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First XI squad head for Dubai

Posted on Tuesday 14 March 2017

Chris Silverwood and his team head out to Dubai today to start their pre-season tour ahead of the 2017 season.

With the Club now being in Division One, the trip will provide Silverwood the perfect chance to put the squad through their paces ahead of an exciting season.

Ryan ten Doeschate’s side will play a two-day game against UAE at The Dubai International Cricket Stadium based in Dubai Sport City. The team will also challenge Middlesex in a 50 over game and play two Inter Squad matches at The ICCA.

Dubai will see all the squad, except Neil Wagner, join up for the first time this pre-season with South African Test spinner Simon Harmer flying direct to Dubai to meet his new teammates.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will allow Essex spectators to attend, with entry via gate A11 in the Green Stand.

The ICCA is free to access but there will be no food available for supporters inside either venue.

Dubai Pre-season Tour Schedule

16 March | Inter Squad Match | 10am – 6pm (format yet to be confirmed) | The ICCA

18 March | 50 over game v Middlesex | 10am – 6pm | The ICCA

20 March | Inter Squad Match | 10am – 6pm (format yet to be confirmed) | The ICCA

22/23 March | 2 Day Game v UAE | 10am – 6pm | Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Cinema

Posted on Monday 13 March 2017

The popular On-Pitch Cinema returns this summer to the Cloudfm County Ground with the screening on Mamma-Mia! Taking place on Saturday 16 September, this event is the perfect evening to spend with friends and family, along with a picnic at the home of Essex Cricket.

The screening begins at 7:30pm with gates open at 6pm. Tickets are on sale now priced £12.50 for Adults and £7.50 Juniors (U18s) – available online via the Print@Home ticket service.

Why not check out the other events taking place at The Cloudfm County Ground in 2017 with a new On-Pitch Marquee, hosting live boxing and darts – Find out more information.

Silverwood praised by Flower for England Lions contribution

Posted on Monday 13 March 2017

Head Coach Chris Silverwood received high praise from England Lions Head Coach Andy Flower after his contributions in the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

Silverwood linked up with the team in February ahead of the scheduled longer-form matches and stayed with the squad until the culmination of the one-day series.

The 42-year-old returns to Chelmsford today ahead of the Club’s tour to Dubai and will head into the 2017 season with his experiences improved.

Flower was delighted with the value Silverwood added and said: “We asked Chris Silverwood to join us as an assistant coach on this tour of Sri Lanka, primarily because of his fast-bowling expertise, but also because he’s now quite an experienced all-round coach. And he’s proved really valuable in both those areas.

“He’s been a really good support to me, someone who I can trust, and it’s been great having another head coach of a county side, after Steve Rhodes from Worcestershire last winter, coming to contribute to our national programme.

“I think they’re really good relationships for us to have with influential county leaders, and it reminds us all that we are in this together doing our best for English cricket.”

Essex Cricket caters for National Apprenticeship Week

Posted on Wednesday 8 March 2017

A new group of catering and hospitality trainees joined Essex Cricket this week to take their first steps towards a career in the industry.

Starting their ten-week innings in National Apprenticeship Week, the trainees work towards customer service skills and food safety qualifications, while gaining new skills during 100 hours spent working at the Club.

National Apprenticeship Week runs from 6-10 March and celebrates the value of obtaining work-based qualifications and skills. Darrell Fox, Essex Cricket Commercial Manager, explained: “It is very rewarding to give young people a chance to get into employment, and we’ve watched many of our trainees grow their skills and confidence and go on to become valuable members of our catering staff.”

Essex-based employment and skills organisation Seetec helps the Club to recruit the trainees and provides ongoing support and training.

Darrell said: “I’d encourage other employers to look at this method of recruitment. Seetec provides invaluable support, and the trainees who do exceptionally well have the chance to become apprentices for a year.”

