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Essex Women can confirm that Kelly Castle and Jess Bird will retain their positions as Club Captain and 1st XI Vice Captain for 2024.

Meanwhile, Bella Howarth and Bella Johnson will skipper the Under-18s in 50-over and T20 cricket, respectively, with a decision having been made to split the role for the junior team.

Castle’s side get their 2024 campaign underway at home to Sussex in the ECB County 50-Over competition this Sunday, 21 April, with the game being hosted at Felsted School.

Howarth will then lead the Under-18s in their first game of the season on Sunday 05 May at home to Surrey in the County One-Day Knockout Cup at Wivenhoe Park.

In addition, the full squad for the 2024 season can also now be confirmed:

Name	Squad Number	Age	Nation	Club	Position	Batting Style	Bowling Style
Prisha Bedi	41	16		Loughton/South Loughton	Bowler	RHB	ROS
Jessica Bird (vice-capt)	8	24		Harold Wood	Batter	RHB
Matilda Callaghan	23	24		Billericay	All-rounder	RHB	RMF
Kelly Castle (capt)	7	26		Billericay	All-rounder	RHB	RM
Sally Chapman	38	18		Loughton/Abridge	All-rounder	LHB	LM
Catherine Dalton	57	31		Gunnersbury	Batter	RHB
Yasmin Daswani	21	29		Spencer	Wicketkeeper	RHB
Hannah Davis	20	20		Berkhamstead	Bowler	RHB	RLS
Hollie Dring-Richardson	39	19		Woolpit/Colchester & East Essex	All-rounder	RHB	RM
Bella Howarth (U18 50-over capt)	40	19		Bishop’s Stortford	Batter	LHB
Scarlett Hughes	84	21		Billericay	Wicketkeeper	RHB
Bella Johnson (U18 T20 capt)	46	18		Colchester & East Essex	All-rounder	RHB	ROS
Esmae MacGregor	35	19		Colchester & East Essex	All-rounder	RHB	RM
Jessica Olorenshaw	36	19		Bishop’s Stortford	Wicketkeeper	RHB
Grace Poole	2	23		Billericay	All-rounder	RHB	RFM
Katherine Speed	17	22		St Ives & Warboys	All-rounder	RHB	RFM
Amuruthaa Surenkumar	22	17		North London	All-rounder	RHB	RMF
Jasmine Westley	32	19		Mildenhall	All-rounder	RHB	RM

 
“We are fortunate at the county to many natural leaders within both the Women’s and U18’s Squads,” said Essex Women Head Coach, Paul Davidge. “Kelly, who has led the county flawlessly over the past few years, remains as the captain of both formats alongside her role as club captain.

“Kelly is a selfless leader who show calmness on the field and gets a huge amount from her players. Jess Bird continues as vice-captain; a role she fulfilled brilliantly last year, stepping in on a couple of occasions in the London Championship.

“We have decided this year to split the U18 captaincy between Bella Howarth and Bella Johnson. With an increase in games and competitions the demand on one player at this age seems a big ask.

“Bella Howarth will lead the team in both 50-over competitions with Bella Johnson taking the reins for the T20 campaign after she led the side to the National Title in 2023. Both players are exceptional cricketers and will set high standards on the field of play.”
 

Women’s Cricket at Chelmsford in 2024

Essex Women begin their season on Sunday 21 April with a ECB County 50-over match against Sussex at Felsted School.

The full fixture list for the 2024 season is available to view here with three fixtures staged at The Cloud County Ground, including the Battle of the Bridge T20 clash against Kent on Wednesday 07 August (6pm start).

England Women return to Chelmsford on Wednesday 29 May with Heather Knight’s team facing Pakistan in a Metro Bank One Day International. Play begins at 1pm for a day/night fixture under the lights at The Cloud County Ground.

Sunrisers will compete in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (50-over) and Charlotte Edwards Cup (20-over) competitions at The Cloud County Ground with their opening 50-over match taking place on Saturday 27 April (10:30am) against The Blaze.

Tickets for all these fixtures are available now from essexcricket.org.uk and you can visit here for further information.
 

