Search Results for: I

Lawrence extends stay with County Champions

Posted on Wednesday 18 October 2017

Essex County Cricket Club is delighted to announce Dan Lawrence has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Club until the conclusion of the 2019 season.

The 20-year-old has become one of the Club’s finest talents and earned a place on the England Lions tour to Australia this winter, after an impressive season in Division One.

Lawrence scored 761 runs at an average of 44 including a stunning 141 not out to save the opening game against Lancashire.

The Chingford man is thrilled to commit his future to his home County and said: “I had no hesitation signing an extension as it has been an unbelievable season both from a personal and team point of view.

“For my first taste of Division One cricket, I thought I had a good season and to play a part in winning a first title in 25 years was incredible. To win the Championship with your close friends and guys you have grown up playing with is special, now we must work hard to replicate that success next year.

“The England Lions call up and trip to Australia caps off a whirlwind 2017, hopefully 2018 can be just as good, if not better, and I can continue to score loads of runs in the Club’s success.”

Head Coach Chris Silverwood is equally delighted to see Lawrence sign a new contract and added: “Dan is an integral part of what we are trying to achieve at the Club and has gone from strength to strength ever since he has been in the First-Team environment.

“He is an inspiration to our younger players that if you work hard, opportunities will come in the First-Team, but he also underlines the talent we have at our disposal in the Academy. I am delighted he has been selected for the England Lions and that will further develop him, both as a player and a man.”

Membership 2018

Posted on Tuesday 17 October 2017

MembershipHeader

 

There isn’t a better time to become an Essex County Cricket Club Member, with your chance to watch the County Champions defend the Specsavers County Championship title at The Cloudfm County Ground in 2018. Membership packages for the forthcoming season will be on sale in early November, and include a host of new benefits to enjoy throughout the year.

Membership prices will be available to view on Friday 20 October and 2017 Members will receive their Membership renewal packs during the second week of November.

In the meantime, enjoy the highlights (there’s quite a few!) from the 2017 season where Essex dominated Division One a clinched a first Championship title in 25 years…

 

Porter to miss Lions tour to Australia

Posted on Monday 16 October 2017

Essex opening bowler Jamie Porter will not travel on the Lions tour to Australia due to a stress fracture in his lower back.

He and Josh Tongue are to trade places on the International Pathway for the first half of the winter.

Porter, who was named the Specsavers County Championship player of the season by both the Cricket Writers’ Club and the Professional Cricketers’ Association after taking 75 wickets in Essex’s triumphant campaign, was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back during profiling ahead of the Lions’ winter programme, and will now join the Pace Programme later this month – with a view to building up to Lions selection for the series against West Indies A in the New Year.

His place on the Lions training camp in Australia in November and December will be taken by Tongue, the 19-year-old who was ever-present in Worcestershire’s promotion-winning campaign in Division Two, and also took more than 50 first-class wickets.

James Whitaker, the National Selector, said: “While it was initially surprising and disappointing for Jamie and for us to discover he has a stress fracture, we have agreed with him and with Essex that this new approach is the best option.

“Spending the first half of the winter on the Pace Programme will allow him to take a break from competitive cricket after two excellent and demanding seasons for Essex, allowing the injury to recover, and for a focus on his rehabilitation.

“We believe that will give him the best chance of being in peak condition for the competitive phase of the Lions winter programme, with four-day and one-day series in the West Indies early next year.

“It also creates a space on the Lions camp in Australia, which represents a wonderful opportunity for young Josh Tongue.

“He is another exciting young fast bowler who made a major contribution to Worcestershire’s promotion campaign, and we believe he will benefit from the chance to work with the Lions and to spend some time in Australia in an Ashes winter.”

Kevin Shine, the ECB’s fast-bowling lead who heads up the Pace Programme, said: “As ever, we’ve worked closely with the players and their counties, and we think this is a good solution.

“Jamie relished his first Lions experience this summer and we’ve agreed with Essex for him to spend a couple of months with the Pace Programme, at the Performance Centre in Loughborough with a warm-weather camp at Desert Springs in Spain, to get him fit and ready to join the Lions in the West Indies after Christmas.

“For Josh, he gets to sample the Ashes atmosphere in Australia, as well as gaining experience of working with the Lions.”

The Lions leave for Brisbane on November 14, while the Pace Programme begins at the Performance Centre in Loughborough on October 30.

