An 80-run stand for the sixth wicket between D’Oliveira (51 from 71 balls) and Hose (64 off 91) – after the pair came together with two runs still required to erase the arrears – gave Worcestershire hope of securing a third successive victory and moving clear of the relegation zone.
Simon Harmer led the mercurial Essex attack, bowling 26 overs in the shortened day and taking 3/110, including an extraordinary delivery to dismiss Hose. Essex will be aiming for a first victory in four games on the final day to keep their fading title hopes alive.
Nightwatchman Joe Leach lasted just four balls in the grey, overcast morning before Sam Cook ended his 21-ball duck by inducing a thick edge to the wicketkeeper. Gareth Roderick narrowly avoided a pair before he was turned around by Jamie Porter on six and nicked to second slip.
Libby found solid support from Kashif Ali in a 51-run third-wicket stand until Paul Walter, introduced into the attack, had Ali caught at slip with his fourth ball. Libby survived a couple of scares but reached his fifty off 90 balls, his eighth four helped high over the wicketkeeper’s head. Rob Jones, Libby’s new partner, took a liking to Harmer, hitting four consecutive boundaries, two of them identical sweeps.
However, the 55-run fourth-wicket stand was broken soon after lunch when Libby drove loosely at Cook and was caught low at backward point. Six runs later, Jones fell for another sweep against Harmer, with Dean Elgar completing the dismissal after running back from square leg.
Worcestershire was five down, still two runs short of making Essex bat again. That milestone was soon achieved and built upon as Hose and D’Oliveira dug in initially, with Porter coming on for three overs and leaving without conceding a run. The first fifty of their partnership took 16 overs.
The run rate accelerated, with 31 runs added in the next four overs before Matt Critchley switched ends to give Harmer a rest. Critchley’s first ball saw D’Oliveira edge to second slip. Harmer returned after tea and immediately dismissed Hose, who padded up outside off-stump to a ball that turned sharply, leaving him bewildered as he saw the bails dislodged.
Harmer claimed a third wicket when Ethan Brookes, attempting a reverse-sweep as he had successfully done in the first innings, edged to Robin Das at short leg, who dived full-length to take a one-handed catch.
With floodlights on and the light deteriorating, Essex declined the option of taking the new ball after 80 overs, sticking with their spinners. The gesture proved futile as the umpires deemed it too dark to continue an over later.
Day Two Highlights
Day Two Reaction: Michael Pepper
Day Two Report
Michael Pepper’s sublime maiden first-class century underpinned Essex’s efforts to build a sizeable lead over Worcestershire on Day Two of the sides’ Vitality County Championship clash.
Pepper, who earlier this summer made waves with his first two T20 hundreds, the most recent an unforgettably scintillating effort away to Sussex, fluently struck an unbeaten 112 from 125 balls.
His knock included 13 fours and a six, and helped the Eagles, who resumed on an overnight 50-1, recover from a potentially perilous 205-6 to post 404 all out.
That gave the hosts a lead of 138 as they seized hold of the game, but it also sealed four vital batting bonus points that had, earlier in the day, looked potentially unlikely.
Initially, things were rosier as the Kookaburra ball, which was just shy of 20 overs old at the morning’s restart, failed to trouble Robin Das and Tom Westley, who moved Essex to three figures with ease.
The breakthrough did come, however, a little over an hour into the day’s play, when Das was bowled by Ethan Brookes for 46, ending a partnership of 65.
Westley’s composure was much needed to navigate the remaining overs before lunch, as Worcestershire found further joy to remove both Jordan Cox and Matt Critchley in short succession.
The Essex captain ground out a 61st first-class fifty in 95 balls, and found support in Paul Walter’s 33, but when both departed midway through the afternoon, the Pears sensed an opening.
Aiming to drive home their new-found initiative, Simon Harmer was also removed shortly before the arrival of the new ball with Essex still 39 shy of parity.
However, Pepper and Shane Snater staged a sparkling fightback, adding a mammoth 134 for the eighth wicket either side of tea to reinvigorate the hosts.
Pepper’s fifty came in 64 balls, while the support he found from Snater, who himself hit a half-century in making 53, was invaluable as their counter-attacking brought about a three-figure Essex lead.
A few nervy moments awaited the 26-year-old wicketkeeper as he tiptoed past 98, but his crowning moment did finally arrive when he sweetly straight drove a quick two.
As if to underline his credentials even further, he then stepped forward to Ethan Brookes, Worcestershire’s leading bowler in the innings, and belted an almighty maximum to move on to 110.