Essex Cricket is delighted to announce a successful bid to form a Tier One professional women’s team from the 2025 season.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ratified the decision on Wednesday and Essex join Durham, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, and Warwickshire in being granted a professional women’s team.

Our bid centred on community engagement and empowering women and girls to become the future of the game.

At the core of our professional women’s team lies a robust partnership with the University of Essex and the neighbouring professional sports club, the Essex Rebels, renowned for their excellence in basketball and volleyball at the national level.

This collaborative effort underscores the shared aspirations of all parties to celebrate our region and contribute to the transformation of women’s sports.

We are aiming to revolutionise the landscape of women’s cricket under the unifying mantra of ‘We Are Essex’.

With a rich history of cultivating inspiring role models, cricket in Essex has consistently served as a powerful force for good within the region.

Now, with the awarding of a Tier One professional women’s team, we are poised to deepen these connections, serving as a catalyst for change, breaking down barriers, and empowering the next generation of female cricketers.

Our bid advances with a vision to establish The Cloud County Ground and the wider region as the premier destination in England for women and girls’ sports, with cricket serving as its cornerstone.

John Stephenson, Chief Executive Officer at Essex Cricket, said: “We are thrilled by the opportunity to host a Tier One side, and we thank the ECB for embracing our submission.

“We are a Club that has always aimed to empower and promote women and girls, and we now have a once in a generation opportunity to transform female sport in the region.

“The bid encompassed the support of many key organisations and partnerships, including the University of Essex and the cricket boards of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk. Their support was instrumental in bringing our submission to life and it’s an exciting time for us all.

“Now, with the awarding of Tier One status, we are focused on making a big impact on the growth of women’s cricket in the UK and look forward to working together with all of our stakeholders to achieve the aims we set out.”

Prisha Bedi, Essex Women’s 2023 Young Player of the Year, said: “This is a watershed moment for sport in our region, and Essex being awarded this status will hugely benefit my generation of players.

“The commitment by the ECB to women and girls’ sport is special, but for Essex to now be a Tier One county makes me so excited for what comes next.”

Dr Dave Parry, Director of Sport at the University of Essex, added: “The award of a Tier One professional women’s cricket team to Essex is a hugely exciting and significant moment.

“The University of Essex is a leading academic institution for sports science research and has an established reputation for promoting women’s sport. We are determined that through our expertise in sports science and athletic training, as well as the collaboration with our elite-level Essex Rebels basketball and volleyball teams, we will enhance women’s cricket both on and off the pitch, bringing a new audience of fans to the women’s game.

“Our aim is to establish the leading region in the country for women’s sport, and we can’t wait to get started on that mission.”

Find out more on the ECB’s process to create eight Tier One professional women’s teams here

Women’s Cricket at Chelmsford in 2024

Essex Women begin their season on Sunday 21 April with a ECB County 50-over match against Sussex at Felsted School. The full fixture list for the 2024 season are available to view here with three fixtures staged at The Cloud County Ground, including the Battle of the Bridge T20 clash against Kent on Wednesday 07 August (6pm start).

England Women return to Chelmsford on Wednesday 29 May with Heather Knight’s team facing Pakistan in Metro Bank One Day International. Play begins at 1pm for a day/night fixture under the lights at The Cloud County Ground.

Sunrisers will compete in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint (50-over) and Charlotte Edwards Cup (20-over) competitions at The Cloud County Ground with their opening 50-over match taking place on Saturday 27 April (10:30am) against The Blaze.

Ticket for all these fixtures are available now from essexcricket.org.uk and visit here for further information.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Wednesday the eight First-Class Counties who have been successful in their bid to be awarded Tier One women’s team status from 2025.

As a further outcome of the Tier One invitation to tender process, the ECB has also today announced the selection of two additional First Class Counties to expand Tier One from eight to ten teams by 2027, and an intent to grow to 12 teams by the 2029 season.

The eight selected Counties to compete in Tier One of the evolved women’s professional domestic structure from 2025 are:

• Durham
• Essex
• Hampshire
• Lancashire
• Nottinghamshire
• Somerset
• Surrey
• Warwickshire

Joining them, by 2027, will be Glamorgan and Yorkshire, who have been named as the first two Tier One expansion teams.