Toby McLaren, 23, from Chelmsford, has made great progress since his traineeship and been taken on as a catering apprentice. He explained: “I hadn’t considered catering until I heard about the training, and now I’m definitely interested in seeing how far I can take it. Everyone here is really nice and I get on with so many people, my job role is to make all the customers happy. I’m doing an NVQ and I can see myself trying to make a career in hospitality.”

Samantha Tolhurst, 23, from Hatfield Peverel, completed her traineeship a year ago and has also been taken on by the club. She said: “I’m really enjoying all of it, I work with the players serving their meals, and I want a career in catering.”

Bradley Sissons, 21, from Maldon, wanted to work in hospitality and catering and the traineeship gave him his break into the industry. He has also progressed to an apprenticeship and is working towards his Level 2 Customer Service qualification. Bradley said: “I really enjoy it in the summer when I’m kept really busy and work in lots of different areas. I’ve learned about customer service and how to speak to people, and about rotation of stock and handling cash.”

Seetec tutor and assessor Steve Bond has been supporting Toby, Samantha, and Bradley through their apprenticeships and said: “They have come out of their shells and developed their confidence, social and communication skills, and really started to engage with the staff, players and customers. They are valued members of the team.”

Catering manager Nicola Riggs said: “It really helps me when the season starts because I have a group of people who know their way around and who know what they’re doing. I get a lot of help from Seetec with the recruitment process and their training.”

Scott Marsh, 22, from Chelmsford, has also progressed to employment at the Club, and encourages other young people to start traineeships. “Go full steam ahead, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it,” he said. “Believe in yourself, you will meet new people and you could end up finding full-time work.”

Nationally 75 per cent of apprenticeship employers report that the young people have helped their business to improve the quality of their product or service.

Seetec Group Managing Director John Baumback, who joined the company as a 16-year-old Youth Training Scheme (YTS) trainee, said: “Young people can make such a difference to the outlook of your business if you believe in them and give them the opportunities to develop. We have the expertise available to help businesses to invest in this talent.”

Zaidi and ten Doeschate head for bright lights of Hong Kong

Posted on Tuesday 7 March 2017

Club Captain Ryan ten Doeschate and all-rounder Ashar ‘Boom Boom’ Zaidi are heading to Asia for the upcoming Hong Kong T20 Blitz.

With both recently involved in the Bangladesh Premier League, the duo now head to Hong Kong for the second year of the week long T20 competition.

Zaidi will represent Kowloon Cantons whilst ten Doeschate will ply his trade for Galaxy Gladiators Lantau.

‘Boom Boom’ as he has become known to the Chelmsford crowd made quite the impression in last year’s NatWest T20 Blast tournament scoring 363 runs including a number of lengthy sixes.

Ten Doeschate is a veteran of T20 tournaments around the world having played in the BPL, PSL and Big Bash among others.

The Dutch International also won the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders and was rated as one of the most effective all-rounders in the world at the time.

To see both in NatWest T20 Blast action for Essex Eagles this summer, buy your tickets here!

Membership numbers soar as 2017 season approaches

Posted on Monday 6 March 2017

With the 2017 season fast approaching, membership renewals and purchases show no sign of dwindling with numbers considerably up on this time in 2016.

The lure of Division One cricket is clearly enticing Essex supporters to take advantage of membership offers with the current number sitting healthily at 3703 including Life and Eagles Club Members.

This is in comparison to 3185 and 3088 at this point in 2016 and 2015 respectively.

Chris Silverwood and Ryan ten Doeschate have assembled a squad capable of challenging on all three fronts in 2017 and implemented a brand of cricket that is attractive to all those in attendance.

This is evident in the statistics, with 529 new members joining the membership so far in 2017.

The Club’s signings and Division One cricket have created a buzz throughout the Essex community. Lapsed Members have returned to the Club and fans from the limited-overs formats have also come aboard.

The knock on effect has seen record on-sales periods for Members in the NatWest T20 Blast with nearly 10,000 tickets already sold.

