In a week which would have seen the team face Kent Spitfires in a Vitality Blast Battle of the Bridge clash at Canterbury, we focus on a player who has played on both side of the bridge.
David Masters is one of our more recent Cult Heroes who’s hard work and grit game after game in an Essex shirt was celebrated by fans.
This series is supported by Allen Ford and we thank them for their continued support.
Essex Career Stats (2008-2016)
Debut: 12 April 2008 v Cambridge University (First-class friendly)
Appearances: 295
Wickets: 598
Best bowling: 8-10 v Leicestershire
First-class Average: 21.62
5-wickets in an Innings: 24
One of the most popular cricketers to have been signed by the county from outside its borders, David Masters was warmly appreciated and highly respected by colleagues and opponents alike plus those watching from beyond the boundary. He always recognised that he was in the entertainment business and was happy to oblige anyone who wanted to exchange pleasantries with him – and often delivered with that ready smile.
He started his first-class career with his native Kent but with opportunities restricted due to their clutch of fast bowlers, he upped sticks and moved to Leicestershire in 2003 for whom he turned in five years of unstinting service before expressing the desire to return nearer to his roots. Essex stepped in and offered a three-year deal and he became a welcome part of the fixtures and fittings at Chelmsford signing extended contracts until he decided to retire at the end of the 2016 season. Fittingly, he bowed out on a high having topped the county’s bowling averages and playing a key part in their promotion back to the top-flight.
He was 29 when he joined Essex and cautiously stated, “I’ll probably need a little bit of time to get into it but I’m pretty sure I’ll do well. I know my game now and I’m at my peak, so I think Essex have got me at the perfect time of my career.”
How prophetic those words proved to be! The quality opening bowler, with an insatiable appetite for hard graft, proved to be a class act in all three formats of the game with the enviable knack of prolific wicket-taking paired with eye-catching economy. He consistently found movement both in the air and off the seam combined with nagging accuracy.
Whatever the format of the game, the Masters name appeared a virtual fixture on the Essex team sheet; a remarkable testimony to his level of fitness. Yet he admitted that he despised with a passion the need to go to the gym. “I hate it!” he insisted. “I do go but I do love bowling; it’s what I do best. I thrive on hard work.
“When I was leaning my trade and making my way in the game, I learned the value of hard work. I would bowl at senior players in the nets before and after lunch day in and day out but that was an accepted part of your cricket education and that stood me in good stead. I suppose as I get older, I’ve learned how to look after my body more and learned to eat the right things as well.”
A true workhorse, he spent the summers sending down over after over and then throughout the winter months, worked on building sites for his father’s firm giving rise to his ‘Hoddy’ nickname.
On the field, his efforts were tireless and undaunting and here was a player who just got better with age
In 2011, he enjoyed a stellar summer when he was the leading wicket-taker in Division Two with a staggering 93 championship victims (including a career-best 8 for 10) and the highest number of wickets taken by a bowler since 1998.
That personal best was achieved against his former club Leicestershire at Garon Park, Southend. “Funnily enough, I told the lads I had a big one around the corner, but I never thought I would take so many wickets for so few runs,” he said. His devastating 8 for 10 came in the space of just 46 deliveries as his former county collapsed to 34 all out. Set 315 to win in more than a day, Leicestershire’s innings lasted an hour and a quarter. “We thought we might just try and nip a couple out on the third evening but then everything went crazy,” he laughed. “It was amazing, I don’t really know to this day why it happened; it was just one of those days when everything happened for me.”
By the time he decided to hang up his boots, he had taken 940 wickets across all formats. That included 672 wickets from the 37,788 deliveries he had sent down in the first-class game alone.
His final match proved an emotional affair bringing an end to a career spanning an overall 202 first-class and a combined 305 List A and Twenty20 appearances. It came at Canterbury where he had started his career and when he left the playing arena for a final time, he was given a guard of honour by the Kent and Essex players and a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today announced a further financial package to support professional and recreational cricket during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The £35.7million support package was agreed by the ECB Board after detailed financial planning with the whole game and to support all levels of cricket during a period of extreme financial uncertainty.
Following the initial interim financial support package of £61m, which was announced in March, the Board has agreed to further expedite payments from across the 2020-2021 planned distribution budgets.
The £35.7m will be comprised of:
£30.22m will be made available to FCCs and the MCC on August 1 via:
• Early release of six months (Aug-Jan) of core payments from the County Partnership distributions to FCCs.
• Early release of the remainder of The Hundred payments to FCCs and the MCC.
£5.5m will be made available to CCBs on August 1 via:
• Early release of six months’ (Aug-Jan) of core payments from the County Partnership distributions to CCBs.
In addition to the £5.5m available to CCBs, recreational clubs will continue to have access to the £20m available through the cricket club support loan scheme, grants through the “Return to Cricket” scheme and a 12-month holiday on loan repayments for recreational clubs.
ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: “It is the ECB’s responsibility to protect the whole game’s future during the financial uncertainty we face as a sport.
“We continue to work closely with all levels of the game to understand the challenges that are being presented and to map out a plan for the future. While I am pleased the ECB Board has been able to approve this financial support package for the remainder of this year we are still only at the beginning of addressing the impact of this crisis on cricket.
“We still should not underestimate the significant financial burden that is ahead of us across all levels of the game. We must seek to reduce the cost base across the game, as we face up to the sobering reality of what lies ahead of us.
“The response we have seen within the game has been reassuring and I know how much a return to the field of play would mean to clubs and players of all ages across England and Wales.
“It remains our priority to get cricket started again this summer, from the grassroots to the elite level, and we will continue to work with Government to try and do in a way that keeps people safe but that limits the ongoing impact of this crisis on our game.”
Dan Lawrence has been named in the 30-strong ‘behind-closed-doors training group’ who will go into camp at the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday June 23 ahead of the first Test against the West Indies starting on Wednesday July 8.