To accelerate Glamorgan and Yorkshire’s Tier One preparations between 2025 and 2027, and to enhance access for talented female players across the North East and Wales before such a time the clubs join Tier One, both Counties will receive additional funding from 2025 to run their own “Tier One standard” talent pathway.

The ECB has also set the ambition to expand Tier One to 12 teams by 2029, given the rapid growth of the women’s game and the level of passion and desire for the growth of women’s professional cricket demonstrated across the FCC network during this tender process. No decision has been made yet as to where these further two teams would be based.

The plans – which could see an 80% increase in the number of professional female players in England and Wales by 2029 compared to today – will further accelerate the growth of women’s cricket as a three-tiered domestic competition structure is introduced, and the ownership model underpinning the women’s professional game evolves.

To enable the expansion from eight to ten Tier One teams, the ECB is committing a further £3m a year from such a time Glamorgan and Yorkshire are operational. It will mean a total of £8m new funding per year is invested into women’s domestic cricket by 2027 – taking annual investment in this area to c.£19m.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “Through this process we’ve seen a huge appetite from First Class Counties to have a women’s professional team, and a real commitment to growing women’s and girls’ cricket in this country.

“I’d like to congratulate those counties who have been successful in their bids. I’m also delighted that in light of the support we have seen and the strength of the bids we have considered, we can accelerate our plans, including new top tier professional teams at Glamorgan and Yorkshire by 2027 with and a further two being introduced by 2029.

“More professional teams means more women able to make a career out of being a cricketer, more role models to inspire future generations, and more of the country having a women’s professional team to follow nearby.

“I recognise today’s announcement will also be disappointing to those who haven’t been successful at this stage. But with the new three-tier structure we are introducing, there is still a huge opportunity for them to compete in the other tiers so together we can all realise the potential of women’s domestic cricket.”

ECB Director of Women’s Professional Game Beth Barrett-Wild said: “At the start of this tender process we challenged the First Class Counties to show us their vision for the women’s professional game and to demonstrate their desire and commitment to becoming one of our professional Tier 1 Clubs.

“Over the last couple of months it’s been brilliant to see the time and energy that has gone into the submissions, and I’ve been hugely impressed by the quality and ambition of the bids.

“The decision to select two additional Counties – Glamorgan and Yorkshire – as the ninth and tenth Tier One Clubs by 2027, and our stated aim to move to 12 teams in Tier One by 2029, is testament to the strength of the bids and the pace at which we all want to move to effect change.

“It’s clear that the game is united in wanting to take the women’s professional game forward, and in wanting to produce commercially vibrant teams and competitions that excite fans and showcase the quality of our professional players.

“I’m energised about what comes next, for the Counties themselves, for the players, for fans and for everyone who wants to see women’s cricket continue its accelerated trajectory.”

All 18 First Class Counties and MCC were invited to tender to become a women’s Tier One Club, with the vast majority submitting bids. A panel comprising ECB Board members, Executives and independent members considered the bids which were assessed on four criteria:

• Vision and mission – Their passion, ambition and prioritisation.
• Quality cricket – Player development and squad composition plans, coaching and sports science and medicine provision, talent pathway activation and training/match day facilities.
• Passionate fans – Marketing, digital and communications plans, match day experiences and fan facilities.
• Long-term value – Financial investment, commercial strategy, governance, leadership and EDI plans.

First Class Counties who were not awarded Tier One status and, separately, National Counties will now be invited to be involved in a process to determine the composition of Tier 2 and Tier 3 in the new-look women’s domestic competition structure. It is anticipated that the outcome of this process will be confirmed by September 2024, ready to launch the evolved women’s domestic structure in full in 2025.

For the duration of the 2025-2028 seasons all three tiers will be ‘closed’, with no promotion or relegation.

The three-tier structure aims to build on the impact of the existing Regional Model, which has accelerated performance levels within women’s cricket and laid solid foundations, to further grow the depth and reach of the women’s professional game.