Book your place at the Members’ Christmas Lunch

Posted on Monday 16 October 2017

The annual Members’ Christmas Lunch is set to take place in mid-December plus it’s also another chance to celebrate the Championship success during the festive period. The afternoon will also include a Q&A session with heroes from Essex’s past and present, as John Childs and Sam Cook take centre stage. The event is priced from £30.00 per person and includes a 4-course Christmas meal, followed by tea, coffee and accompanying mince pies afterwards.

The Doug Insole Pavilion & Premier Suite | 12pm on Tuesday 19 December 2017

Starter:
Homemade Tomato and Basil Soup with croutons and a swirl of double cream, served with a bread roll

Main Course:
Roast Turkey served with all the trimmings and a rich gravy

Vegetarian Option:
Nut Roast served with all the trimmings and a rich gravy

Dessert:
Traditional Christmas Pudding served with rich Devon custard

To Follow:
Cheese and biscuits

To Finish:
Homemade Sweet Mincemeat Tartlets served with tea & coffee

Members: £30.00
Non-Members: £35.00

Price includes a £4 donation to the Essex Cricket Foundation

To book, please contact the Membership & Ticketing Office in person, or alternatively by telephone 01245 254010 or email membership@https://http://essexcricket.org.uk/

 

Walter signs contract extension until 2019

Posted on Friday 13 October 2017

Essex County Cricket Club is pleased to announce all-rounder, Paul Walter, has signed a contract extension that will see him remain at the Club until the end of the 2019 season.

The 23-year-old has been rewarded for a number of impressive performances, across all formats, since his emergence from Essex League cricket.

A talented left-arm opening bowler and destructive batsman, Walter burst onto the scene in the NatWest T20 Blast but also featured in five red-ball matches as Essex clinched the County Championship.

Walter had no hesitation in committing his future to the Club and said: “It was an easy decision to extend my time with the Club. I am an Essex man, and to have the chance to play for my home County has been amazing.

“Ever since I have been in the professional environment I believe it has quickened my development, but I need to continue to work hard over the next couple of years. Working with Chris (Silverwood) every day has helped me develop a number of skills and I feel I can go on to become a genuine all-rounder for this Club.

“It has been an incredible season and we all feel this could be the start of something special so it is great to be a part of it going forward.”

Head Coach Chris Silverwood is equally delighted to see Walter sign a contract extension and added: “Paul has shown considerable development ever since he signed his first professional contract. He is a tall, quick left-armer which is a useful asset for any team and if he continues to work hard he will be an important part of this Club for years to come.

“His good work so far has certainly been recognised as he will head to South Africa with the ECB Pace Programme this winter and that will again help him learn and develop skills that will take his game to another level.”

Four young Essex talents commit future to the Club

Posted on Thursday 12 October 2017

Essex County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that four of the Club’s exciting talents have committed their future to the County Champions.

Aaron Beard, Aron Nijjar and Callum Taylor have signed contract extensions, while young Academy talent Feroze Khushi has signed his first professional contract with the Club.

Beard has signed a one-year contract extension which keeps him at the Club until the end of 2019, while Nijjar and Taylor have signed extensions until the conclusion of the 2018 season.

18-year-old Khushi has put pen-to-paper on a two-year professional contract which sees him rewarded for a number of impressive performances with the Second XI.

Head Coach Chris Silverwood is delighted to see the four commit their future to the Club and commented: “It is always important to tie up our young, exciting players to contracts so they can focus solely on their cricket.

“This Club always gives opportunities to young players as you have seen with Aaron Beard and Sam Cook featuring for the First-Team and Callum Taylor also being regularly involved in squads as well.

“All four are exciting talents and have a lot to offer Essex both now and in the future. Congratulations go to Feroze as well, who has been offered his first professional contract after impressing with both his ability and attitude whenever he has been involved with the First-Team and Academy.”

East London Multi-Faith Team Set for Vatican Trip

Posted on Thursday 12 October 2017

This week, Essex Cricket will embark on a trip to play a very special and memorable cricket match in the Vatican City.

The trip came about through talks with St Peter’s Cricket Club, the Pope’s cricket team from the Vatican City, to support them with their proposed cricket tour to the UK in September 2016, called the Tour of Light.

With over 50% of the Club’s core cricket work being run in very diverse and multi-faith cricket communities, a match against an East London Multi-Faith team was organised soon after the team landed at Stansted Airport on Sunday 11 September.