The group, along with a separate red-ball management team, will live, prepare and train on-site at the Ageas Bowl. On Wednesday July 1 the players will participate in a three-day practice match. After this match, the squad for the first Test will be selected.
Behind-Closed-Doors Training Group:
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Dominic Bess (Somerset), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Keaton Jennings (Lancashire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Jamie Overton (Somerset), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Amar Virdi (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
Commenting on the selection of the group, National Selector Ed Smith, said:
“Everyone involved with England is delighted that cricket is returning soon, and that the players are reporting for group training in preparation for the Test series against the West Indies.
“We’d also like to thank all the county coaches who have supported these players over the past few weeks.
“A squad for the first Test will be announced in due course.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board have also confirmed the red-ball coaching team for the three-match Test series.
Graham Thorpe will support Head Coach Chris Silverwood in his role as Assistant Coach and specialise on batting. Three coaches from the county game have been seconded – Lancashire Head Coach Glen Chapple will work closely with Silverwood as Bowling Coach. Gloucestershire’s Head Coach Richard Dawson, who has had experience coaching the England Lions on their successful tour of Australia earlier this year, will take control of the spin bowlers. Working alongside Thorpe with the batsmen will be Kent’s Head Coach Matthew Walker. Former Nottinghamshire and England wicketkeeper Chris Read will join the management team as wicketkeeping consultant. The ECB’s National Lead Fielding Coach, Carl Hopkinson makes up the coaching group.
England Men’s Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood will take charge of England’s ODI team later in the summer, when it is hoped that Ireland will tour in a three-match Royal London ODI series, subject to those fixtures being confirmed.
ECB Performance Director, Mo Bobat, added:
“The support that we’ve received from counties during our return to training phase so far has been excellent, and it’s great to be able to continue with this collaborative approach as we move into a ‘Behind Closed Doors’ training environment.
“As is the case in the current climate, things have progressed quickly, and we are very grateful to counties for allowing us to second their coaches to support our Test preparation. The larger group of players will certainly keep them busy.
“Involving Glen Chapple, Richard Dawson and Matt Walker adds significant leadership strength to our coaching team, as well as their obvious technical and tactical knowledge. Similarly, Chris Read’s vast experience at the highest level will no doubt add value.
“Both Glen (Chapple) and Richard (Dawson) were involved in winter Lions activity, so it’s nice for them and the players to build on effective coaching relationships and it’s also a real positive for our domestic game that we can expose a greater number of our coaches to international cricket.
“A huge amount of work has taken place behind the scenes to get us to this point, and it’s now over to Chris Silverwood and his management team to support the players with their final preparations for what will be a historical series.”
Three-match Test Series:
1st Test: England v West Indies, July 8-12, Ageas Bowl, Southampton
2nd Test: England v West Indies, July 16-20, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
3rd Test: England v West Indies, July 24-28, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Essex Cricket’s Club Photographer Nick Wood probably saw as much county cricket as anyone last year. He follows the team up and down the country, sitting in the stands capturing every moment. Last year was a special year for Essex, with Anthony McGrath’s side reclaiming the County Championship title, and Nick was there for it all. So with the 2020 season delayed, Nick thought it would be nice to open up his camera and show everyone some of his favourite photos from a wonderful campaign.
Through The Lens (Part Two):
Description: 17th June 2019 – Simon Harmer of Essex celebrates taking 12 wickets in the match during Essex vs Hampshire – County Championship match at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Simon Harmer… what’s not to love? A top player and top man. Simon is a photographer’s dream as he is so animated out on the field that you can easily capture a dozen or so frames of him just running up to bowl with his wide arm spread. Whenever a bowler takes five wickets I will try to run round to capture an image of them coming off which sounds easy but normally means leaving all your expensive kit the other side of the pitch, sprinting like an idiot around the edge of the field and then hoping they will look towards the camera whilst you are screaming like a banshee for their attention.
Fortunately for this picture, the sky was a rich blue, the upper stand was nice and full and Simon held the ball up whilst smiling into the camera – a perfect image for the marketing team and fans. The fact his haul came against Hampshire only made it sweeter considering the result at the beginning of the season. There are no better places to be than Chelmsford when the sun is out and lads are winning.
Description: 2nd July 2019 – Ravi Bopara of Essex changes his bat during Nottinghamshire vs Essex – County Championship match at Trent Bridge.
I am going to miss Ravi on so many levels so felt the need to include a frame of him doing one of the things he does best – swapping bats. Now I am not a player and never have been but even still I don’t understand why he needs to swap his bats so much. I have more snaps of Ravi swapping bats than all the other players combined. Ravi has so many bats it’s just not true – I take a fair number of shots in the players dressing room, either with mascots when they get to meet the players before the games or maybe for a kit launch promotional shot but on every occasion, I would find myself moving piles of Ravi’s bats.
I bet the dressing room will feel strange without him and the players will sense something is missing (it will be the huge pile of willow). Joking aside, Ravi was and is an absolutely brilliant person to be around, he was always amazing with me and I will especially miss him and Ryan arguing over cards on the team bus when I travel to matches. I for one can’t wait to see him return to Chelmsford that will be a special occasion.
Description: 15th July 2019 – Sir Alastair Cook and Matt Quinn of Essex descend the player’s stairs ready to take the field during Essex vs Warwickshire – County Championship match at The Cloudfm County Ground.
As a photographer, I am always trying to find the shots that make the fans feel closer to the action and gives them a different view of the game. Shooting from the bottom of the player’s steps is one such interesting angle and one that I think helps to set the scene really well for the action that is soon to happen.