The hosts were bowled out shortly afterwards, allowing Worcestershire five overs in the middle, an amount they battled through to close on two without loss, still 136 in arrears.
Day One Highlights
Day One Report
Jamie Porter marked the return of Vitality County Championship cricket to The Cloud County Ground with a five-wicket haul as Essex enjoyed a dominant first day against Worcestershire.
Porter, who reached 500 career first-class wickets at the beginning of July, claimed his 19th five-for in the format by returning figures of 5/52 as the Pears were bowled out for 266.
It could have been even worse for the visitors were it not for the resistance provided by captain Brett D’Oliveira and Tom Taylor, who both hit half-centuries in making 68 and 62 not out, respectively.
With the Pears dismissed in 75 overs, Essex had 19 further overs to survive late in the day, and despite losing Dean Elgar with the last ball of the day for 29, Robin Das’ unbeaten 21 helped them to 50-1.
Porter and opening partner Sam Cook initially had the Kookaburra ball, back in the Championship for the first time since April, on a string as Worcestershire were reduced to 10-4 inside the first five overs.
Jake Libby was first to go for seven, caught in two minds between playing and leaving as Porter jagged one into his off-stump, before Cook rapped Gareth Roderick on the back pad for a nine-ball duck.
With the visitors already reeling, Essex then struck further gold as wicketkeeper Michael Pepper and Porter combined twice in the space of three balls to see off Rob Jones and Adam Hose.
From the steady harbour of seven without loss in the second over, Worcestershire had suddenly found themselves in the stormiest of seas, standing at 10-4 midway through the fifth.
Pears stalwart D’Oliveira battled back with the ball beginning to become somewhat less threatening, adding a comparatively dominant 36 for the fifth wicket with Kashif Ali.
However, Ali’s own counter-attacking effort that had brought him a run-a-ball 24, was ended when he chopped on to become Porter’s fourth victim.
Some lower-order resistance, driven by D’Oliveira, helped the visitors past 100, though two further wickets fell after lunch as the Pepper/Porter combination did for Ethan Brookes while four short of fifty.
That marked Porter’s five-for, his tenth at The Cloud County Ground, and Simon Harmer joined the party shortly after as Logan van Beek, on six, chipped one back to the bowler for a simple catch.
D’Oliveira’s resistance was finally ended an hour later, after he had passed fifty, as Harmer pinned him lbw, before the same fate befell Joe Leach on five to leave Worcestershire nine down.
Debutant Amar Virdi and the pugnacious Taylor delayed the inevitable with a battling last-wicket stand of 64, though Shane Snater removed the former for 42, caught by Elgar, to wrap things up.
Elgar was then immediately involved once again, fighting alongside Das to make inroads into the Worcestershire lead, which they did successfully for almost the entire 19 overs.
The South African, still making waves in his debut season in Essex colours, was uprooted by Taylor in the final over of the day, but Essex still closed in the strong position of just one down and 216 behind.
Cricket & Craft Ale Festival at The Cloud County Ground
Essex Cricket and Greene King are joining forces to create a Cricket & Craft Ale Festival during the first three days of the Vitality County Championship fixture between Essex and Worcestershire at The Cloud County Ground.
Greene King will be supplying as many as twelve craft ales for fans to sip on whilst enjoying County Championship action in a crucial late-summer clash.
Fans can purchase tickets to Essex’s County Championship match against Worcestershire from £16 for Adults and there will be no additional cost to enter the Cricket & Craft Ale Festival, with drinks to be purchased individually once inside.
Secure your seats to Essex v Worcestershire and sample Greene King’s craft ales:
The 2025 International fixture list has been revealed with Chelmsford braced for high-octane action as England Women take on West Indies Women on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
In what’s set to be an unmissable afternoon of IT20 cricket, some of the world’s best T20 cricketers will go head to head in a T20 set in the heart of Essex. What’s more, the game will be played on the Spring Bank Holiday making it the perfect day out with friends and family.
Demand for tickets will be high, so make sure to enter the ticket ballot and share with family and friends for the best chance to get your hands on tickets before public sale. You’ll also have the chance to earn an extra entry to the ballot by sharing with the person you’d like to bring with you.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
Cricket & Craft Ale Festival at The Cloud County Ground
Essex Cricket and Greene King are joining forces to create a Cricket & Craft Ale Festival during the first three days of the Vitality County Championship fixture between Essex and Worcestershire at The Cloud County Ground.