The Cloud County Ground in Chelmsford will overtake Leyton County Ground for the record of having hosted the most Essex first-class matches when the Eagles face Lancashire from Friday.

To mark the occasion of the record being broken, a celebratory walk is taking place between the two venues from Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 April.

Covering the full distance between the two, the walk will also visit the other grounds to have hosted an Essex first-class match along the way.

The walk, which will raise money for the Essex Cricket Foundation, will start from Leyton on Wednesday 17 April and will also take in Ilford, Gidea Park, Brentwood, Anglo-European School, and the Hoffmann’s Ground in Chelmsford.

Graham Gooch and Nasser Hussain are among those participating in the walk and you can support the group by making a donation to the Essex Cricket Foundation and celebrate a significant piece of Essex Cricket history, follow the link below:

Leyton hosted its maiden first-class Essex game in May 1894 against Leicestershire, and would go on to be the home of Essex for a total of 407 matches until August 1977, when Glamorgan were the final visitors.

Overall, the Club won 111 of those games, losing 128 and drawing 167, with one, against Gloucestershire in 1959, ending in a tie.

Meanwhile, the Chelmsford venue, which is 23 miles to the north-east, was first used in 1925 for a University match against Oxford, by which time the East London ground had hosted 275 games.

However, following the end of first-class cricket at Leyton, it rapidly caught up in the ensuing years, and became the exclusive home of the Club in 2016.

Having drawn level during the most recent game against Kent, Chelmsford will break the record this week, and is set to have hosted 413 games by the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Essex have enjoyed more success at The Cloud County Ground, winning 145 matches in comparison to 96 losses and 165 draws, with one complete abandonment, in 1981 against Gloucestershire.

Your votes have awarded Matt Critchley the Player of the Match for Essex’s first home Vitality County Championship game of 2024 against Kent at The Cloud County Ground this week.

Critchley, who became the first Essex player since Graham Napier in 2016 to claim five wickets and hit a century in the same First-Class match, received 51.9% of votes in the poll on Essex Cricket’s X page.

Jordan Cox finished second with 33.2% after hitting a whirlwind 85-ball ton himself, while Jamie Porter, who returned match figures of 6-91, and fellow centurion Dean Elgar took 9.3% and 5.6%, respectively.

Critchley’s unbeaten first-innings 151, which came off 212 balls and included five fours and four sixes, helped the Eagles rack up a total of 530-7 declared.

He then matched Napier’s showing from eight years ago, which came against Sussex at Colchester, by claiming figures of 5-105 in Kent’s first innings with his leg-breaks.

The all-rounder is now third in the Eagles’ run-scoring charts and, alongside captain Tom Westley, is one of only two players to have hit more than 1,000 first-class runs for the Club in the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, he is also third in the wicket-taking ranks, behind only opening bowlers Jamie Porter and Sam Cook, and is the only player to feature in the top ten of both lists across the entire Championship.
 

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex return to shortest-format action in Chelmsford from Sunday 02 June.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there is now just one Friday night fixture with availability remaining, the visit of Glamorgan to The Cloud County Ground on 07 June.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Sunday 02 June, 4:00pm: Essex v Middlesex – buy here
Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
 

Essex Cricket and Surridge Sport have extended the longstanding partnership with a five-year extension as the Club’s ‘Official Clothing Partner’.

The relationship continues to go from strength-to-strength with the development of diverse clothing ranges for supporters and players within the Men’s, Women’s, Ability, Seniors and Player Pathway squads. There has been a notable focus on the women’s game with tailored designs and garments, including bespoke headwear for female Muslim players.

Surridge Sport’s association with the Club dates back to 2007, with their shirt designs becoming synonymous with triumphs on the field, such as the 2019 Vitality Blast win at Edgbaston and Graham Napier’s world-record T20 innings in 2008.

Essex Cricket Retail Manager, Kelly Dewes, commented: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Surridge Sport for an additional five years. Our longstanding collaboration with Jimmy and the team underscores the strength of our working relationship and the exceptional service they provide.”

