Peter Siddle spoke after play on the third and final day against Lancashire as Essex clinch a 31-run victory at The Cloudfm County Ground. Day Three also saw Siddle take his first wicket in an Essex shirt as he found the edge of Keaton Jennings’ bat during the first session.
The Australian International is hoping to experience that winning feeling again in the next three games to come before he heads back home, which will see Neil Wagner enter the fray once again.
Watch Peter Siddle in action at Essex’s next home match at Chelmsford against Yorkshire, starting Friday 4 May. Tickets are on sale via the Hayes Close End and River Gate entrance points from 10am, priced £15 Adults, £10 Students/Young Adults and £5 Juniors.
You can also become a Member for the 2018 season with a host of benefits, including entry to all Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup matches. Packages are available online now or in person at the Membership & Ticketing Office.
Essex v Lancashire | Specsavers County Championship | The Cloudfm County Ground
Essex | Nick Browne (10), Varun Chopra (6), Tom Westley (21), Dan Lawrence (28), Ravi Bopara (25), Ryan ten Doeschate* (27), James Foster+ (7), Paul Walter (22), Simon Harmer (11), Peter Siddle (64), Jamie Porter (44).
Lancashire | Liam Livingstone (C), Tom Bailey, Shiv Chanderpaul, Jordan Clark, Alex Davies, Haseeb Hameed, Keaton Jennings, Joe Mennie, Graham Onions, Matt Parkinson, Dane Vilas
Umpires | Rob Bailey & Neil Bainton
Toss | Uncontested, Lancashire elected to bowl first.
Result | Essex win by 31 runs
Day Three Match Highlights:
Day Three | Close of Play Report
Essex were to experience some nail-biting moments before they were able to celebrate a 31 run victory over Lancashire at The Cloudfm County Ground.
The champions looked set for a much more comfortable victory when the visitors lost their ninth wicket with the total on 246 in their quest to reach a victory target of 320.
But Joe Mennie condemned them to a jittery finale. With Matt Parkinson providing obdurate defence at one end, Mennie opened his shoulders at the other.
He smashed three sixes – two off Ravi Bopara and one against Simon Harmer – as he helped himself to 56 from 91 deliveries that also contained a couple of fours.
In the end, his valiant effort ended in failure with the total on 288 as Jamie Porter breached his defences going for another big hit.
That gave Porter his fourth wicket of the innings. His successes came at a cost of 54 to finish with a match haul of 9 for 80.
On a pitch which became slower and flatter as the game wore on, Essex whose opening game against Yorkshire was abandoned without a ball being bowled, were made to fight hard for their triumph.
It had promised to be a much easier when Porter and Peter Siddle removed openers Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings early on with 32 on the board.
But Alex Davies, Jordan Clark and Mennie had other ideas. Davies led the fightback after Hameed had his off stump knocked out of the ground by Porter with a superb 71 from 85 balls that included 11 boundaries.
Davies was finally undone by a Porter yorker that trapped him lbw with the total on 139 and the visitors a long way from the winning post with only five wickets left.
But Clark was to show there was still plenty of fight left in Lancashire with a fine 59 from 81 deliveries that contained five fours. He too became an lbw victim of the impressive Porter leaving Mennie to step up a couple of gears and leave the nerves of Essex players and supporters jangling.
It was fitting hat Porter proved the match winner. He was the most impressive bowler on view, his ability to maintain a good length being a key factor on a docile pitch.
In contrast Simon Harmer was unable to make his usual telling impression. It was not until his 25th over of the innings that the off-spinner collected his solitary wicket and his eventual 29 overs cost 109 runs.
Left-arm seamer Paul Walter was to play a decisive part in the county’s success when he removed Liam Livingstone and Shivnarine Chanderpaul within the space of six deliveries immediately after lunch. He finished with 2 for 21 from 6 overs while Siddle emerged with 2 for 55 from 20 overs – his first wickets for the county.
Essex claimed 19 points from the match whilst Lancashire settled for just 3 points as they experienced their second defeat in as many matches his season.