St Peter’s CC were very impressed by the whole experience as they played a game against a team that represented 5 different faiths and the hosts, Walthamstow Cricket Club, went out of their way to put on great hospitality. The day was topped up with two former Essex Captains in attendance, Graham Gooch and the late Doug Insole.

During this summer, Essex Cricket were contacted by Father’s from the Vatican Cricket Team and asked about the possiblity of reciprocating the offer of a Essex Multi-Faith team trip visiting the Vatican, which was gratefully accepted. The team will depart on Thursday (12 October) with the match against St. Peter’s Cricket Club taking place on Saturday (14 October).

A number of high profile people have supported the trip and cricket in the region:

Prime Minister, Theresa May said:

“Championing the positive impact that sport can have on people’s lives is the something about which we should remain passionate. We should never underestimate the community connections that sport encourages and I am heartened that a shared love for cricket is bringing people of all faiths together in East London. I hope Essex Cricket enjoys the trip to the Vatican. I wish everyone involved the very best of luck.”

Essex County Cricket Club Chairman, John Faragher said:

“I am equally delighted that our friends at the Vatican have extended an invitation to send a team to reciprocate the success of the previous trip. It will be a very powerful opportunity to continue the message of ‘faith’. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone representing the Club and our hosts, for making this possible. No doubt everyone involved will have a wonderful experience and return with long-lasting memories, created by the power that cricket has to connect communities across the world.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said:

“In London, we respect, embrace and celebrate our diversity. What better way to showcase London as a beacon of diversity than through a cricket team that is representative of five different faiths. I hope the trip is a great success and that we can host the Vatican Cricket team in London in the not too distant future.”

Our Club Captain, Ryan ten Doeschate said:

“I continue to take a high interest in the community work we support at Essex Cricket. I was delighted to understand that we have a representative team visiting the Vatican to play the game we love, as well as share a platform to celebrate so many things we have in common.

“My simple message to everyone that represents Essex Cricket on the trip is to ensure you enjoy this opportunity, wear the shirt with pride and a big thank you for the continued hard work you do for cricket, as it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Professor Lord Patel of Bradford, ECB Director and attending the trip said:

“In a world full of conflict and at a time when people can seem so distant from one another, it is a joy for me to see cricket, a game I love so much, bringing unity and harmony. Sport of all kinds plays a vital role in the life of communities – people enjoy sport for the fun, the rivalry,
 team work, leadership, skills and the lifelong friendships that it enjoins. But sport also has much wider value to the wellbeing and cohesion of our world, and none more so than cricket.”

“This Multi-Faith Tour says so much about what can be achieved, when we focus on those things that unite us rather than keeps us apart, and in these troubled times bringing hope out of despair. Cricket is a powerful tool in overcoming hatred between different groups and people as they watch and play a game that so many millions across the world love.

To have this tour in Rome, at the heart of the Vatican City is a great honour, but even more importantly it is an opportunity. An opportunity to shed a light on how conflict can be turned into collaboration and how the spirit and enthusiasm that cricket creates can overcome any and all barriers.

Fr. Eamonn O’Higgins, L.C. (St. Peter’s Cricket Team Manager) said:

“The Inter-Faith tour will bring people of major religious faiths together in Rome. In this way, we will express together the belief that there is an order and purpose to all things, and that the way of human life is to seek and to experience the Real Source of all that is noble, true and good. This is what religion is, the human response to the source of all things, and the discovery that we are sons and daughters, and therefore all brothers and sisters. The world today needs to see this authentic religious experience.

Andrew Mindenhall, Chief Executive at Agilisys, said:

“Agilisys is delighted to have the opportunity to provide enabling sponsorship to this unique event, bringing together sport and multi-faith communities. We look forward to seeing the updates from the tour, and wish the team every success in their matches.”

A special thanks to the tour partners Ganidor Sports and Agilisys for supporting the trip.