Greene King will be supplying as many as twelve craft ales for fans to sip on whilst enjoying County Championship action in a crucial late-summer clash.
Fans can purchase tickets to Essex’s County Championship match against Worcestershire from £16 for Adults and there will be no additional cost to enter the Cricket & Craft Ale Festival, with drinks to be purchased individually once inside.
Secure your seats to Essex v Worcestershire and sample Greene King’s craft ales:
You’re now in the ballot for England Women v West Indies!
Thank you for entering the ballot for tickets to England Women v West Indies Women, taking place on Monday 26 May (2:30pm start) at The Cloud County Ground.
The ballot will close at midnight on Monday 04 November and ballot winners will be contacted via email with a unique link to purchase tickets on Tuesday 05 November.
Increase your chances in the ballot by earning an extra entry. All you have to do is enter your email address and share the ballot via WhatsApp to double your chances of a successful ballot entry.
Good luck!
Earn an extra ballot entry
Ballot entries will only be valid if submitted between Thursday 29 September 2024 and 11:59pm on Monday 04 November 2024. Winners will be drawn at random and contacted via the email address. Transactions will be limited to one per ballot winner, however the number of tickets purchased in any one transaction will be unrestricted. If there are still tickets remaining, unsuccessful ballot entrants may be contacted at the Club’s discretion with a link to purchase tickets at a later date. Data submitted via the ticket ballot will be strictly for use by Essex Cricket and not used by any third party partners. The use and handling of data is in line with the Club’s Privacy Policy which can be viewed – here.
Hampshire: Fletcha Middleton, Toby Albert, Nick Gubbins, James Vince*, Ben Brown+, Liam Dawson, Tom Prest, James Fuller, Kyle Abbott, John Turner, Mohammad Abbas
Essex: Dean Elgar, Robin Das, Tom Westley*, Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper+, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter
Match Details
Umpires: Martin Saggers & Ian Blackwell Match Referee: Mike Smith Scorers: Fiona Newnham & Paul Parkinson Toss: Hampshire won the toss and chose to bowl first
Toby Albert and Tom Prest’s centuries gave a glimpse of Hampshire’s batting future as their Vitality County Championship clash with Essex petered into a draw.
Both homegrown batters in their early 20s, they each scored exceptional hundreds filling in – with Albert playing in place of the injured Ali Orr, and Prest elevated up the order with James Vince unable to bat in his usual position.
The duo made sure Essex’s low chances of forcing 19 wickets, and a victory, became non-existent, with career-best scores of 124 and 156.
Matt Critchley claimed a late five for 96 as both teams took away 14 points – a haul that is unlikely to worry table-toppers Surrey in the fight for the title.
Hampshire began the day on 40 for one, and 398 runs in arrears, with the initial plan to avoid the follow-on, and then hunt for batting bonus points.
It turned out the quest was a simple one.
Albert, with Fletcha Middleton and Nick Gubbins, had dead batted their way through the new ball the previous evening, on a pitch which offered zero help for the bowlers.
The morning saw 106 runs, with the loss of Gubbins for 30 after he tamely diverted to a catching midwicket following a 61-run stand with Albert.
Albert has largely made the most of his chances at the top of the batting order, having replaced Orr – the former Sussex batter suffering a back injury and then a broken arm to curtail his season.
The 22-year-old began with a maiden Championship century against Surrey in May, before impressing in the Vitality Blast – his batting styles vastly different between the formats.
Albert, the son of two Olympic equestrians, reached his century in 199 balls, having cranked through the gears as the day progressed.
He found a like-minded partner in Prest – who was initially due to bat at No.7 before Vince suffered a niggle in the field, and due to his time off the pitch, wasn’t allowed to bat any higher.
If Hampshire wanted a Vince doppelganger, they got it – both very watchable batters, who pace their innings seemingly for the enjoyment of the crowd.
Prest had fully announced himself, after a couple of promising T20 campaigns, with a century against Essex at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford towards the end of last season.
The 21-year-old missed the previous three Championship fixtures with a shoulder injury, but reached his third career ton in 141 deliveries – although only after he was dropped on 92 by Simon Harmer.
Albert fell when reverse sweeping Matt Critchley to deep point, which ended a 177-run partnership.
Ben Brown and Prest passed the follow-on target just before tea, before Prest began to eye up 450 – and full batting bonus points.
At one point he had taken 52 runs, with Brown, in four overs – in which time he had taken Harmer for 14 and 19, brought up the century stand and reached a maiden 150.
Prest fell for 156 when he advanced and holed out to long off and Brown was bowled by Shane Snater for a 59-ball 54.