Day Three | Tea Report
The introduction of Paul Walter after Lunch met with immediate effect when he struck twice within the space of six deliveries.
Lancashire resumed on 84 for 2 but four runs later, Walter had Liam Livingstone caught behind in his first over. Then the tall left-arm seamer dispatched Shivnarine Chanderpaul lbw for a single in his next over to leave Lancashire 98 for 4.
Alex Davies, however, continued to bat fluently and reached a deserved half-century from 66 balls with seven boundaries.
He had now been joined by Dane Vilas on a ground which harboured happy memories for both.
In the corresponding fixture last season, Davies made an unbeaten 140 and Vilas 92 in a drawn match but there was to be no repeat on this occasion.
Davies reached his half-century having faced 66 balls with seven boundaries and had moved onto 71 with the total on 139 when he was lbw to a yorker sent down by Jamie Porter.
The visitors lost their sixth wicket with the score now on 172, when Peter Siddle returned to remove Vilas lbw for 22.
Siddle then turned the game squarely in Essex’s favour when he ran out Tom Bailey with a direct throw from the mid-wicket area. He was sent back by Jordan Clark only for the Australian, who was bowling, to swoop on the ball and beat the despairing dive of the Lancashire batsman.
But Essex hopes of wrapping up the innings swiftly were frustrated by Jordan Clark and Joe Mennie.
The pair took their side through to the tea interval with an unbroken partnership of 36 as Lancashire reached the break on 231 for 7, still needing a further 89 runs for victory.
Day Three | Lunch Report
Essex were being met with gritty resistance as they went in search of their first win of the Championship season, having set Lancashire 320 runs for victory at The Cloudfm County Ground.
At Lunch, the visitors had reached 84 for 2, with Alex Davies unbeaten on 33 and Liam Livingstone 20 not out.
After removing the openers for 32, Essex were frustrated by an unbroken third wicket partnership of 52 to leave the match very much in the balance.
Jamie Porter claimed Essex’s first success in his second over when he sent the off stump of Haseeb Hameed cartwheeling out of the ground with just 7 runs on the board.
Then Peter Siddle picked up his first wicket for the County in his seventh over, after going wicketless while sending down 13 overs in the first innings.
The Australian owed his success to a fine catch low down at first slip by Varun Chopra to get rid of Keaton Jennings, who like Hameed, is being touted for a place in the England test side.
Jennings had completed a useful 24 before his departure but that proved the home side’s last success before the interval.
Off-spinner Simon Harmer was brought into the attack after only 10 overs but although the batsmen never looked entirely comfortable against him, they managed to keep the South African bowler at bay.
Davies and Livingstone were forced to adopt a cautious approach against bowlers who gave very little away until Davies suddenly upped the tempo tasking three boundaries in an over when Porter returned for another spell.
Day Two Match Highlights:
Day Two Reaction | James Foster:
Day Two | Close of Play Report:
An 8th wicket stand between James Foster and Simon Harmer leaves Essex favourites to win the Specsavers County Championship duel against Lancashire at The Cloudfm County Ground.
It yielded 103 runs as the reigning Champions were bowled out for 313 just before the scheduled close to leave their opponents going in the third day with a victory target of 320.
Foster, who has often come up trumps when the county need him to perform, was last man out for 69 while Harmer followed up his five-wicket haul with a valuable 49.
It represented a superb effort on their part as they seized the initiative with a mixture of determination and aggression.
They came together with the game seemingly evenly poised at 208 for 7.
Essex had earned a slender first innings lead of six runs after bowling their opponents out for 144.
The day started with the home side requiring just nine deliveries to claim the remaining two Lancashire wickets.
Jamie Porter shattered the stumps of Graham Onions with just three runs added to the overnight 141 for 8 to finish with 5 for 26 from a dozen overs, the eighth five-wicket haul of his career.
Then Harmer picked up his fifth wicket when he brought the innings to a close by bowling Jordan Clark. His haul came at a cost of 46 in 15.1 overs.