You can still buy membership or NatWest T20 Blast tickets for the 2017 season here.

Dixon and ten Doeschate surprise lucky ticket buyer

Posted on Thursday 2 March 2017

Matt Dixon and Ryan ten Doeschate surprised one lucky ticket buyer yesterday by hand delivering their tickets and a selection of prizes.

Eight year old Isaac of Chelmer Village was the fortunate winner as both players turned up at his home as he returned from school!

Dixon and ten Doeschate were accompanied by signed photographs and NatWest T20 Blast shirts among other prizes.

Club Captain, ten Doeschate was delighted to surprise Isaac and said: “It was a great reaction when we turned up on Isaac’s doorstep, a real mix of shock and excitement. Visits like these are such a small thing for us but huge for all our supporters and we are always happy to give back to the various generations of our fans.

“We are looking forward to welcoming both Isaac, his sister Ella and the rest of his family to the Cloudfm County Ground in July and I am looking forward to catching up with them then!”

Isaac entered the draw after his parents became ‘Over & Out!’ e-news subscribers and purchased their tickets on Wednesday’s ticket launch. Subscribers can still buy their tickets ahead of the General Sale which begins on here.

Win With Essex | We are offering the chance for another lucky ticket buyer to win the money back on their ticket order & delivered straight back into their bank account! To be in with a chance, make sure you #soarwithus and secure your seats during the Over & Out! subscribers priority window before tickets go on general sale on Saturday 18 March!

#SoarWithUs | ‘Over & Out!’ Priority Has Now Started

Posted on Wednesday 1 March 2017

‘Over & Out!’ e-news subscribers can now ‘Jump the Queue’ to receive NatWest T20 Blast ticket priority & get access to the best seats in the house.

With tickets for the NatWest T20 Blast on general sale from Saturday 18 March, claim your opportunity to purchase tickets to all seven home games before anyone else. Subscribers simply have to access their online ticket account gain priority – here.

The competition begins on Friday 7 July with the visit of Surrey to the Cloudfm County Ground. The 2017 campaign will see Ryan ten Doeschate’s men take on the South Group, which includes the likes of Middlesex and their new signing Brendon McCullum, Somerset and the competition finale against Kent Spitfires for the Battle of the Bridge!

Westley continues to knock on selectors door

Posted on Friday 24 February 2017

Tom Westley maintained his excellent winter form with a steady 68 as he continues to put himself firmly in the England selectors thoughts.

Westley, who made 95 in the Lions’ warm-up match in Colombo and 97 in Kandy, again timed the ball sweetly, especially off the spinners, to stroke 68 from 105 balls before he was bowled by Pushpakumara – who had briefly switched to bowling from over the wicket, and turned one from outside leg stump to clip the off.

Liam Livingstone made the first century of England Lions’ tour of Sri Lanka in fierce Dambulla heat on the first day of their second four-day match against Sri Lanka A.

The Lancashire batsman, who scored 59 in the Lions’ victory in the opening game of the series in Kandy, hardly had the energy to celebrate when he reached three figures midway through the evening session by punching through the covers for his 11^th boundary.

He had to be draped in iced towels during the tea interval, and suffered cramp in his right wrist, but the 23-year-old Cumbrian reached his third first-class century from 133 balls.

He fell shortly afterwards, one of seven victims for the uncapped left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpukamara, and the Lions were grateful to an unbroken last-wicket stand of 26 between their own spinners Ollie Rayner and Jack Leach to steer them to 339 for nine at the close.

Keaton Jennings had won an important toss and chosen to bat, as in Kandy. He then played the leading role in an opening stand of 49 with Haseeb Hameed, before the Lancashire opener steered Asitha Fernando to second slip in the 11^th over.

Tom Alsop replaced Nick Gubbins at no3 in one of two changes to the Lions team, with Leach coming in for Tom Helm in the expectation of a spin-friendly pitch.

The Sri Lankans had used three spinners by the 20^th over when Alsop became the first victim for Pushpakumara, driving a return catch.