Critchley then picked up Liam Dawson, Kyle Abbott and Vince in the space of four balls to claim a five-wicket haul.
On his departure, Vince decided to declare the innings, reckoning 450 runs was now above them, while preventing Essex from maximum bowling points.
Day Three Highlights
Day Three Report
Toby Albert and the rain frustrated Vitality County Championship title-chasing Essex against Hampshire at Utilita Bowl.
Only 34 overs were bowled after a rain-soaked morning and afternoon, but after Sam Cook and Shane Snater had taken their partnership to 49 and Essex to 438 for eight, Tom Westley declared.
Hampshire lost Fletcha Middleton, but Albert dropped anchor with 18 from 69 balls, with Nick Gubbins even more defensive in his eight off 58.
They ended the day on 40 for one, 398 runs in arrears, with the likelihood this will turn into a final day bonus point match, unless the hosts fail to avoid the follow-on.
But Storm Lilian deposited a significant amount of rain on Saturday morning, but the hard work of Simon Lee and his grounds staff made sure action got under way after tea.
The first part of the session was a battle for bonus points before a declaration. Hampshire needed one wicket for another point, Essex needed 46 runs.
Neither of which came to pass, but Shane Snater and Sam Cook had a good go at the runs part of the equation – putting on an unbroken 49.
Hampshire had one massive chance to claim maximum bowling points, but Cook was put down by Tom Prest at first slip with what became the penultimate delivery before Tom Westley called his side in.
The blue skies suggested batting might be relatively simple, but Cook and Jamie Porter initially put Hampshire’s young opening batters Fletcha Middleton and Toby Albert under the microscope.
There wasn’t significant movement but the odd late ball tailed in and super-disciplined bowling made scoring runs almost impossible early on.
It took 23 balls before Albert scored the first run of the innings, and when Snater entered the attack in the ninth over, only five runs had been scored.
The Dutchman may have offered up a half-volley for Albert to strike the first boundary of the innings, but he made the breakthrough.
He found movement into Middleton, and helped by some low bounce, caught the outside edge, before Michael Pepper brilliantly caught on the forward dive.
From then on, Albert and Gubbins battened down the hatches and simply refused to get out – which never looked like happening as the ball aged.
In the 28 overs Hampshire batted, there were 150 dot balls.
Day Two Highlights
Day Two Report
Jordan Cox reminded Brendon McCullum and the England set-up of his dizzying batting skills with his fourth Vitality County Championship century of the season.
Cox was released by England to play for Essex against Hampshire in the Vitality County Championship clash after not selecting him for the First Rothesay Test against Sri Lanka this week.
He responded with a scintillating 124-ball 141 to double down Essex’s advantage – having been stuck in – after Dean Elgar’s masterful 51st first class century. Both batters now have over 900 Championship runs this season.
After a washed-out day one and more rain on Saturday, this is likely to be a draw – but Essex collected three bonus points to reach the close on 404 for eight .
For everyone present at Utilita Bowl at 10:30 BST, bowling first wasn’t just a choice but the only option.
The pitch was a green colour which suggested that the ball would seam around, and had been under cover for over 24 hours after a washed out day one.
Hampshire captain James Vince could barely conceal his glee when his Essex counterpart Tom Westley picked the wrong side of the coin and he stuck the visitors in.
He gave a shocked look when Westley then told stadium announcer Robbie James he would have chosen to bat first.
It turned out it would have been the correct choice with blue skies above and a pitch which hadn’t sweated up under the covers due to strong winds.
When Kyle Abbott and Mo Abbas were jagging the new ball around, Vince would have felt vindicated, especially when Abbas nicked a ball back into Robin Das’ pads.
Das, opening for the first time in the County Championship having earned his position over Nick Browne and Feroze Khushi following a strong Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign, could hardly have done anything else.
Elgar and Westley simply occupied the crease for the rest of the morning session as the new ball pressure subsided.
Westley, who had soaked up 18 balls before scoring, was dropped at second slip on 27 but otherwise, the captain and opener looked unbreakable.
Elgar said after reaching his 50th red ball ton, against Durham in June, that all centuries “mean the world” to him. This showed little of that wonder, but did demonstrate a workmanlike efficiency; ticking off runs as if they were on a spreadsheet.
His fifty came in 122 balls, his century came in 170 as he began to open up for his third Championship century since replacing Alastair Cook as Essex opener.
Westley, having put on 144 with Elgar, fell for 64 when he leathered a caught and bowled back at Liam Dawson.