Varun Chopra was soon scoring freely when Essex went in again, collecting seven boundaries while contributing 32 in an opening stand of 48 with Nick Browne.
He departed when Graham Onions breached his defences and two more wickets fell quickly in somewhat controversial circumstances with the dismissals of Browne and Dan Lawrence.
Both initially stood their ground questioning whether the ball had been carried, in Browne’s case to Dane Vilas in the gully while Lawrence had played the ball to Liam Livingstone in the slips.
Umpires Neil Bainton and Rob Bailey conferred before confirming their dismissal verdicts, Browne departing for 17 and Lawrence 5.
Following their exits, Tom Westley batted responsibly and with authority to make 49 before driving leg-spinner Matt Parkinson into the hands of short cover while Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate both fell in the 20’s when looking well set.
Paul Walter became a victim of Joe Mennie but that was to pave the way for what could prove a match-winning stand.
The new ball was taken with the score on 270 for 7 but it failed to curb the collection of runs for the hosts
Foster struck eight fours in completing his half-century from 80 balls while Harmer had moved to within one run of his 50 having collected 5 fours when Tom Bailey had him caught behind with the total on 311.
One run later, Peter Siddle, who top-scored in the first innings with an unbeaten 33 fell lbw to Bailey for a duck while the same bowler ended Foster’s fine innings when he trapped him in front of his stumps. The Essex stalwart had faced 125 deliveries and collected 10 boundaries during his 169 minutes stay at the crease.
Bailey finished with 3 for 73 while Onions and Mennie also picked up three wickets at a cost of 57 and 47 respectively.
Day Two | Tea Report:
After starting the post-lunch session on 82 for 3, Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara both caught the eye after lunch with attacking strokes on either side of the wicket while putting together a half-century stand.
But it was brought to an end after it had produced 57 runs to carry Essex to 127. It was then that the fourth wicket fell as Bopara provided a slip catch to Liam Livingstone having scored 26.
Another useful stand featured Westley and Ryan ten Doeschate, it advancing the total by 39.
It ended disappointingly when Westley drove tamely to short cover against leg-spinner Matt Parkinson when one run short of his 50. His innings contained six boundaries.
Next to go was ten Doeschate, an lbw victim of Graham Onions with the score on 174. The Essex skipper made 25 and his departure left the match delicately poised.
Much now was likely to rest on the shoulders of James Foster if Essex were to pat a challenging total and he and Paul Walter carried them through to the tea interval at 194 for 6, a score that gave them an overall lead of 200 runs.
Foster reached the break on 12 while Walter was 8 not out.
Day Two | Lunch Report:
Essex needed just 9 deliveries to capture the last two Lancashire wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 144 that earned the title holders a first innings lead of 6 runs in the County Championship clash as The Cloudfm County Ground.
Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer took a wicket apiece to finish with 5 for 25 and 5 for 46 respectively.
Essex scored freely as they sought to build on the narrow advantage as they arrived at lunch on 82 for 3 with Tom Westley unbeaten on 17 and Ravi Bopara 3 not out.
Porter claimed the eighth 5-wicket haul of his career when he scattered the stumps of Graham Onions with three runs added to the overnight 141 for 8.
Without addition, off-spinner Harmer brought the innings to a close by bowling Jordan Clark.
Nick Browne and Varun Chopra put together the highest partnership of the match when the home side went in again.
Chopra led the way with seven boundaries in an aggressive 32 before he lost his off stump when facing Graham Onions with 48 runs on the board.
Ten runs later, Browne followed him back to the pavilion amid an air of controversy.
He was caught low down at gully by Dane Vilas off Joe Mennie but while the Lancashire fielders celebrated, Brown stood his ground awaiting confirmation that the ball had carried.
After the umpires consulted, Browne was sent on his way and remarkably the same situation emerged with the total on 70.
This time, Dan Lawrence was reluctant to go after being taken at second slip by Liam Livingstone and it took another meeting between umpires Neil Bainton and Rob Bailey before the batsman headed for the Doug Insole Pavilion.