As an Essex fan, it is always a great comfort to see Alastair coming down the stairs ready to take on the opposition, it gives the ground and fans a huge lift. I’m not sure I can say the same when Matt Quinn comes down to bat, the two of them together forming an interesting partnership but that’s what struck me on the day I took this image. In Quinny’s defence, I will never forget watching him bat at the Oval last year when he stood up against a torrid bowling assault against Surrey. He took a tremendous amount of punishment and kept getting up with a smile on his face – just brilliant and brave. Quinny is a great guy around the Club, always willing to help out on any commercial shoots that need to be done and always ready with a smile.
This image was taken the day after England defeated New Zealand in the world cup so seeing an Englishman and Kiwi take to the field together felt rather special so taking this image reminded me of a couple of great cricketing moments.
Description: 20th August 2019 – Darren Stevens leaves the field having been given out during Kent vs Essex – County Championship match at the St Lawrence Ground.
I can’t remember the number of times I have sat and watched Darren Stevens turn the knife on us over the years and yet it doesn’t make any sense to me. He doesn’t look the part to me and when I watch him in action I can’t see what it is that he does that is so hard to figure out yet time after time he shows up and delivers. The fact that he plays for Kent doesn’t help me to feel any sense of warmth towards him and the fact that all of the Kent media like to crow on about how brilliant he is really winds me up. So this picture is a real favourite of mine – it reminds me of a truly amazing game of cricket which left me feeling as though I had gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. If you were ‘fortunate’ to watch the whole game then you saw a truly special game which felt like it could have gone either way.
‘Dazzler’ Stevens really turned it on. It felt as though the season might implode and yet somehow the lads dug in and ground out a superb victory. Sam Cook, Adam Wheater and Simon Harmer must have nerves of steel. Watching Stevens trudge off back to the Pavilion gave me a moment of hope in a game that was played at a blazing pace.
Shooting at The Spitfire ground as a member of the Essex media can be a lively job, this is one of the few grounds where you can expect to be on the receiving end of an interesting ‘jibe’ or at least one of the Kent fans to position themselves right in front of the camera, but I like that and nothing steps over the line. The Spitfire ground reminds me of shooting back in Chelmsford, there are loads of busy backgrounds with market stalls and odd buildings so more often than not I will shoot from high up in one of the home fans stands so I think a few choice words to the away media is well deserved.
Description: 17th September 2019 – Daniel Lawrence of Essex celebrates scoring a century of runs by leaping during Essex vs Surrey – County Championship match at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Every time one of the Essex lads looks likely to score a century at home you will see me dashing around the ground ready to go up the player’s stairs to the balcony for the best shooting location in the ground. I shoot this angle as much for the players themselves as their families who like to keep a record of these special moments. Getting to shoot from the balcony is a real privilege and one that I don’t take for granted. I don’t go up the steps too early (I have developed my own superstition of waiting until the batsman is on 92) and when I get up there I try to fit in around all the lads.
Even to this day, I get a bit nervous waiting for one of the lads to give me a bit of stick and to question why I am up there (normally Cooky) so I make a point at the beginning of the year to ask permission from the Captain and Head Coach. I also get a bit nervous to make sure that I get the frame, I am as excited as anyone else plus I know that the lads will immediately ask – did you get it? I am not sure I will ever live it down should I miss one of the lads century celebrations.
The century shot can be a little frustrating as often the player may only briefly look to the balcony or even worse you get a fielder’s legs in the background or an umpire which can ruin the shot. Some of the lads don’t go big for their celebrations so I am always hoping for a big reaction. Fortunately, Dan Lawrence on this day appeared to leap over the bowler to celebrate and it created a pretty cool looking image – I have to say over the past few years I have been up and down those stairs a lot – not that I am complaining, the lads are playing great and winning.
About Unshaken Photography:
Nick runs courses across the region for people with a range of ability, so book your place and get more from your cameras when taking photos. Locations for the courses include The Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford, Cambridge, Maidstone or St Albans.
Courses cover the basics for beginners, portraits, landscapes and even sport, so if you fancy improving your photography get in touch with Nick at [email protected], by phone on 01245 494258 or visit the website – click here.
A message from Dan Feist, Head of Cricket Operations, Essex Cricket
Everyone at Essex Cricket would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole Essex Cricket family for the huge amount of community spirit, engagement, and activation that has taken place. As a united front coming together across every part of the county, it has been exciting to see what is possible in the most challenging times to enhance community lives.
This passion and hard work continues to show that the game is more than just about the competing, but the friendships, memories and opportunities it creates for all – so thank you!
As we now start to see a return to recreational cricket on the horizon, a strong and concerted effort is needed by us all to support our friends, families and the community by respecting the Government guidelines. I can assure you we are continuing to work with the ECB around clarity of information and what opportunities this may create for clubs, teams, players, officials and volunteers. We will continue to communicate this information to our wider cricket family at the earliest opportunity.
Finally, I would like to remind you to please get in touch with the Essex Cricket in the Community team at any point and we will be more than happy to support ways to activate your club, guidance on the current guidelines, funding options to help you through this summer or winter or ways to connect and support your members and local community.
Thank you all again, please continue to stay safe and we looking forward to the enjoyment of playing with a bat and ball again, either now in small groups or with your team in the near future.
Latest ECB Update
On Friday 05 June, the ECB released further practical guidance to players and clubs on the steps they should take whilst undertaking recreational cricket activity and informal cricket activity in an outdoor environment given the current restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The key update in the guidance is the allowance of small group sizes (now up to six individuals), however a number of other subtle but important changes are listed throughout the document.
On 10 June, the ECB released the ‘Roadmap for return to recreational cricket’
• View Here
Together in this Test:
The ECB has launched ‘Together Through This Test’, a nationwide campaign shining a light on the work undertaken by the game in response to COVID-19 and highlighting resources available to the public – Here.