Jennings fell caught behind to the same bowler for 44 from 52 balls, leaving the Lions wobbling at 77 for three.

As in Kandy, Livingstone joined Westley in an important fourth wicket partnership, first steering the Lions through to lunch and then picking up the pace in the afternoon session.

Westley was the only wicket the Lions lost between lunch and tea as Ben Foakes joined Livingstone in a fifth-wicket stand of 83.

Livingstone reached his 50 from 82 balls just before the interval, then accelerated after the break with three consecutive boundaries off Lahiru Gamage – two powerful whips wide of mid-on, before he steered a high full toss through the slips to third man.

Foakes also showed his skill against the spinners after two failures in Kandy, until he fell caught behind to Pushpakumara for 30 from 55 balls.

Livingstone was in the 90s at the time so it was Sam Curran who congratulated him when he reached his century. But Livingstone fell in the next over and there was no repeat of the Lions’ lower-order rally in Kandy as both Curran brothers and Toby Roland-Jones fell cheaply to spin – although Rayner offered further evidence of his batting ability, and Leach took 10 off the last over of the day including a classical cover-drive.

Beard contributes again with U19 game evenly poised

Posted on Thursday 23 February 2017

England Under-19s go into the last day of their India tour with the prospect of another breathless finish to the second four-day game in Nagpur.

Last week they gave India a real fright in a fourth-innings run chase before the home team held on for a draw with eight wickets down, showing that anything is possible when England resume their second innings on 34 for two, with a lead of 21.

As in the first game, England’s bowlers stuck to their task admirably in the heat, restricting India to a lead of 13 when they declared late on day three at 388 for nine.

There were two wickets each for Essex seamer Aaron Beard, Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White and Surrey’s off-spinning all-rounder Euan Woods – who produced his best performance of the tour to earn two for 61 from 27 overs.

“It’s been a good day’s cricket, and we’ve put ourselves in a decent position for the last day,” said the 18-year-old from Berkshire, whose bowling became especially important to the squad when his Surrey club-mate Amar Virdi was ruled out of the tour by a back injury.

“It felt good to contribute. We went out aiming to build some pressure, and me and Henry Brookes managed to do that in the first hour. Aaron Beard bowled really well as well, and we kept picking up wickets through the day.”

Woods also praised the performances of the two other Surrey players on the trip – wicketkeeper Ollie Pope and Will Jacks, another off-spinning all-rounder, who made 77 in England’s first innings, his best score of the tour.

“You could really see that innings getting Will’s confidence up,” added Woods. “Him and Delray Rawlins batted really well, and you can see the importance because India only ended up getting a small lead.

“Ollie’s batted well throughout the tour, and he’s kept well as well. I think all three of us have enjoyed it. It’s been a challenge, and very different from the cricket at home. But it’s been interesting to be here for things like the IPL auction, when you can see how big cricket is – it’s unbelievable.”

Woods will be straight back to school next week to continue his studies – for A-level PE, and B-techs in Business and Travel and Tourism. “I’ve been able to keep up to date with work and on top of it which is important when you’re away for such a long time,” he explained.

“I’m back for three or four weeks then I’m going to Sri Lanka with the Surrey Academy.”

It is a similar story for Beard, although as he has a professional contract with Essex he will be joining their senior squad on their pre-season trip to Dubai.

“You can’t get enough sun, can you?” he joked. “I’m really looking forward to that trip, because it’s such a big season for the club being back in Division One. But I’m going to have a week off when I get back I think, and just relax, because it’s been a tough tour out here.

“I was struggling a bit with my confidence and rhythm in the one-day matches. But I’ve worked hard with Jon Lewis in the nets and it’s been coming together in the Tests.

“The conditions in Nagpur have been more like I was expecting from India, with much drier pitches which turn a lot. That’s hard work, but we’ve enjoyed the challenge – and got a few wickets.

“With one day to go, the game is nicely set up as well.”