Day One Match Highlights:
Day One Reaction | Simon Harmer
Day One | Close of Play Report:
After an absorbing day’s play in which 18 wickets fell, Essex and Lancashire just about shared the honours in the Specsavers County Championship clash at The Cloudfm County Ground.
On a pitch where the ball seamed and swung enough to make batting difficult, Essex, the defending champions, were bowled out for a modest 150 in 50 overs.
But they fought back through their dynamic duo of Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer to reduce their opponents to 141 for 8 by the close.
The match was the county’s first taste of action in the competition following the abandonment of their opening fixture against Yorkshire at Headingley when not a ball was bowled.
And the lack of action in the middle showed as they struggled to make progress when Lancashire asserted their right to bowl first.
Against a four-pronged attack of Joe Mennie, Tom Bailey, Jordan Clark and Graham Onions, the home side lost wickets at regular intervals and it was only a last wicket stand of 37 between Porter and Peter Siddle that gave them an air of respectability.
Their partnership was the highest of the innings and included the top-score of the innings with Siddle contributing 33 not out.
He opened his shoulders to despatch fellow Australian Mennie and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson for a six apiece and played with a confidence throughout his 38-ball innings.
The partnership ended when Porter was run out diving full length attempting to complete a single but failing to beat the throw from Dane Vilas from mid-wicket. But he had provided a solid defence while keeping Siddle company.
Nick Browne was the county’s second highest scorer with 23 before he was bowled by Mennie who emerged as Lancashire’s most successful bowler with 3 for 52 while his pace colleagues picked up two wickets each.
However, it was not long before the visitors found themselves in trouble as Porter, one of Wisden’s five ‘Cricketers of the Year’, showed just why he was deserving of such recognition.
In his first five overs, he removed Keaton Jennings, Alex Davies and Haseb Hammed at a personal cost of 11 runs to leave the Red Rose county 19 for three.
A partial recovery came from Liam Livingstone and Vilas who carried the total to 65 before off spinner Harmer struck with the fifth ball of his opening over to have Livingstone snapped up by Ryan ten Doeschate stationed at forward short leg after the batsman had made 33.
Harmer was to get rid of Vilas, again with the skipper’s assistance. It was ten Doeschate’s third catch of the innings having held on to a chance in the covers to get rid of Davies.
Porter returned to claim his fourth wicket of the innings when he had Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught behind.
Clark and Mennie batted with great determination taking the total onto 141 before Harmer struck again to remove Mennie for 12 in the final over of the day.
Porter has so far returned figures of 4 for 25 from 11 overs while Harmer’s four successes have arrived from 14.4 overs at a cost of 44 runs.
Day One | Tea Report:
Essex were bowled out for 150 on the opening day of the County Championship match with Lancashire.
The highest partnership of the innings came from their last wicket when Peter Siddle dictated a stand with Jamie Porter as 37 runs were added in 9 overs before Porter was run out for 4.
That left his partner unbeaten on 33 which was the highest contribution in the Essex total.
Resuming on 65 for 4 after Lunch, the home side lost wickets at regular innings.
Dan Lawrence was the first to go when he was caught at first slip off the bowling of Jordan Clark for 14 to the fourth ball of the afternoon session to leave Essex 68 for 5.
James Foster and Ryan ten Doeschate added 17 before the former flashed outside off stump edging a catch to wicket-keeper Alex Davies having scored seven.
Then ten Doeschate and Paul Walter fell in three overs. Walter was caught at gully for 7 off Australian pace bowler Joe Mennie who then removed the Essex skipper for 14 when he was trapped in front of his stumps.
That left the hosts 105 for 8 and eight runs later, Simon Harmer was walking back to the Pavilion having been caught at second slip for 10 off the bowling of Tom Bailey.
However, Siddle took the fight to the Red Rose county with an aggressively responsible innings that included two sixes, one off fellow countryman Mennie and the other when facing leg spinner Matt Parkinson.
Having taken the total to 150, the last wicket pairing finally succumbed when Porter was run out running to the strikers end and failing to beat the throw from Dane Vilas from mid-wicket.