“Surridge Sport has played a pivotal role in ensuring our players, supporters, and staff are provided with high-quality clothing each season, whilst also embracing our inclusivity values and work in the community. Their delivery of innovative designs and efficient supply chain management has consistently met our expectations and supported our efforts to produce clothing that meets high standards.”

James Gray, Surridge Sport Project Manager, said: “We are delighted to announce this new long-term partnership with Essex, which will take our partnership into a second decade. We have worked closely with the Club and developed a strong working relationship.

“We are constantly working together to produce innovative and inclusive ranges that look and perform to Essex’s expected high standards, whilst breaking down the participation barriers. We are extremely happy to have extended our contract and to continue to be the official clothing partner.
“We will strive to ensure Essex continue to receive the high standards of designs and quality they are accustomed too.”

The new deal has already incorporated the launch of the 50-over shirt and training wear range, which is set to be worn by the Men’s, Women’s and Ability teams this season and on sale now at www.essexcricketshop.co.uk.

The new deal has already incorporated the launch of the 50-over shirt and training wear range, which is set to be worn by the Men’s, Women’s and Ability teams this season and on sale now at www.essexcricketshop.co.uk.

Charlie Allison struck 140 in the first innings of Essex Second XI’s season-opener against Kent, but the Eagles were defeated by nine wickets at the County Ground in Beckenham.

Allison’s mammoth knock, which came in 193 balls and contained 20 fours and one six, underpinned an Essex first innings total of 296-4 declared.

Nick Browne also chipped in with 60, while Aaron Beard made 56, before Kent replied with 197-7 declared in their first innings, giving the visitors a lead of 99.

Luc Benkenstein was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3/32 from seven overs, with Jamal Richards returning 2/35 and Beard and Ben Allison picking up one scalp apiece.

The Eagles then continued the theme of declarations throughout the game, posting 175-5 in their second innings before captain Browne called his troops in.

The skipper made it twin fifties with a fluent 52, while Benkenstein hit a 46-ball 48 and Noah Thain added 34 from 33.

That set Kent 275 to win, though it was a target they achieved with relative ease, losing just one wicket as both Jaydn Denly and Ekansh Singh tonned up to see the win confirmed in the 56th over.

Kent took 17 points from the game to Essex’s three, with the second-string Eagles’ next assignment taking the form of a trip to Portland Road in Birmingham to face Warwickshire.
 

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex return to shortest-format action in Chelmsford from Sunday 02 June.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there is now just one Friday night fixture with availability remaining, the visit of Glamorgan to The Cloud County Ground on 07 June.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Sunday 02 June, 4:00pm: Essex v Middlesex – buy here
Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
 

Essex v Kent

Vitality County Championship
The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford
Friday 12 – Monday 15 April | 11:00am start

Having secured a season-opening 254-run victory away to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, Essex return home to face Kent in their first competitive home game of 2024.

Sam Cook was the standout performer for the Eagles in Nottingham, claiming a hat-trick in the first innings and 6-14 in the second to complete match figures of 10-73.

Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox also enjoyed productive debuts for Essex, hitting 80 and 84 respectively in the first innings, though the hosts did gain a 40-run advantage after both sides had batted once.

However, 79 from Paul Walter and Matt Critchley’s 68 helped the visitors fight back from a perilous position in the second dig to set Notts 335 to win.

Cook and Jamie Porter then did the rest, sharing nine wickets to skittle the hosts for just 80 and confirming Essex as the only Division One side to win a game in the opening round of matches.

Anthony McGrath’s men will now aim to back up that sterling performance with a homecoming against arch-rivals Kent.

Squad

Head Coach McGrath has named a 13-man squad for this fixture, with one change from last week’s trip to Nottinghamshire.

Adam Rossington misses out with a fractured finger sustained in the game at Trent Bridge.

The Inside Line: Dean Elgar

Ahead of the game, Dean Elgar discussed his debut 80 away to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, his excitement to play in front of the Essex fans and Members, and how he is settling in to life at Essex.

Watch the full interview above.

The Opposition

It would probably be fair to say that Kent endured rather than enjoyed the 2023 season, winning just two games and avoiding the drop on the final day by only seven points.