Raise the Bat for Cricket’s Key Workers:
Essex Cricket have joined the ECB’s #raisethebat campaign, which highlights key workers from the world of cricket who have helped to support their local community during COVID-19 – Here
Google’s Digital Garage Workshops:
Cricket clubs across England and Wales can benefit from digital skills webinars as part of a new partnership between the ECB and Google Digital Garage – Here
Information on the ECB’s Leagues Loan is now available: Here
If clubs/leagues are not eligible for either Local Authority or Sport England funding and still require financial assistance or simply to update us on their current circumstances to touch base with Graham Pryke or Arfan Akram.
Further to ECB’s announcement on 31 March, today the ECB announced its Loan and Grant Scheme.
The Grant has been launched as the final resort so we would, therefore, encourage all Clubs and Leagues to ensure they have applied for the following first:
1. Government’s Local Authority Small Business Grant. For more information – Here
2. The ECB Loan scheme – Here
3. The ECB Grant – Here
4. Community Initiative Fund – Here
Sport England:
Interested in finding out more about crowdfunding for sport? Are you part of a not-for-profit organisation committed to keeping the community physically active? Do you need some money to help support your organisation? Crowdfunding could help…
• Register for the event to receive more information – Here
ECiC Guidance
Latest Covid-19 Webinars since last the last update:
• Tuesday 09 June – ECB Guidance – Small Groups
After ECB’s announcement on Step 3 of the Roadmap for the Return of Recreational Cricket, ECiC in partnership of the Region and Matt Blakely at the ECB were joined by 101 people logged in via Zoom to talk through the latest guidance –
• Thursday 11 June – Creating a Club Development Plan
Former Head of Sport at the London Mayors Office, Simon Cooper and Essex Cricket’s Graham Pryke shared knowledge and insight on how to put a Club Development Plan together, from the structure of the document, research and future plans to embedding a Business Plan.
Umpiring Inter League Challenge Launches:
Essex Cricket in the Community have been working closely with the ECB and Essex Association of Cricket Official (ACO) to create a brand new recruitment drive for budding umpires across the region – Here
Call to the Cricket Community:
Have you, or any one in your cricket community represented Essex at age-group level? If so, you may have noticed that Cliff Greenhill has been uploading historic scorecards on to the www.essex.play-cricket.com
Cliff is seeking any old scoresheets or scorebooks you may have so he can insert them to the Play-Cricket database.
The Essex Women’s First Team will be competing once again in a Virtual London Race this weekend.
Essex, Middlesex, Kent and Surrey Women’s players will be dusting off the running shoes once again but this time are looking to post their best 2km time. The fastest team time wins. The next weekend will see play offs between the winners and losers of each game.
The 12-strong set of runners for Essex will also be joined by Nasser Hussain as the special guest runner this week! Other guests runners includes Middlesex’s Pink the Panther!
Follow @EssexWomen on Twitter for up to date information around the competition or Click Here for further information
and finally…
Most importantly it is clear that we want everyone to look after their own health and that of their members; this is the main priority of all.
Contact
In line with Government guidance, Essex Cricket in the Community staff as of Wednesday 18 March have been working from home. Wherever possible, the team will continue to give support and will continue to provide updates as often as necessary.
The Essex Women’s First Team will be competing once again in a virtual London race this weekend.
Essex, Middlesex, Kent and Surrey players will be dusting off their running shoes again but this time they are looking to post their best 2km time. To reflect what would have been a time where the teams would be looking at their T20 exhibition matches, Kent will be playing Essex in the virtual ‘Battle of the Bridge’ whilst Middlesex and Surrey fight it out for the virtual London Cup. The fastest combined team time wins, and next weekend will see a Final and third-place playoff between the winners and losers of each game.
Alongside the 12 players, each team has the option of asking a celebrity runner to join them, with Essex’s celebrity being announced along with the team sheet later today!
Thanks to our Club Partners, Wow Hydrate for keeping the team fuelled and supporting our Virtual London races.
You can also follow @EssexWomen on Twitter for up to date information around the competition.
Fixtures:
Saturday 13th/Sunday 14th June:
The virtual London Cup: Middlesex v Surrey The virtual Battle of the Bridge: Essex v Kent
Saturday 20th/21st June:
Final: Winner v Winner Third place playoff: Loser v Loser
Following the most recent announcement by the ECB stating that domestic cricket is delayed until at least 1 August the Club can now announce that all tickets purchased for Vitality Blast, Royal London Cup, and County Championship will be refunded.
• When will I receive my refund?
Once your refund is processed, we will send you an email to confirm, the funds will appear within 3 – 5 working days of being processed.
• Do I need to contact you?
You do not need to make any contact with the Club. All tickets will be refunded. If needed the Club will make contact with you.
• I bought tickets for different games what happens with that?
You will receive a refund per game, ie if you purchased for Surrey and Kent T20 and Middlesex in the One-Day Cup you would receive three separate refunds.
• I purchased a season ticket, what happens with that?
T20 season ticket purchase will be refunded on a pro-rate basis of 14.29% per game. You will receive x7 separate refunds. This is due to the way the refund process works.
• I am a Member, why are you refunding tickets but nothing on Membership?
We are awaiting clarity from the ECB on how the rescheduled season will look before plans for Membership are released. The intention is for a blanket policy on Membership from the ECB in discussion with all First Class Counties.
• The card I paid with is now expired/destroyed/lost what happens?
If for any reason we cannot make the refund automatically the Club will make contact to make alternative arrangements.
• I paid by cash/cheque/in person/BACS what should I do?
The Club will make contact with you to arrange a refund.
• My tickets for this year were rolled over from the rain-affected games in 2019, what happens?
The Club will be in contact to make alternative arrangements.
• I amended my booking, what happens?
The Club will make contact with you to arrange a refund.
• What about the England Women’s fixtures?
Currently we are only refunding for domestic cricket. We are awaiting guidance from the ECB covering the England Women’s International games due to be staged at The Cloudfm County Ground.