Day One | Lunch Report:
Essex found it tough going in defence of their title in the first session against Lancashire at The Cloudfm County Ground.
After an uncontested toss, they struggled to 65 for 4 by Lunch against a pace attack that gave very little away while underlining the merits of line and length.
The county went into action after their opening fixture against Yorkshire fell victim to the weather without a ball being bowled.
Varun Chopra opened with Nick Browne and was removed in the sixth over when Graham Onions trapped him leg before wicket with only 12 on the board.
Tom Bailey beat the bat or found the edge on three occasions without reward, before giving way to Joe Mennie and the Australian was soon to make an impact when Browne, following a couple of fluent drives, was bowled for 23 with the total on 38.
The return of Bailey was to account for Tom Westley 10 runs later, an edge finding the hands of Haseeb Hameed at first slip after he had made 17.
Worse was to follow for the home side because in the final over before Lunch, Ravi Bopara pushed forward outside the off stump against Jordan Clark and edged a catch to Liam Livingstone in the slip cordon.
At the break, Dan Lawrence was unbeaten on 12, with Essex desperately needing him to provide the type of innings he put together when the two counties met at Chelmsford last season.
There was blow for the County Champions before the match started when it was learned that promising fast bowler Sam Cook had sustained a fractured finger in training on Friday. The injury is likely to keep him sidelined for around two weeks.
It was a special day for Simon Harmer and Varun Chopra during the Lunch break on the second day of play at The Cloudfm County Ground, which saw them awarded their County Cap.
The Chairman of the Cricket Advisory Group, Ronnie Irani, presented the pair with their caps, which included some glowing words about them both in front of the Chelmsford crowd.
Chopra, who has been at the Club since he was 8 years old, expressed his delight in being honoured after his return to Essex from Warwickshire in 2016. Harmer, described as Essex’s adopted son, said how proud he is to receive the cap and what it means to play week in, week out for the county.
Essex Cricket TV spoke to both players after the presentation as they proudly wore their new prized possession.
Championship cricket returns to the The Cloudfm County Ground on Friday as Essex face Lancashire. Play is scheduled to commence at 11am on each of the four days.
Anthony McGrath has named a 13-man squad for the match, which includes Australian Test bowler Peter Siddle, who is set to make his Essex debut after signing for the first five matches of the summer.
After the opening game of the season against Yorkshire was abandoned without a ball bowled, Essex are eagerly looking forward to getting on the field.
The abandonment at Headingley left Essex with 5 points, but now Ryan ten Doeschate’s men are looking forward to putting more points on the board.
“We were left very frustrated after losing all four days against Yorkshire but there is nothing we can do about it,” said the Essex skipper. “The lads were really upset with the situation but we have to move on. With all the variables that come along in cricket and in a 14 game season, you more or less find who is the best team and we’ve still got 13 games to go starting with Lancashire on Friday.
“We met them early on in the season last year and got 8 points when we scrapped it out for a draw but our mind set is very different this year.”
Meanwhile opening batsman Nick Browne, who was the leading runs scorer with 952 for the County in their Championship title success last summer, already has a first-class century to his name this year.
He reached three figures in the rain-affected draw with Cambridge MCCU earlier this month and readily admits that he is looking to take his game to a higher level.
“It was good to get that time in the middle at Fenner’s particularly as we then had the washout at Headingley which was so frustrating for everyone,” he stated.
“I’m really excited about this season both for myself and the team. I believe that the squad is really strong and once again, we have a number of players pushing for places. We had that incredibly successful experience last year of going through the Championship season unbeaten so we know how to win matches and there is a genuine belief that we can retain our title.
“Personally, I’m also looking to push on further from last season and I would love to get recognition for the Lions or England. To do that, I probably need to score four or five Championship centuries and if they all prove match-winning hundreds for Essex, then that’s great for me and the team.”
Lancashire arrive at Chelmsford smarting from a six-wicket defeat by newly-promoted Nottinghamshire in a low-scoring match at Old Trafford. The Red Rose County scored 158 in their first innings before their opponents replied with 222 but Lancashire capitulated second time around being shot out for 73, including the loss of their last eight wickets for just 15 runs.