Cox was effervescent from almost the moment he arrived at the crease against an ageing ball. His sixes off James Fuller and Nick Gubbins were the headlines of his aggressive streak and suggested he was making up for lost time following his Appendix operation during the last round of matches.
Having been dropped on 92, he reached three figures in 92 balls, with a straight drive that summed up his endeavours
But at the other end, Hampshire’s grind was rewarded.
Abbott found former international team-mate Elgar chipping to mid off – which ended a 154 alliance with Cox – and removed Matt Critchley’s off stump bail.
Abbas picked up Paul Walter, loose to midwicket, and Michael Pepper, caught at first slip first ball. Simon Harmer was leg before to Dawson as the shadows grew longer.
Day One Report
Utilita Bowl saw mizzle, drizzle and outright rain, but no cricket as no play was possible on day one of Essex’s Vitality County Championship clash with Hampshire.
The covers remained untouched, other than by water, all day until the umpires abandoned play at 15:40 BST.
Both sides would have been left frustrated by the lack of action with eyes on chasing Surrey down at the top of the table.
There is forecast to be more rain overnight but there is more promise that there will be play on Friday.
Cricket & Craft Ale Festival at The Cloud County Ground
Essex Cricket and Greene King are joining forces to create a Cricket & Craft Ale Festival during the first three days of the Vitality County Championship fixture between Essex and Worcestershire at The Cloud County Ground.
Greene King will be supplying as many as twelve craft ales for fans to sip on whilst enjoying County Championship action in a crucial late-summer clash.
Fans can purchase tickets to Essex’s County Championship match against Worcestershire from £16 for Adults and there will be no additional cost to enter the Cricket & Craft Ale Festival, with drinks to be purchased individually once inside.
Secure your seats to Essex v Worcestershire and sample Greene King’s craft ales:
The Cloud County Ground will once again host international cricket in 2025 as England Women host West Indies in a Vitality Women’s IT20 clash on Monday 26 May at 2:30pm.
The match will be the third and final game of a Vitality IT20 series that kicks off England Women’s home international summer, with the first two games to be played in Canterbury on 21 May at 6:30pm and Hove on 23 May at 6:35pm.
The Three Lions have never hosted the Windies in an IT20 at The Cloud County Ground before, with the only previous match between the two sides in Chelmsford coming in a 2019 ODI.
England won on that occasion by a DLS-calculated 135 runs, with Amy Jones and Sarah Taylor hitting 80 and 70, respectively, before Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone evenly shared four wickets.
The Vitality IT20 series will be followed by a three-match Metro Bank ODI series, which will run in conjunction with England Men hosting the same opposition in three ODIs and three T20Is.
Dan Feist, General Manager at Essex Cricket, said: “It will be a hugely exciting occasion to welcome the West Indies to The Cloud County Ground next May.
“We have a well-developed recent reputation of hosting well-attended and thrilling games of women’s white-ball international cricket here in Chelmsford.
“This game will be a landmark in what is set to be a truly transformational year for women’s cricket in the region, fitting alongside the debut year of the professional Essex Women’s team.”
“Having utilised our recent games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan to deepen connections with our local communities, we are looking forward to the opportunity to do the same again next year.
“Hopefully the sun shines on Bank Holiday Monday and we can’t wait to put on a fantastic combined showcase of spectacular elite cricket and British-Caribbean culture.”
Click below to register your interest and be notified when the ballot for tickets goes live on Thursday 29 August.
England Women v West Indies in 2025: Vitality Women’s IT20 Series Fixtures
Wednesday 21 May, 6:30pm: 1st Vitality IT20 | The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence, Canterbury Friday 23 May, 6:35pm: 2nd Vitality IT20 | The 1st Central County Ground, Hove Monday 26 May, 2:30pm: 3rd Vitality IT20 | The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Cricket & Craft Ale Festival at The Cloud County Ground
Essex Cricket and Greene King are joining forces to create a Cricket & Craft Ale Festival during the first three days of the Vitality County Championship fixture between Essex and Worcestershire at The Cloud County Ground.
Greene King will be supplying as many as twelve craft ales for fans to sip on whilst enjoying County Championship action in a crucial late-summer clash.
Fans can purchase tickets to Essex’s County Championship match against Worcestershire from £16 for Adults and there will be no additional cost to enter the Cricket & Craft Ale Festival, with drinks to be purchased individually once inside.
Secure your seats to Essex v Worcestershire and sample Greene King’s craft ales:
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