Having finished the season with 111 points after a draw with Lancashire, their attention anxiously turned to Trent Bridge, where relegation rivals Middlesex were attempting to bowl out Nottinghamshire.

With the hosts ultimately triumphing by a nail-biting two wickets, Kent breathed a sigh of relief as the Seaxes were condemned to the drop instead.

Those two wins both came against Northamptonshire, the other team to be relegated, so there is a need in 2024 to replicate those victories against other opponents if they are to avoid the drop again.

England opener Zak Crawley will not be available, but new captain Daniel Bell-Drummond, who hit an unbeaten 107 in their first game against Somerset last week, remains a prolific run-scorer.

Experienced all-rounder Joe Denly also made 110 in the season opener, while young all-rounder Joey Evison, who moved from Nottinghamshire in 2022, continued to deliver on his promise with 85.

Kent squad: Daniel Bell-Drummond*, Wes Agar, Ben Compton, Joe Denly, Joey Evison, Harry Finch, George Garrett, Nathan Gilchrist, Fred Klaassen, Jack Leaning, Tawanda Muyeye, Matt Parkinson, Grant Stewart.

Last Time We Met

Essex are undefeated in their last nine first-class Battle of the Bridge matches, a run stretching back to 2015, and recorded a dominant win the last time the sides met in red-ball cricket in July last year.

Despite losing the toss and having to field first, Essex bowled Kent out for 207 in their first innings, with Jamie Porter and Sam Cook sharing six wickets.

A century from Matt Critchley then underpinned an Essex response of 458-8 declared, as Alastair Cook hit 87 and Simon Harmer struck 83 from just 91 deliveries.

Harmer then bowled 44.1 overs to return 4/72 in Kent’s second innings, with Sam Cook also taking 4/46 as the visitors were dismissed on the final morning for 280 in spite of 114 from Harry Finch.

With the dark clouds swirling ahead of a forecasted downpour, Essex had precious little time to knock off the 30 runs needed to win, opting to send out Dan Lawrence and Adam Rossington to open.

Hamidullah Qadri claimed the wickets of Rossington and Critchley, but Tom Westley and Paul Walter teamed up to ensure a seven-wicket win inside just four overs before the rain arrived.

Division One Table

How To Watch

If you are not able to make it to The Cloud County Ground in person, the game will be streamed live on the EssexCricketTV YouTube channel and available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone.

A report and reaction will be published on the Club website after each day’s play via the Club website, while live updates and daily highlights will be provided on the Club’s social media channels.

Tickets

Members of both counties are free to sit in any available and vacant seat, though the Doug Insole Pavilion benches and blocks 1-14 and 27-31 are reserved specifically for their use.

Meanwhile, general admission advance tickets are priced at £16 for adults, while young adults aged between 18 and 25 can buy at any time for £12 and under-18 tickets cost just £6.

A family ticket, covering two adults and two children, costs just £35, while a four-day ticket covering the entire match can be purchased over the phone for £44.

Please note that these two types of ticket are only available in advance of the fixture, and that individual adult tickets will rise in price to £20 if bought on the day.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 01245 254010 or by visiting the link below:

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex return to shortest-format action in Chelmsford from Sunday 02 June.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there is now just one Friday night fixture with availability remaining, the visit of Glamorgan to The Cloud County Ground on 07 June.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Sunday 02 June, 4:00pm: Essex v Middlesex – buy here
Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

The opening home match of the season is always a special occasion and made even better with a first win recorded at Trent Bridge last week.

Kent are first up at The Cloud County Ground in the Vitality County Championship, who opened their account this season with a draw against Somerset in a rain-affected match in Canterbury.

Gates Opening Times:

Gates open from 10am on all four days via the Main Entrance on New Writtle Street or the Tees River Gate, which is closest to Chelmsford City Centre and the Bus/Train Stations.

Scheduled Hours of Play:

Toss (Day One): 10:30am
Morning Session: 11am-1pm
Afternoon Session: 1:40pm-3:40pm
Evening Session: 4pm-6pm
Close of Play: 6pm

Members Entry & Matchday Tickets:

Vitality County Championship cricket is part of the 2024 Membership and Members are required to scan cards on entry.