Essex squad to face Lancashire:
Ryan ten Doeschate (27) Captain
James Foster (7) Wicket-keeper
Ravi Bopara (25)
Nick Browne (10)
Varun Chopra (6)
Sam Cook (16)
Simon Harmer (11)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Peter Siddle (64)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31)
You can watch Essex in action over the next four days as Lancashire visit The Cloudfm County Ground. Tickets are on sale via the Hayes Close End and River Gate entrance points from 10am, priced £15 Adults, £10 Students/Young Adults and £5 Juniors. You can also become a Member for the 2018 season with a host of benefits, including entry to all Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup matches. Packages are available online now or in person at the Membership & Ticketing Office.
With the sun due to shine relentlessly on The Cloudfm County Ground for the next four days, in marked contrast to the inactivity at Headingley last week, Simon Harmer will relish the buzz of expectation that will herald his every stride to the crease.
Things tended to happen whenever the ball was in the South African off-spinner’s hand last season as he claimed 72 Specsavers County Championship wickets in Essex’s title triumph. Memorably, he took 14-wicket hauls in successive outings at Chelmsford in June, posting career-best figures of 9 for 95 against Middlesex and 14 for 128 in the match against Warwickshire to lift home supporters out of their seats.
“If you look traditionally at the game in England, the leading wicket-takers have always been seamers,” he says. “So for the crowd to have expectations of a spinner to take wickets is a compliment to my game and what I achieved last season.
“I won’t feel any extra pressure, but it will be nice to know the crowd has a belief that when I come on to bowl there’s a chance of wickets.”
In the 54 weeks since he made his Essex debut in the corresponding fixture against Lancashire, today’s opponents, Harmer has taken 119 first-class wickets in 22 games. Back home, Essex’s kolpak signing finished top wicket-taker in the red-ball Sunfoil Series with 47, 14 more than anyone else and having played two fewer games.
“It’s been a really, really good year,” he concedes, “and I’m very happy where my four-day cricket is at. But, for me, I’m not worried about the stats; I’d rather have trophies in the cabinet.”
Having established himself as one of the leading spinners in the world, 29-year-old Harmer has shifted this summer’s focus to upgrading his all-round white-ball game. “I want to start breaking into some of the bespoke leagues in the off-season,” he says, his eyes primarily on the IPL and Big Bash. “I feel confident enough now to start venturing into a new challenge and trying different things. Not that I’m going to forget about my four-day cricket.
“I feel going back to South Africa and performing the way I did, I feel a lot more confident going into this season. If I was to do as well as I did last season it would be incredible.
“But if I don’t take 70 wickets I’m still setting my sights to do better, and if I fall short, so be it. As long as the ball is coming out right, and my game-plan’s good, then if things don’t go as well for me, then that’s OK, I’ll be putting the work in, not resting on my laurels.”
Harmer is targeting the lucrative white-ball scene as he contemplates turning his back on South Africa cricket, just as Cricket South Africa turned its back on him under their controversial selection quota system, after just five Test appearances in 2015. “I think kolpaks are seen as the black sheep – it’s embarrassing for South African cricket that somebody who is not eligible to play international cricket is topping the wicket-taking charts. They would much rather me just being an average Joe and coming in the middle of the wicket columns.
“But the kolpaks are the cream of the crop and Cricket South Africa are hell-bent on getting rid of us. So last season was my way of showing them that I’m still good enough and that I’m happy with where my game’s at.”
For a bowler who finished only behind team-mate Jamie Porter in quantity in his first county season, Harmer did not make an immediate impact on debut against Lancashire, wheeling away for 51 overs and only having the first-innings wicket of Steven Croft to show for his efforts.
“I really struggled getting to grips with the Duke ball,” he says. “I found it hard to grip the way I was used to holding the Kookaburra ball. I remember the first game being challenging, and you want to try and perform and get some wickets straight away.”