• What about the Women’s Hundred tickets I purchased?
You should have been contacted directly by The Hundred. Please check your emails and make contact directly with The Hundred by visiting thehundred.com.
• Will I get postage fee refunded?
All tickets have been posted out and so no refund for postage will be made.
• Can I roll my tickets over to next season?
No. All tickets will be refunded.
• Can I donate the ticket price to the Club?
There will be opportunities to support the Club during these difficult times in the near future. The Club also have Coronavirus Appeal which is helping to raise funds for the Supporting Humanity charity and the Essex Community Foundation. These charities are working tirelessly to help the NHS and local charities in our community. Further information can be found – Here.
If you have any other queries please email [email protected] and we will reply as soon as possible. Please note that Membership & Ticketing Office is closed for phone calls and in person at the ground.
A message from Dan Feist, Head of Cricket Operations, Essex Cricket
“In these unprecedented times it is fundamental that we first acknowledge the role we can all play in supporting each other to be safe, but once some form of normality starts to return, the role of Clubs as a Community Hub to spark excitement and engagement for all is going to be more important than ever before.
“Throughout history, Cricket Clubs have provided a united and reliable place for the community to come together and it has been great to see and hear so many positive stories about how this is continuing, despite the current situation. The news this week about the financial support that will be available for Clubs alongside other government initiatives comes at a welcome time for all.
“We will be now working with Clubs across the County to make sure they have all the support they need to ensure that they can continue to support their local community and remain a vital part of the wider Essex Cricket family.”
Latest ECB Update
On Friday 05 June, the ECB released further practical guidance to players and clubs on the steps they should take whilst undertaking recreational cricket activity and informal cricket activity in an outdoor environment given the current restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The key update in the guidance is the allowance of small group sizes (now up to six individuals), however a number of other subtle but important changes are listed throughout the document.
The ECB has launched ‘Together Through This Test’, a nationwide campaign shining a light on the work undertaken by the game in response to COVID-19 and highlighting resources available to the public – Here.
Raise the Bat for Cricket’s Key Workers:
Essex Cricket have joined the ECB’s #raisethebat campaign, which highlights key workers from the world of cricket who have helped to support their local community during COVID-19 – Here
Google’s Digital Garage Workshops:
Cricket clubs across England and Wales can benefit from digital skills webinars as part of a new partnership between the ECB and Google Digital Garage – Here
Umpiring Inter League Challenge Launches:
Essex Cricket in the Community have been working closely with the ECB and Essex Association of Cricket Official (ACO) to create a brand new recruitment drive for budding umpires across the region – Here
Information on the ECB’s Leagues Loan is now available: Here
If clubs/leagues are not eligible for either Local Authority or Sport England funding and still require financial assistance or simply to update us on their current circumstances to touch base with Graham Pryke or Arfan Akram.
Further to ECB’s announcement on 31 March, today the ECB announced its Loan and Grant Scheme.
The Grant has been launched as the final resort so we would, therefore, encourage all Clubs and Leagues to ensure they have applied for the following first:
ECiC has put together the following guidance that member clubs are recommended to act on.
Call to the Cricket Community:
We have been asked by ECB to encourage individuals in your club to register for Play Cricket if they are not already. The ECB want to start reaching as many individuals as possible and this is a great additional method.
We hope you enjoyed the first series of webinars and plans are now in place for a second series of useful resource sessions. Please find the list of new zoom webinars below and if there are any additional topics you would like to be covered then please get in touch!
Latest Webinars:
Tuesday 2 June, 12pm – Developing players in Nets and Engaging the transition between Teens to Adults
Former Essex & England Captain and Coach Graham Gooch, Cambridge University Cricket Head Coach Chris Scott and Global T20 Franchise & Chance to Shine Street Coach Donovan Miller shared insight, knowledge and information in how best to assist developing young players from the teenage age group in to adulthood. The Webinar was joined by 40 people via Zoom
• Thursday 4 June, 12pm – Writing an Article for Website and Local Papers
30 people logged in the Daily Mail Cricket Correspondent, Paul Newman and Local Paper, Recorder Newspapers Sports Editor, Lee Power webinar on how clubs can grow their media presence by writing reports for websites and the local press.
• Thursday 11 June (5pm) – Creating a Club Development Plan
• Tuesday 16 June (12pm) – Wider Community Engagement
• Thursday 18 June (5pm) – Women and Girls
• Tuesday 23 June (12pm) – Ability Cricket
• Thursday 25 June (5pm) – Grounds Update
• Tuesday 30 June (12pm) – Tape Ball Cricket, Crickets New Opportunity
Past Webinars:
• Thursday 23 April, 5pm – Club Development and Funding
48 members of clubs and leagues across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire logged in to the first virtual presentation on Club Development and Funding which was delivered by ECB’s Duncan Jenkinson and Essex Cricket’s Graham Pryke.
Listen to the Webinar:
• Tuesday 28 April 12pm – Volunteering and Safeguarding
46 members of clubs and leagues across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire logged in to the first virtual presentation on Volunteering and Safeguarding which was delivered by Essex Cricket’s County Welfare Officer and Director of Cricket Operations.
Listen to the Webinar:
• Thursday 30 April, 5pm – Grounds Maintenance
Essex Cricket’s Head Groundsman, Stuart Kerrison and Grounds Management Associations Regional Pitch Advisor, Phil Jeggo shared insight and good practices as well as answering questions on Grounds Maintenance, 66 members of clubs and leagues across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire logged in.
Listen to the Webinar:
• Tuesday 5 May, 12pm – Women and Girls
33 members of clubs and leagues across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire logged in to the webinar on Women and Girls cricket delivered by Essex Cricket’s Head of Women and Girls Cricket, Natalie Samaranayake and Families Co-ordinator, Claire Smith.