The Tour Party:

Professor Lord Patel of Bradford England & Wales Cricket Board | Director and Player
Forhad Hussain (Essex Cricket) | Director and Player
Robyn Hulley (Essex Cricket) | Tour Manager
Arfan Akram (East London Cricket Co-Coordinator) | Assistant Tour Manager & Tour Captain
Jawar Ali (Essex Cricket & Operations Director at London Tigers)

The Player:

Emdad Ahmad (Community Support and Scintilla Cricket Club)
Michael Arnold (East London Cricket Coach)
Simon Cooper (The Mayor of London’s Office)
Qam Farooq (Sales Manager at Ganador Sports)
Kashif Haroon (Councillor London Borough of Barking & Dagenham)
Shiraz Kothia (Community Leader in East London)
Vince Mulholland (Chairman Ilford Catholic Cricket Club)
Saba Nasim (Essex Women’s Cricket Ambassador & Coach)
Mukesh Patel (Councillor London Borough of Newham)
Kam Rai (Councillor London Borough of Redbridge)
Kanan Thiyagarajah (East London Cricket Coach & Barking Cricket Club)
Dominic Twomey (Councillor London Borough of Barking & Dagenham)

Officials:

Annanth Kumar (Chairman Cavaliers Cricket Academy) | Umpire
Sheela Sethu (Secretary Cavaliers Cricket Academy) | Scorer

 

Kishen Velani departs the Club

Posted on Thursday 12 October 2017

Essex batsman Kishen Velani has departed the Club following the end of his contract.

Velani came through the Essex Academy, making his First-Team debut in the final Championship match of 2013.

The 23-year-old featured for England U19 at the 2012 World Cup and went on to make 11 first-class, 10 List A and 16 T20 appearances for Essex.

The Newham-born player also featured heavily for Wanstead & Snaresbrook Cricket Club as they clinched the Royal London Club Championship in September at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Head Coach Chris Silverwood commented on Velani’s departure and said: “It always difficult to make these decisions, especially when it is someone who is Essex born and bred and came through the Academy system.

“Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out for Kish but I thank him for all his efforts during his time with the Club and wish him well for the future.”

Everyone at the Club would like to wish Kishen all the best for the future and thank him for his contribution over the years.

Exciting week of On-Pitch Marquee events comes to a close

Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2017

The Cloudfm County Ground was a hive of activity this morning as the On-Pitch Marquee was closed down for this year.

A number of outstanding events have taken place over the last week with Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor bringing proceedings to a close last night in front of a sell-out Chelmsford crowd.

The Essex End of Season Gala Dinner began the week with sponsors, supporters and players all celebrating a truly memorable 2017 season and reflecting on the Division One title success.

Essex legend Graham Gooch hosted an evening which included player awards, auctions and special thank you messages from Simon Harmer in South Africa and Varun Chopra in Indonesia!

Jamie Porter was the star of the show scooping the DeVines Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Bowler of the Year among others, while Sam Cook received two accolades after a whirlwind month for the First XI.

An Evening of Boxing was the next event on the calendar with the ABA Regional Finals being held in the On-Pitch Marquee at The Cloudfm County Ground.

What a spectacle it was, with hundreds of people in the Marquee enjoying food and drink while being entertained by some of the best amateur boxers in the region.

Three darts legends then made their way to Chelmsford for An Evening of Darts to close the week of events. Taylor, Wayne Mardle and Bobby George entertained the crowd, while MC John McDonald led the event with his famous dulcet tones.

Guests were treated to a special speech from Matchroom Sport’s Barry Hearn, who reflected on the special achievement of his home County winning the Championship with the involvement of such a young squad.

The successful week of events would not have been possible without the support of our main event sponsors D & A Media, Greene King IPA, Fenwick, Scrutton Bland and Woodland Group.

We would also like to thank Centreplate, Dynamic Fireworks, Moulsham Electronics, Simply Loos, Tangent Electrical and Undercover Events for their integral involvement in putting the events on.

Thank you to our guests across all the events for your support and we aim to be back bigger and better next year with even more events for everyone!

Brian Heald | 1938-2017

Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2017

The Club were saddened to hear of the death of former Essex Cricket statistician Brian Heald, aged 79.

Brian became Essex County Cricket Club statistician in 1999 and stayed in the role until 2016. He was an integral part in the completion of the annual Yearbook providing updated statistics and records for all Essex Cricket matches.

He also provided key statistical inputs to the Playfair Cricket Annual, The Cricketer Quarterly, and the Benson and Hedges Cricket Year. Though an Essex Man by adoption, he remained a Yorkshireman by birth and inclination, and a loyal supporter of Hull Kingston Rovers.

Brian was one of 30 founder members present when the Association of Cricket Statisticians was set up in 1973, and served on the committee from 1988 to 2005.

In the 1990s and 2000s he was the general editor of the Statistical Surveys series, covering the years from 1868 to 1881, and he was the joint compiler of the volume for 1863.

His wife, Jenny, has contributed significantly in her own right to Essex and the ACS.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Jenny and all of Brian’s family at this difficult time.