Test your knowledge of Essex’s past two season’s with our quiz! How many of the questions can you get correct; which are all based around Chris Silverwood’s time at Essex since he was appointed Head Coach in 2015.
Look out for further chances to test your Essex Cricket knowledge over the winter and let us know how you many point you scored by posting on our Twitter and Facebook pages!
Join the Champions in Chelmsford City Centre this weekend with your chance to also see the Specsavers County Championship trophy and meet some of the stars from this season’s undefeated campaign.
Meet Aaron Beard, Matt Dixon, Sam Cook, Matt Quinn and Jamie Porter in the High Chelmer Shopping Centre from 12pm-1pm, where you can also have your photo taken with the trophy. and get your hands on the Champions merchandise range, which will be available to purchase. This includes the popular Champions polo shirts which are now back in stock with all sizes available.
You can also purchase the merchandise online – here.
The Club are indebted to the efforts of Chris Silverwood over the past two seasons as Head Coach. Since taking up the role in December 2015, Essex fans have become familiar with that winning feeling, especially in the Specsavers County Championship. During his tenure, the side has totalled a 53.1% win percentage rate across 34 matches in 4-day cricket, which equates to 18 wins, 13 draws and just 3 defeats.
Chris’ first season in charge saw the team progress to two Quarter-Finals in the Royal London One-Day Cup and NatWest T20 Blast, whilst dominating Division Two and brining the title back to Chelmsford. Few people predicted the team’s success the following year and Silverwood was instrumental in bringing a strong winning mentality and team ethos into the dressing room. This year’s triumphs, which saw a first County Championship title in 25 years and an undefeated season, will go down in history as one of finest ever witnessed.
Here are some of Chris’s best moments over the past couple of seasons:
Essex Cricket can confirm that Chris Silverwood will leave his position as Head Coach to take up the role as England’s Fast Bowling Coach in early 2018.
Chris has been an instrumental part of the Club’s success in recent seasons, since stepping up to become Head Coach in December 2015. He led the team to consecutive Specsavers County Championship titles, after winning Division Two in 2016, and leaves as a County Champion following Essex’s first Championship title in 25 years this season.
Essex County Cricket Club Chairman, John Faragher, said: “The Club congratulates Chris on his appointment as the England Fast Bowling Coach, this is a great honour for him and his family. In his time with Essex County Cricket Club, his outstanding leadership and interpersonal skills have been a major factor in taking our cricket to the next level.
“He can look back at his time with us with great pride and satisfaction. Winning the Specsavers County Championship Division Two title last year and then Division One this year was beyond our wildest dreams. He has started the next chapter in Essex Cricket’s history and has installed a mentality for winning and continuous improvement into the squad.
“The foundations are now in place for our cricket to continue to grow and we thank Chris for his time, commitment and energy that has helped make Essex the Club that it is today. We wish him all the very best in his new role, and look forward to him coming back to Chelmsford whenever possible.”
Chris joined the Essex coaching staff in 2010, developing the likes of Tymal Mills, Reece Topley and Tom Westley, who have all since represented the full England team. During his time at Essex, Chris worked closely with the Club’s Academy and Performance Programme to oversee player development, which includes the significant progression of the current young First Team players, including Jamie Porter, Dan Lawrence, Paul Walter and Sam Cook.
Essex Cricket Chief Executive, Derek Bowden said: “We never could have imagined the Club’s success over the past two years but a large proportion of that has been down to Chris’s efforts on and off the field of play.
“We must also see this as another positive achievement for the Club. Essex are not only consistently producing England cricketers, but also producing England coaches, and this Club is proud to provide our staff with a platform to attain higher honours.
“Since taking up the role of Head Coach, Chris has worked very closely with myself and the Cricket Advisory Group to help build and execute our Cricket Strategy and it’s with great sadness that he leaves us before our objective of retaining the County Championship title has begun.
“However, we wish Chris every bit of the success that he deserves in his new career with England and he will always be welcome back at Chelmsford in the future.”