Listen to the Webinar:
• Thursday 7 May, 5pm -Youth Cricket and Player Pathway
79 members of clubs and leagues across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire were giving insight on the strategy and process in place when it comes to Youth Cricket and Pathway. Cricket Operations Director, Dan Feist shared the framework, Academy Director Barry Hyam explained in detail of how the programmes are developed and players are progressed and Men’s Head Coach Anthony McGrath bought the whole journey, pathway and philosophy together in sharing the clubs values what it takes to be a first XI professional cricketer.
Listen to the Webinar:
• Tuesday 12 May, 12pm Scoring and Umpiring
Essex born and professional umpire Neil Bainton was joined by Essex ACO Chair Paul Brice with 41 logged in to the call. Neil share his journey from playing Junior and Recreational Cricket to working his way into the professional umpiring, one of the first non-first class cricketers to do so. Paul shared the structure in place for anyone wishing to become an umpire or scorer.
Listen to the Webinar:
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• Thursday 14 May, 5pm – Marketing and Commercial activation
Essex Cricket’s Marketing and Communication Manager Ashley Neave, Commercial Manager Darrell Fox were joined by Queenie Porter who was representing one of the club sponsors (and webinar partner) WOW Hydrate. 26 people logged-in to understand how the Club works collaboratively internally and with sponsors to not only identify but to activate a partnership. Ashley and Darrell shared good practices, tips and advice in what community cricket clubs can do to engage with new and existing sponsors as well as maximising digital and media platforms to have a good presence. Wow Hydrate also shared an incredible offer, but you will have to watch the webinar to find out more…
Listen to the Webinar:
• Tuesday 19 May, 12pm – Coach Education
Head of Cricket Development at Cambridgeshire Cricket, Ben Wallis was joined by Upminster Cricket Clubs Lead Club Coach, Scott Simmons and Essex Cricket’s Director of Cricket Operations Dan Feist who shared an update on the current situation with Coached Education, future plans on Coaching Courses. Scott shared an insight on what he is doing with Juniors at Upminster to keep them members active through Virtual Coaching. 41 Logged in to the call.
• Thursday 21 May, 5pm – ECB Guidelines on Net Usage
After ECB’s Guidance on net usage on 15 May, ECiC arranged this webinar to guide clubs and parks with net. The capacity of 100 people was snapped up seconds into it going live. Essex Cricket’s Director of Cricket Operations Dan Feist was joined by ECB’s Interim Regional Head of Operations, Essex Crickets County Welfare Officer, Phil Knappett and Wanstead & Snaresbrook Cricket Club Chairman, Martin Pluck. Matt set the tone with a run through the guidance, Phil shared good safeguarding practices and Martin shared the work his cricket have did over the weekend to open their nets up for their members.
• Tuesday 26 May, 12pm – Applying for Funding Usage
With Leagues, Clubs & Community partners constantly reviewing their cash flows and funding opportunities, Essex Cricket’s Claire Smith and Active Essex’s Lee Monk were joined by 29 people via zoom to give insight on key tips, advice, guidance when applying for funding.
Good News
ECB Funding:
To date over £1.5M has been received from Governments Small Business Grant, Sport England Grant, ECB Grants and Loans to date. If your club or league is applicable and have not applied for any of the funding pots then please find links on the Funding and Financial Support section.
Alternative Cricket Tea:
Good luck to Rainham CC who are doing their Alternative Cricket Team this weekend.
A big thanks to the following clubs who already hosted an event, plus those continuing to help their local Foodbanks through the Alternative Cricket Teas.
If you would like some assistance on hosting your own Alternative Cricket Tea, then please feel to get in touch with us.
Call to the Cricket Community:
Have you, or any one in your cricket community represented Essex at age-group level? If so, you may have noticed that Cliff Greenhill has been uploading historic scorecards on to the www.essex.play-cricket.com
Cliff is seeking any old scoresheets or scorebooks you may have so he can insert them to the Play-Cricket database.
Since we last communicated, a number of clubs have registered or even ran an Alternative Cricket Tea. Fantastic effort. Good luck to all running one over the weekend.
Recreational Cricket Update
‘APG 6 Balls to Help Restart Cricket’
As agreed at the Essex Cricket in the Community Adult Participation Group (“APG”) Meeting on 29 April 2020.
All leagues understand the challenges facing recreational cricket at this time.
Although many of the concerns that all leagues, clubs and players are facing at the moment cannot yet be answered, the APG has agreed on the following points to help clubs plan for the future and to give cricket the best chance to return when/if possible in 2020.
1. All leagues agree that their number one priority is to help reactivate play at their member clubs. Be that through their standard league set-up or helping to support creative ways of getting games played.
2. All leagues agree that there will be a period of time between the current lockdown being relaxed and the league season beginning: this is to ensure that grounds and facilities can be got ready for appropriate use. Recommended between 2-5 weeks: leagues to consult their clubs.
3. All leagues agree that there will be no league cricket before July 01 2020.
4. League fixtures and length of season:
• Leagues will try to use the fixtures already produced for their leagues.
• League games to be played on the usual day for that league e.g. Saturday League games not being played on Sundays and vice versa.
• Leagues to consider extending the season deeper into September and October by organising games/competitions at these times with clubs that are able to field teams and at grounds that are available.
5. All leagues agree that there will be no promotion or relegation between divisions for the 2020 season.
6. Penalties: All leagues agree that clubs will not face financial or points penalties for failing to fulfill fixtures, pulling out of divisions or other such offences that are due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic.
The APG will also continue to work with Essex Cricket in the Community, the ECB and Government to update leagues and their member clubs on any announcements or decisions around risk, hygiene and social distancing concerning the playing and organising of cricket.
Kind Regards from:
THE ECiC Adult Participation Group, Made up off all leagues across Essex.