Supporters visiting individual matchdays can purchase discounted tickets in advance to speed up entry into the ground.

Advanced tickets are available online at £16 for Adults [£20 on the gate], £12 for Students/Young Adults (18-25) [£12 on the gate] and £6 for Juniors (U18s).

These can be purchased online via the following link or by phone (01245 254010) in person at The Cloud County Ground.

Tickets will also be available on the gates from 9:30am each day and this is strictly card sales only. Post-lunch tickets are priced £11 for Adults, with entry free of charge after the scheduled Tea break.

Matchday Purchases:

The Cloud County Ground is a cashless ground, which includes purchasing tickets and scorecards on the gates, plus food and drink purchases in the Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas.

Scorecards will be available for £1 on the gates via contactless payment, however, cash purchases can be made in the Essex Cricket Store.

Accessibility:

Accessible Parking:
Accessible car parking spaces are located at The Cloud County Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that these cannot be pre-booked before visiting to provide an equal opportunity for all supporters.

Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating can be found in the Graham Gooch End (formerly Hayes Close End) of the ground and a wheelchair-accessible platform is located in Block One of the Tom Pearce Stand.

Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge. This is upon the presentation in the Membership & Ticketing Office or on the gate with proof of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16 years old.

Accessible Facilities:
New accessible toilet facilities located by Block 31 will be open for all spectators this season. Additional toilets for wheelchair users are located at the rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion and main scoreboard.

We can also accept a Blue Badge and Access card.

Accessible Toilets:
Wheelchair-accessible toilets are located behind the main scorecard (Red Area), rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion (Blue Area) and adjacent to Block 25 at County Corner (Green Area).

Ahead of Your Visit:

In the event of adverse weather conditions on the day of the match, please keep up to date with the prospects of play via the Club’s Twitter and Facebook channels.

Please note that the Prospect of Play phone line is no longer in use and all updates will be available online.

Travel:

Parking:
• Spectators travelling by car will need to locate a public car park in the proximity of the ground as there is no parking available on-site at The Cloud County Ground.

• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open across all four days.

• The Meteor Way car park will be available for Members’ to book during the 2024 season. There are a limited number of spaces available at Meteor Way and we advise that Members pre-book for £2 as spaces aren’t guaranteed to be available on the day and the price of parking on the day will increase to £3.

Season Passes for the Vitality County Championship have now sold out along with all pre-booked spaces for Friday 12 and Saturday 13 April.

There is still availability for Sunday 14 and Monday 15 April as well as all four days of the Lancashire game, starting on Friday 19 April.

The car park is open three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Public Transport:
• Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the county. Alternatively, bus numbers 13, 46 and C1 shuttles, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the Ground, via New Writtle Street.

• Chelmsford Railway Station, managed by Greater Anglia, is about a 10-minute stroll from The Cloud County Ground. Direct train services depart regularly from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline.

Please note: there are planned Greater Anglia engineering works on Saturday and Sunday between Shenfield and Witham which will affect train travel to Chelmsford. Please view further information – here

Ground Entry:

• Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate.

• For the safety of everyone at the ground, there will be bag checks in operation and security present throughout the fixture.

• In the event of rain forecast on the day of the match, spectators can bring a small umbrella into the ground but metal spiked umbrellas are not permitted.

• The Doug Insole Pavilion is open for Members upon the presentation of a valid Membership card and accessible by entering the ground through the Main Gate.

• Members are not required to pre-book a match ticket and can enter by scanning their Membership card on the gate. If you require a replacement card, please get in contact with the Membership & Ticketing Office before the fixture to arrange a replacement or this may cause delays on entry for you and other spectators.

• Entry to this fixture is included in 2023 Membership and encourage Members to arrive in plenty of time to secure your seat. All seating for Championship games is Unallocated and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• There will be an open ground for this match allowing spectators to walk around the whole concourse area at The Cloud County Ground with access to the Club shop and other facilities.