However, it all came good in the end. “Hopefully this season will be, in comparison, as good as last season,” he says. “But if it’s not, I think I’m mature enough to realise it’s not always going to be sunshine and roses.”
You can watch Simon Harmer and Essex in action over the next four days as Lancashire visit The Cloudfm County Ground. Tickets are on sale via the Hayes Close End and River Gate entrance points from 10am, priced £15 Adults, £10 Students/Young Adults and £5 Juniors. You can also become a Member for the 2018 season with a host of benefits, including entry to all Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup matches. Packages are available online now or in person at the Membership & Ticketing Office.
Are you set for this weekend’s opening home match of the 2018 season?
Purchase online today to watch Essex’s title defence, starting with the visit of Lancashire on Friday in the Specsavers County Championship.
Membership in 2018 brings a host of benefits for you to enjoy, including priority booking for Lord’s, entry into Huntingdon and Chelmsford City Racecourses, as well as the cricket with free entry for Specsavers County Championship, Royal London One-Day Cup and this season’s Tourist match against India. Members will again be able to purchase Blast tickets at a heavily discounted price, which are on sale now for all 7 home games.
The 50-over Royal London One-Day Cup tournament starts in May with Essex Eagles taking on Somerset for the first home match at The Cloudfm County Ground on Friday 25 May.
Yorkshire v Essex | Specsavers County Championship | Emerald Headingley, Leeds
Umpires | Ian Gould & Richard Illingworth
Result | Match Drawn
Day Four Report:
The match between Yorkshire and Essex was abandoned without a ball being bowled leaving both teams with 5 points apiece from the non-event.
Umpires Ian Gould and Richard Illingworth called the match off following their 10am pitch inspection although ironically, the Headingley ground was enjoying sunshine and clear skies.
The problem areas throughout the four days has been the sodden state of the outfield at the end where the new South Stand is being erected although for a Test match with supposed excellent drainage facilities, the lack of improvement in the underfoot conditions since the opening day was of some concern.
Indeed, on day three, the umpires issued an edict stating that the media were banned from entering anywhere on the playing arena and so, it was impossible to gauge just how bad the underfoot conditions were.
Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath said that he and his players were bitterly disappointed that not a ball had been bowled. “It’s not only frustrating for the players but the supporters as well who have spent money on hotels and everything that goes with that.” he said.
“We’ve had two days of glorious sunshine and not a ball has been bowled and it is very, very disappointing.”
Listen to more of Anthony McGrath’s reflections and also those of captain Ryan ten Doeschate on the Essex website.
The last time that Essex had been involved in a total wash out was also against Yorkshire and that was back in May 1985 when a violent thunderstorm left the ground at Abbeydale Park, Sheffield under water.
Attention now turns to The Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford where the weather forecast is fine for the start of the Specsavers County Championship match with Lancashire on Friday.
Day Three Report:
For the third successive day, not a ball was bowled at Headingley in the scheduled Specsavers County Championship match between Yorkshire and Essex.
Yet again, the state of the outfield at the end where the new stand for Rugby League football is being built is the area that is causing most concern.
Umpires Richard Illingworth and Ian Gould carried out their latest inspection at 1.40pm and at that stage, no rain had fallen on the day but within minutes of their call off, rain arrived bringing on the covers once more.
With one more day remaining, there is a chance that this game might yet be abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Yorkshire’s Groundsman, Andy Fogarty has described “The worst pre-season I’ve known in 30-odd years”.
He said: “It’s just freak conditions. This weather seemed to start in January right up until now.
“We’re trying to prepare pitches and the outfield, and you get one good day in between seven or eight days of rain. And there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s really frustrating for us, as well as players and spectators.
“It’s just in certain areas that it’s stopping us.
“It’s not the whole of the bottom end, only certain areas where the players will be running in and fielding. The last thing we want is players getting injured.
“We usually have some warmth at this time of year, but we’ve not been getting that. They’re cold days. There’s just no drying weather.”
Headingley is currently going through some redevelopment, with a new South Stand being built to replace the old Football Stand.