SNEL, EAPL, H&EBL, ECCL, T Rippon, Two Counties, North Essex, Essex Sunday, NCL, EDCL, BSL, GMCL, LCL, LSL, E&MCL, BCL, GLCL, BTCL, LUCL, Warsop Sunday League, Indoor Cricket, Women Cricket Leagues.
• To apply for a DBS
Anyone who needs a DBS they should email: [email protected]
• Renewal of DBS
If you have received an email to say you need to renew your application please complete all the stages in the email you receive.
• Verification
Each Tuesday from 2:30 until 3:30 pm or Friday between 11am and 12pm. Please ring on 07717728725 via Face Time. If you have all your documents ready it will only take a minute or two.
If you work for the NHS /Caring professions/ vital worker under this present lockdown situation and you cannot make these times please contact Phil to arrange an alternative one.
Club Welfare Officer Training:
The ECB Safeguarding Team will from next week start to send out invitations to online Safe Hands webinars to be run in place of face to face courses. Courses will use Zoom which works best through a desktop computer or a laptop, rather than a mobile phone.
• Existing CWO’s
Registered Club Welfare Officers will receive instructions via email from the ECB Safeguarding Team. Various dates and times will be released on a rolling basis. When you receive your invitation from the ECB, please forward your confirmation for our records. If you were booked onto our Safe Hands course at Chelmsford on 29 April, you will hopefully receive your invitation soon.
There are two versions of the course…
For registered Club Welfare Officers whose qualification expires between March and August 2020 and have not attended a Safe Hands course for three years, the ECB Safeguarding Team will use their database to send out an invitation by email.
• New CWO’s
Clubs should email me the following details of newly appointed Club Welfare Officers who have never been booked onto a Safe Hands course.
Subject of email — Request for CWO Safe Hands training:
1. Club Welfare Officer name
2. Club Welfare Officer email address
3. Club
Phil Knappett will forward to the ECB and this will generate an invitation to the online Safe Hands webinar.
Club Welfare Officers who have not completed a Safeguarding and Protecting Children course in the last three years should complete the online Safeguarding Young Cricketers course. The ECB will send out an access email to complete this course. If you have a UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting certificate or the ECB online course as part of a Coach Education course that will suffice.
The qualification will be valid for 12 months, as this is an interim measure while no face-to-face courses are able to run. After 12 months, Club Welfare Officers will need to attend a face-to-face Safe Hands course as they usually would.
When newly qualified CWO’s have completed the required courses, they should log on to at least one of the Essex Cricket Safeguarding weekly Zoom meetings.
Zoom Welfare Officers Support Meeting each Tuesday at 4pm to get further updates and ask any questions.
Club Development Plan
With the updates announced by Sport England and the ECB, we advise that clubs and leagues to work up contingency plans covering various eventualities. We also suggest that they should develop, or where appropriate update, their development plans – including a way forward – and perhaps include a financial assessment of the club’s current and estimated future position, with a comparison to the past three seasons. Projected cash flow will be particularly crucial.
Please do consider how your club can stay relevant and in people’s minds in the local community through online games/videos, members webinars…
Affiliation
Through consultation with a number of stakeholders, ECiC has taken the decision to amend the affiliation fee for ALL clubs to a £20 deposit which will be reviewed again at the end of September. As in previous years a percentage of this amount will be retained by the local Cricket Participation Group to support junior cricket development. Please inform clubs in your league and it will be communicated and processed up the chain.
Affiliation fees ensure the provision of support for clubs from ECiC and the ECB. If your league or club has not affiliated in the past and you wish to do so, then please make contact with your regional/district contact in the first instance.
Invoices
During Tuesday evenings APG meeting, a number of leagues will not be invoicing clubs until they have a clearer picture of the season. We ask all our leagues to consider if this is a workable option for them, too. If you have other suppliers who have invoiced you for supplies, kit etc it would be sensible to contact them to discuss the situation.
Councils & Landlords
We recommend that each club in your league makes contact with their landlords and discusses the possibility of a rent holiday and/or reduction. We are keen for updates to be shared with your respective Essex Cricket contact.
Grounds Maintenance
On Friday 29 May, the Grounds Maintenance Associaiton (GMS) released the following guidance on Recreational and grassroots playing facilities – Here
The Institute of Groundsmen (IOG) on 02 April provided the latest guidelines and specifications for cricket grounds maintenance, respecting the Governments current guidelines – Here
Indoor/Outdoor Nets
In line with the ECB statement on 15 May, the ECB maintains the position that all recreational cricket remains suspended until further notice, with the sole exception of the use of outdoor cricket facilities (nets and pitches) for the purpose of undertaking exercise as set out in the detailed guidance document, available – Here
Overseas Players
Do contact them and their agents as the situation obviously will alter their plans.
Ground Management Association (GMA): An online course is available with the GMA and you can find out more – Here
All Stars Cricket/Dynamos
The ECB have suspended All Stars Cricket and Dynamo Cricket until further notice. However as recently communicated by the ECB, ASC Packs and games at home will be posted out shortly to all that have registered. – more information
The ECB has launched its new Dynamos Cricket app, launching in iOS and Android stores.
This brand new app is part of the ECB’s Dynamos Cricket programme aimed at inspiring 8-11 year olds to play cricket, learn new skills and fall in love with the game. The app is the perfect platform for children to do just this at home and has been tailored to suit all children aged 8+ years.
Packed full of features, it is designed both for children who have never played cricket before, as well as those looking to build on what they already know.
The 18 different skills videos and interactive quizzes provide lots of ways for children to get active at home, even with minimal space and equipment.
Download the free Dynamos Cricket app today and share with your friends and family too!
Spike in Vandalism
Despite the crisis, certain people out there are still adding to the misery by breaking into clubs and stealing.
