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Umesh Yadav may be the newest Indian cricketer to sign on the dotted line with Essex, but he is hardly the first to do so.

As one of the world’s most populous countries for much of its recent history, India has produced a long line of near-immortal cricketing talent.

Before Yadav, there were three players who came from the subcontinent to Chelmsford, each leaving their own mark on Eagles history.

In honour of the seamer becoming the latest in that line of players, this is a look back to recent years and Yadav’s three compatriots who preceded him.

Harbhajan Singh (2012)

Known as ‘The Turbanator’ on account of his ubiquitous headwear, which he in turn owes to his following of Sikhism, right-arm off-spinner Harbhajan arrived in Chelmsford for a short spell in late 2012.

He signed with the Eagles at a time when he had played 98 Test matches, 229 ODIs, and 23 T20Is, and made his debut away to Gloucestershire in Cheltenham.

His best return in an Essex shirt came in the latter competition against the Netherlands, where he claimed figures of 5/37 in a crushing win at Castle Park in Colchester.

Gautam Gambhir (2013)

Signed for a short stint towards the end of the 2013 season, left-handed opening batter Gambhir was, at the time, an Indian great looking for a last hurrah with his national side.

He came to Essex at the age of 31, 14 years after making his first-class debut, with a CV containing more than 4,000 Test runs scored at an average of 44.19 in 54 matches, alongside a further 176 white-ball internationals.

He would go on to play a further four LV= County Championship and two Yorkshire Bank 40 matches, hitting a total of 262 runs, with a high score of 106 against Gloucestershire.

Murali Vijay (2018)

The most recent Indian international to represent Essex was right-handed opening batter Vijay, who had a three-game County Championship stint in September 2018.

Vijay’s career achievements were very similar to Gambhir’s by the time he pulled on an Essex shirt, having represented his country in 59 Test matches, scoring just shy of 4,000 runs in the format.

Vijay would go on to play further matches against Worcestershire and Surrey, totalling 323 runs in just five innings as Essex won all three of the matches he appeared in.

Making your Test debut for any nation is a remarkable enough feat as it is, but to do it for cricket-mad India, where 1.4 billion people are distilled into a representative XI, is perhaps even more impressive.

Yet, new Essex signing Umesh Yadav has played in the format not just once, but 57 times for his country since 2011, alongside 75 ODI appearances and almost 300 additional domestic matches in all formats.

Such a decorated career has enabled him to build quite the CV, and as he pulls on an Essex shirt for the County Championship run-in, this is a look through Yadav’s personal highlights, by the numbers.
 

310: the highest Test strike rate ever

Yadav holds the somewhat niche record of the fastest ever Test innings of at least ten balls, having struck 31 from that number of deliveries in October 2019 against South Africa in Ranchi.

Entering the fray at number nine with his side already in the comfortable position of 450-7, Yadav smoked both his first two balls, delivered by debutant George Linde, for six.

His next two balls in the subsequent over from Dane Piedt only went for one, but he made up for it when Linde began the over after that, striking a further three sixes in five balls before being caught.

India would go on to declare on 497-9 prior to bowling South Africa out twice for 162 and 133 to win by an innings and 202 runs.

India’s number 272

It is now just under 12 years since Yadav first made his bow in the Test arena for India, in the first match in a series of three against West Indies, but he will always be the 272nd man to play in the format for his country.

He debuted alongside Ravi Ashwin, who holds cap number 271, and his longevity is borne out by the fact that Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli are the only two to have played a Test this year who made their bows earlier.

Given that neither Kohli nor Pujara played in that West Indies match, Yadav and Ashwin are also the only two on the Indian side who did appear in it to still be plying their trade in Test cricket.

13th-most wickets in IPL history

In its’ 15-year history, some of the all-time greats of the game have spent time playing in the IPL, including the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, and Kane Williamson, to name but a few.

Yadav has dismissed all of them since making his debut in the competition in 2010, and he has taken a total of 136 scalps across spells with Delhi Daredevils/Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

His best IPL figures of all time are 4/23, taken for the Knight Riders last year against the Punjab Kings, and in the overall charts, he is currently three behind Rashid Khan in 12th, and 14 off the top 10.

10/133: Yadav wounds Windies

Seven years after making his debut, Yadav’s best performance in the Test arena came in an encounter with the very same team, in Hyderabad.

Although the visitors were able to put up a competitive 311 all out in their first innings, it was Yadav who led the way for India’s bowlers as he took 6/88, including wrapping the innings up with two in two balls.