However, Yorkshire say that has had no impact. Fogarty added: “No. We’ve just been unfortunate and hit a bad spell of weather and not escaped it. Everybody is suffering around the country.”
Ryan ten Doeschate also spoke after another frustrating day in Leeds, saying: “It’s so soft on that side, they are reluctant to do anything to the ground.
“There’s hardly been a drop of rain for the three days and we haven’t looked at getting out there. It is frustrating, but that’s the umpires’ call.
“If we have any more rain, I think that will be it for the game unfortunately.”
Essex have been involved in 16 complete washouts in first-class matches and the last time that Essex were involved in a complete wash out was back in May 1985 when, coincidentally, Yorkshire again provided the opposition.
Essex arrived as County Champions when the teams were due to meet at Abbeydale Park, Sheffield but a violent thunderstorm the previous night left the ground flooded.
The most recent time that Essex were involved in a wash out on home soil was in May 1981 when Gloucestershire were the visitors to Chelmsford.
Day Two Reaction | Anthony McGrath
Day Two Report:
For the second consecutive day, Essex were left frustrated in attempts to start the defence of the County Championship title when play was abandoned at Headingley without a ball bowled.
The outfield down at the Rugby end of the ground was a particular problem area, with a significant amount of standing water remaining following recent wet weather.
Although there was no rain today and the sun was shining when no rain umpires Ian Gould and Richard Illingworth made a 2pm inspection, outfield conditions were still impossible.
Essex coach Anthony McGrath said: “I’m fully behind what the umpires have got to say. I’m just bitterly disappointed that, given we’ve got a sunny day, we’re not playing cricket.
“I believe these are the only two days without rain they’ve had in the last four weeks. You can understand that, and it’s been the same countrywide.
“It’s a shame because the crowd’s building nicely ready for some cricket. We’ll come back in the morning and see what happens.
“They can’t get the water hog on there because it would keep bringing the water up, and they don’t think it will dry in time for the rest of the day.
“If the bowlers run up on it and the fielders stand in it, it will make it much worse and be a bit of a quagmire.
“It’s just really frustrating, but the umpires have got to do what’s right for the ground and both teams.
“We could wait here for another four hours, keep everyone here and we’d still not be guaranteed to play. It’s one of those unfortunate periods of weather we’ve been in.”
Day One Report:
The County Champions suffered frustration in the quest to retain the Championship crown.
Not play was possible on the scheduled opening day of the fixture with Yorkshire at Headingley. After the umpires inspected conditions at 10am, they decided to have a further look after the scheduled lunch interval.
Officials Ian Gould and Richard Illingworth spent some time surveying the situation, but with the outfield still sodden following two weeks of inclement weather in Leeds and further overnight and early morning rain, the decision to abandon proceedings for the day was altogether predictable.
Neither team had confirmed their line-ups and the toss has still to take place.
A prompt start for day two is already in significant doubt but when play does get underway, Essex are expected to give a debut to Australian seamer Peter Siddle, who is with the Club until next month when he will be replaced by New Zealand quick Neil Wagner.
Yorkshire have a seam bowling unavailability and injury crisis, and have ruled Ben Coad (hip flexor) out of this match despite naming him in a 12-man squad.
The White Rose county are without Liam Plunkett and David Willey, who are at the IPL, Matthew Fisher and James Wainman (both side problems), Ben Coad, and Steve Patterson who broke his finger in training on Wednesday.
Head Coach, Anthony McGrath said: “We half expected it given the forecast and the way the weather’s been up here for the last three or four weeks. But it’s not ideal.
“We had a quick walk out when we came to drop our bags off (on Thursday evening), and it was really wet then. Just talking to a few of the Yorkshire lads, they say the wet weather keeps topping up what they’ve had all winter and it’s got nowhere to go.
“We’ve been quite lucky at Chelmsford.
“We managed somehow to get outside netting for four days from March 1 before we went to Barbados. That was a remarkable effort from our ground staff.
“We’ve also been outside for the last week, but only with bowlers off shortened run-ups.
“We’ve made the best of it and are pretty happy with what we’ve done.”
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