We have been made aware that one club has had non-turf matting stolen, twice from their outdoor nets. Two other Clubs have had their Gator and Tractor stolen. If members are visiting their club as part of their daily exercise then please try to be as vigilant as possible.
Active Essex Webinar
Organised by Active Essex, Essex Cricket amongst a number of NGB’s shared, discussed and debated a number of factors. The group will meet again in a few weeks’ time to ensure a cross-sport discussion with the focus of keeping our communities as active as possible and supporting young people.
The group also discussed funding and the following two links were signposted as a guide outside of the Sport England, ECB and Government funding.
Most importantly it is clear that we want everyone to look after their own health and that of their members; this is the main priority of all.
Contact
In line with Government guidance, Essex Cricket in the Community staff as of Wednesday 18 March are working from home. Wherever possible, the team will continue to give support and will continue to provide updates as often as necessary.
Under normal circumstances, the Eagles would have already commenced the Vitality Blast title defence with an eagerly anticipated Battle of the Bridge clash against Kent Spitfires due to take place today.
The scheduled fixture list had offered an early opportunity to make amends for one of the few disappointing performances last season, in particular Somerset who were due to visit in the Blast last weekend.
Essex failed to make half of the 226-run target set by Somerset, losing the last eight wickets in just five overs. At the halfway point of the group stage, the prospects of further progress had looked remote.
“We were just terrible,” admitted Head Coach Anthony McGrath as he reflected this week on an ultimately successful campaign.
“It got to a stage after that game where we knew if we lost another game, and other results didn’t go our way, we were out.
“We had a long chat after the Somerset game, saying, ‘Look, we really need to be operating as a team. Whatever role you’re in, do it to the best of your ability, don’t worry about individual games, do it as a team’. From that point forward we played some very, very good T20 cricket.”
Though the next three matches were washed out – bringing some much-needed points and time for contemplation – it was the solitary Specsavers County Championship game that interrupted the T20 block, the visit to Canterbury, that proved to be the seminal moment of the season.
The hangover from the Somerset defeat looked to be continuing as Essex were bowled out for a meagre 114 in reply to Kent’s 226. However, on an extraordinary third day, Sam Cook took career-best figures of 7 for 23 as Kent subsided to 40 all out and Essex won by three wickets.
“We then travelled down to Hove straight after that to play another must-win T20 game, and the atmosphere on the bus was electric,” McGrath recalls. “The way we had turned the Kent game around, and Somerset [rivals for the Championship] looked as though they were struggling against Warwickshire, it gave everyone a lift. To then beat Sussex, who were normally very, very good at home, that was a big shot in the arm confidence-wise. Suddenly we thought, ‘We have a chance here’.”
From the Somerset thrashing onwards, Essex remained undefeated in 14 games in both red and white-ball formats while completing the Championship–T20 double.
Suddenly key performances were coming from unexpected quarters as players stepped up to the plate. “We really began playing as a team,” said McGrath.
“Jamie Porter came in when there was an injury and excelled; Shane Snater did well when he got an opportunity; Matt Quinn was leading wicket-taker before he got injured; Aron Nijjar, to bowl like he did on Finals Day on his debut; and Aaron Beard – Mohammad Amir goes home and Beardy gets to open the bowling and gets Liam Livingstone out up at Emirate Riverside in the quarter-final.”
It was all orchestrated by Simon Harmer in his first season as captain. “Simon took to it straight away,” says McGrath. “He made his plans pretty clear. We knew it might take a bit of time because we were moving guys around a bit, but throughout the tournament he was very clear that it would come right. And I think that shone through to the lads even when we were getting beaten.
“In addition to that Somerset game, we had also been beaten badly by Hampshire, but Simon was still sending out the same message to the guys. That’s really important as a leader. If it doesn’t go right, and then you’re saying a completely different thing to what you were saying a couple of days before, then guys can get confused.
“I think Simon knew what we needed to do and once we started to win you could see his confidence grow. The way he captained in the quarter-final and on Finals Day, he just got better and better. Everything he did in terms of his bowling changes, field placings and at the tosses, came off.”
With the players currently on furlough, and the timing of a return to action uncertain, McGrath says: “Everyone’s frustrated. We’d love to be playing, but it’s an opportunity just to have a reset and reflect on what we’ve done before.”
Article written by Martin Smith for the ECB Reporter’s Network
The Club hosted a first virtual Forum on Thursday 28 May in what was an opportunity to hear from our panel of Committee Members, which included John Faragher, Derek Bowden and Ronnie Irani.
This event was exclusively for 2020 Members with 300 attendees logging on to hear the discussion on a range of different areas, including finances, the current domestic cricket landscape for 2020 and the First Team squad.
We pride ourselves on being a Members’ Club and will continue to provide opportunities to engage with the Committee, coaching staff and players in the weeks ahead.
The Committee Panel for our first Forum of the year included:
• John Faragher, Chairman
• Peter Northfield, Deputy Chairman
• Derek Bowden, Chief Executive
• Ian Patterson, Treasurer
• Ronnie Irani, Chairman of the Cricket Advisory Board
• Philip George, Essex Cricket in the Community Chair
Essex Chairman John Faragher welcomed Essex Members to the virtual Forum and introduced Executive Board Member Mike Smith as host and moderator for the evening. After a substantial financial update from Treasurer Ian Patterson, the meeting continued with questions to the panellists that were submitted by Members…
Information on further virtual events will be available soon and please let us know any feedback by email – [email protected].
In case you missed it…
Due to the exceptional circumstances which prevail as a result of COVID-19, the Club has taken the decision to defer its AGM this year.
The AGM is normally held prior to 31 May in any given year. Currently, the Club feels it is appropriate to defer until July.
No fixed date has yet been identified but it is hoped within the next three to four weeks that we should be in a position to specify a date and time.
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