Members will still have access to dedicated Members’ seating areas which will be located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for Members and general public.

General Public Seating:

• Supporters who have purchased tickets can enter the ground by scanning the QR on your tickets that has been sent to you via email following your purchase. If you choose to print out your ticket, please ensure that the match details (including name and seat details) are included as per the image below. Make sure you have your match ticket available on your phone or printed out so it is easily accessible for ticket scanning on arrival. Please do not take a ‘screen grab’ of your QR code as that will not be read by the scanners.

• Ticket holders can sit in all areas of the ground for this match, except for the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower stands.

Around the Ground:

• Spectators are welcome to enter the pitch during the lunch & tea breaks when instructed over PA or by a member of the Club’s stewarding team. Please follow the guidance to the specific areas permitted to enter and please respect the playing surface. We encourage spectators to play on the outfield but please use softballs.

• Spectators are permitted to walk around the full concourse area with better access to the Club Store and other facilities.

Members will still have exclusive access to dedicated Members’ seating areas, which are located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for both Members and general public.

Please note that seating for Vitality County Championship fixtures is unallocated so will be available on a first come, first served basis.

• Spectators are permitted to move behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players’ area and walkway.

• A faith and reflection room is available for all spectators who wish to use this facility. It is open for the duration of the match and located within the Graham Gooch Cricket Centre.

• The Club Store and Membership & Ticketing Office will be open for spectators for the duration of your visit.

• The Peter Edwards Museum & Library is located on-site adjacent to the Essex Cricket Store and will be open for the duration of the game.

Visit during the match to view a new exhibition on the career of Nasser Hussain and entry is free of charge.

• If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloud County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or text ‘CROWD’ including your stand and issue to 60066.

• Free Wi-Fi is available at The Cloud County Ground for every matchday giving supporters the opportunity to access the internet and the Club’s live stream online. Simply logon to ‘EC-Public’ from your seat to access.

Food & Drink:

• At the Doug Insole Pavilion, you can enjoy a diverse selection of hot and cold beverages from the bar, along with a variety of snacks for purchase.

• Anne’s Pantry will be offering a choice of home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Graham Gooch End and Sir Alastair Cook End.

They will be serving a range of meals suitable for all dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as children’s portions.

• Other refreshment kiosks include bar areas located at either end of the ground in County Corner and Spinners Bar, serving drinks and snacks.

• Spectators can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture but please ensure all bags can be stored underneath your seat. A limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person is in place for this fixture and there is strictly no glass or sharp objects permitted into the ground.

• Please note that facilities in the County Corner area of the ground will be closed on Day Four of this fixture and please make sure you bring a suitable method of card payment for your visit.

Leaving the Ground:

At the conclusion of the day’s play, we ask spectators to leave the ground in a safe and patient manner. Stewards will be on hand to help direct you safely out of the ground.

We hope you have an enjoyable visit to The Cloud County Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on www.essexcricket.org.uk ahead of the match.

Get in touch with us by email if you have any further questions at [email protected] or via the Club’s official Twitter and Facebook channels.

Watch The Action On the Move

Our live stream will be available to watch over the four days with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary courtesy of BBC Essex. Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live ahead of the toss on Day One, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.

Visit Matchzone

Essex supporters will now have the chance to own a piece of special Essex memorabilia as part of an exciting new partnership with MatchWornShirt for the upcoming 2024 season.

MatchWornShirts is the Club’s new Official Digital Auction Partner, promising supporters the unprecedented opportunity to own a signed and worn shirt from their favourite player throughout the season.

The shirts, taken after each game, are presented in their unwashed state, preserving the authenticity to make them unique and distinctive items of cricket memorabilia.

The agreement will also include the opportunity for charitable donations to special causes throughout the duration of the partnership.

The first opportunity to bid on a shirt will be from the men’s First Team squad for our opening home match against Kent in the Vitality County Championship. The online auction will begin at 11am on Friday 12 April with the opportunity to own a shirt for a member of the starting XI worn during the four days.

Visit www.matchwornshirt.com to find out more about how it works and the full bidding process.