Chairman of the Essex Cricket Advisory Group, Ronnie Irani, added: “Chris has become a major part of the Club’s history in a short amount of time as Head Coach of Essex County Cricket Club.
“Not only is he a great guy, but he has also shown what a superb Coach he is, which is proven through the young talent he’s developed and by the way he has helped to ingrain a winning mentality throughout the squad.
“Chris brought a new and refreshing ethos to coaching when he joined Essex, which was evident in the way the team has played over the past two years. I’m sure he will go on to be a great success with England and I wish him well.”
Chris Silverwood expressed his sincere appreciation for the Club. “First of all, I just want to say a massive thank you to Essex and everyone who works at the Club. The support I have received from the members, supporters and staff over my two years as Head Coach at the Club has been incredible.
“The way everyone came together to get behind my vision, and the vision of the Club is special, and ultimately why I am in the position I am in now. It has been a real pleasure working with every single person at the Club.
“From the moment I joined the Club I have enjoyed every minute of it. Getting the Head Coach role and being able to achieve what we have in the last two years, it has been an incredible journey, and one I feel privileged to have been a part of.
“It was a special moment to take a step back and see the smiles on the players faces after we had won the County Championship. To see the young lads succeed and show what good cricketers they are is always extremely pleasing but also to see the older squad members’ achieve their dreams is something that will live long in the memory.
“Alongside that, to see what bringing that trophy back to Chelmsford meant to the members and supporters was amazing. It really is a special Club, and to be a small part of history and what the Club has achieved is something I feel proud of.”
Everyone at Essex Cricket would like to wish Chris the best of luck in his new role with England and thank him for the incredible service he has given the Club over the last 8 years.
Essex County Cricket Club is delighted to announce Tom Westley has signed a one-year contract extension, which keeps him at the Club until the conclusion of the 2019 season.
The homegrown batsman has committed his future to the County Champions after an impressive season in Division One, which saw him earn an England Test call up.
The 28-year-old is an Essex Academy graduate and has gone on to make 149 first-class, 71 List A and 59 T20 appearances for the Club, since his debut in 2006.
Vice-Captain Westley had no hesitations in extending his contract and said: “I am delighted to sign an extension to my contract and it was an easy decision to make, with the vision and plans the Club have in place for the coming years.
“Winning the County Championship was just the start of that journey, and as a group of players we have spoken about creating a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. To be a part of this team with my close friends and achieve the success we have done in the last two years is special, and has given us all a hunger to continue to improve.
“My desire to improve myself is bigger than ever and I hope to continue contributing valuable runs and knowledge to this Club over the coming years.”
Essex opening batsman Nick Browne has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the Club until the conclusion of the 2019 season.
The 26-year-old is the latest homegrown talent to commit his future to the County Champions and has been rewarded after an impressive first season in Division One.
The left-hander finished as Essex’s top Championship run-scorer in 2017, scoring 952 runs at an average of 43.27 including a high score of 221.
Browne is delighted to commit his future to his home County and commented: “After the season we have had, it was an easy decision to sign a contract extension.
“It was so special to celebrate the Championship at Chelmsford, I really got a sense of how much it meant to the members’ and fans. Winning the County Championship with your home County is something you dream of as a kid and it was an incredible season.
“We have the squad that can create an era of success that will go down in Essex history. Now it is time to work harder than ever before, to try and repeat this year’s heroics.”
Essex Head Coach Chris Silverwood is thrilled key batsman Browne has signed a new contract and added: “Nick had an excellent first season in Division One and was a key part of clinching a first County Championship for 25 years.
“He has been consistent in his performances ever since he came into the side and the key for Nick is to continue to work just as hard as he has done so far. At 26, he has a lot of good seasons ahead of him and we are delighted he has committed his future to the Club.”
Having secured a first County Championship title in 25 years, we’re delighted to offer supporters a brand new range of commemorative items which are now available to order online now and in-store at The Cloudfm County Ground. The latest County Champions merchandise range includes the popular commemorative polo shirts, celebration posters, mugs and and selection of glasses.
Further items to mark this special season will be added to the range in due course so please keep an eye on the Store website during the build up to Christmas.
A must-have item for all cricket fans is the ’25 Years On – Commemorative Book’, which is a detailed review in photos of the undefeated season, along with facts & figures from each fixture. This is available now to pre-order, along with the opportunity to have your name printed in the book, but this is for a limited time only!
The book is priced at £19.99 and will be ready for dispatch in early December.
Please note: the pre-order deadline to have your name printed in the book is Friday 24 November.
Visit the Essex Store – here
Essex Women’s cricketer Kelly Castle is on course for a successful sports industry career after boosting her skills and confidence during a dream apprenticeship at the Club.
Kelly, 20, had the exciting opportunity to promote Women and Girls’ cricket.
By helping to organise six-a-side softball Prosecco cricket competitions at Clubs around the county, her role encouraged women to become more active and helped to develop her chosen sport.
Kelly, from Rochford, said: “I have always wanted a career working in sport, playing cricket since I was 13 inspired me. My apprenticeship through Seetec has given me a stepping stone. I learned a lot, especially about organisation, including fully organising the women’s softball cricket at my club, Rayleigh.
“Working at Essex Cricket has really broadened my knowledge about sports development.”
Kelly left The Cloudfm County Ground last month to start studying for a full-time BSc Sports Science degree at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, although she will continue to work for Essex Cricket during her holidays.
Her apprenticeship was organised through employment and skills specialist Seetec, whose Regional Skills Co-ordinator Emma Krijgsman said: “Kelly’s success demonstrates how Seetec can help young people to make a positive start on their career path, with apprenticeships offering an alternative route to skills development, qualifications and workplace progress.”
With England winning the Women’s Cricket World Cup this summer, and the national team rising to top the world rankings, it is an exciting time to be involved with the sport.
Kelly played a vital role batting for Essex Women this season, helping the team to win promotion back to Division Two in the Women’s County Championship. She became the first Essex woman to score 2,000 runs and take 100 wickets for the county, and is expected to captain the side next season.
As well as developing her workplace skills, Kelly was able to spend three months in Australia over the winter playing club cricket in Melbourne. With Australia’s well-established women’s set-up, she had the chance to play against top players.
“It definitely helped me, my batting improved massively and I had the opportunity to play on different pitches and with women who play in the Big Bash Twenty20 league,” Kelly explained.
“My apprenticeship helped prepare me for my degree, rather than going straight from school to university. I’m interested in sports psychology but I’ve also gained experience which will help me to work in the sporting industry after university.”
Essex Cricket Head of Operations Dan Feist said: “Kelly really developed her skills of communication, planning and organisation and gained confidence from engaging with a wide range of people. She will continue to work for us during her university holidays to further develop women’s and girls’ cricket.
“Our apprentices bring fresh energy and new ideas for our target age group.”
This apprenticeship was supported by Seetec, who assist in helping people into employment and improving skills for over 30 years. Young people interested in traineeship or apprenticeship opportunities, can contact visit the Seetec website – www.seetec.co.uk/apprenticeships
Essex County Cricket Club is delighted to announce all-rounder Matt Coles has signed for the Club on a two-year contract.
The 27-year-old will join from Kent with immediate effect and will bolster Chris Silverwood’s County Championship winning squad.
Having spent the majority of his career with home County, Kent, Coles will move across the river and bring firepower to both the batting and bowling department.
The all-rounder is thrilled to be signing with the County Champions and said: “It is with a heavy heart that I leave Kent. It’s been my home and family for most of my life and career.
“But I have a great opportunity to move and play Division One cricket with the County Champions. It feels right, and I want to push myself to be as good as I can be. Essex’s vision for the future is really exciting and I’m looking forward to playing a significant part.”
Essex Head Coach Chris Silverwood added: “It is important that we continue to improve the squad and not rest on our laurels. We feel Matt offers excellent attributes with both his batting and bowling across all formats.
“He will strengthen competition in red-ball cricket but also offer destructive batting and bowling in white-ball cricket so it is an excellent signing for the Club.”