After India had eked out a lead of 56 following their first dig, he followed it up with 4/45 in the Windies’ second innings to set up a simple chase of 72 for victory, a task the hosts completed in 16.1 overs without losing a wicket.

That included taking another scalp, that of Kraigg Brathwaite, with his second ball, so – although the definition of a hat-trick might vary depending on who you ask – he was one delivery away from that feat.

18: a World Cup to remember

India may have fallen short of defending their title at the 2015 World Cup, but the tournament was still a particularly memorable one for Yadav individually.

He led the way for his country, claiming 18 wickets to sit third in the overall competition standings, behind only the 22 each taken by Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult, of joint hosts Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

Yadav grew into the tournament with seven in his first five games, before taking three against Zimbabwe in India’s final pool match and then ripping through Bangladesh in the quarter-finals with 4/31 from nine overs.

He claimed another four in a semi-final against Australia at the SCG, but in vain this time as the eventual champions progressed into the final.

53: Australia’s nemesis

Yadav’s four scalps in that semi-final, who were the rather impressive quartet of Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steve Smith, and James Faulkner, were, in all reality, just a drop in his ocean of success against the Aussies.

In addition to the 21 Australian wickets he has claimed in ODIs – second only to his 26 against the West Indies – and two in T20Is, he has taken 53 against them in Test matches, far clear of his record against any other nation.

In fact, he has claimed more scalps in Test encounters with Australia than against the next two highest countries combined, comfortably outstripping his 25 against the West Indies and 22 versus Bangladesh.

1 Champions Trophy

He may have missed out on the World Test Championship in his last match for India, but Yadav has still experienced success with his country, most notably winning the 2013 Champions Trophy.

He played in all five matches of the tournament, and after rain reduced the final, against hosts England, to a 20-over contest, he returned economical figures of 1/10 from two overs.

That helped India restrict England to 124-8, short of the 130 they needed to win, with that sole wicket being none other than Yadav’s now-teammate, Alastair Cook.

Essex is delighted to announce that India seamer Umesh Yadav will join the Club for the final three matches of the 2023 LV= Insurance County Championship.

Yadav, 35, has played 57 Test matches for his country alongside 75 One-Day Internationals and nine T20Is, during which he has taken a combined 288 wickets.

He made his Test debut in a five-wicket victory over the West Indies in Delhi in November 2011, with his most recent appearance in the format coming in June’s World Test Championship Final against Australia at the Oval.

Domestically, he has represented Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy and Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy at first-class level in his homeland, and possesses an overall red-ball bowling average of 29.49.

He will be eligible for selection in home matches against Middlesex and Hampshire, as well as the end of season trip to Northamptonshire.

Upon signing his contract, Yadav said: “I am really pleased to join Essex and make what I hope will be some valuable contributions to the team’s success this year.

“I enjoyed playing in England with Middlesex last season, and it will be good to return and test myself in those conditions again, especially in the midst of a title race.”

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “Umesh is a superb signing for us, and we all know what he will be able to bring to our attack at a crucial time of the season.

“He is vastly experienced and has taken wickets at the top levels of the game for more than a decade now, so as well as contributing during our run-in, we hope he can pass on some of his wisdom to our young players too.”

Watch Umesh Yadav in action

Umesh will be in action for Essex’s next home match at The Cloud County Ground, taking place on Monday 04 September against Middlesex and tickets for all four days on sale now!

Tickets are still available for this fixture at £14 for Adults, £11 for Students/Young Adults and £5 for Juniors. Tickets rise to £17 for Adults on the gate so make sure you buy in advance to save on your tickets.

With the conclusion of the Metro Bank One Day Cup, Overseas all-rounder Beau Webster played the last game of his stint with the Club.

During his eight-game spell as an Eagle, Webster fulfilled his role as a senior player with distinction and finished the competition as Essex’s leading runscorer and wicket-taker. He also realised a dream he had held for many years of playing for Essex after a conversation one night with the then Team Manager of Melbourne Renegades, Mark Pettini.

I used to joke with him (Pettini) that it was my dream to play for the Eagles and somehow we’ve made it happen.

Fans at Chelmsford on Tuesday got a sight of his batting capabilities as he recorded his second half-century of the campaign. He was eventually out for 69, four runs short of his best for the competition which was made against Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl. Overall he scored 260 runs at an average of 37.14.

With the ball, his wily variations of seam-up and off-spin bowling helped him play a crucial role with the ball throughout. Often bowling at important moments and death overs, he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 25.57 and an economy of 5.47.

His best figures of 3/37 came against Kent Spitfires at Canterbury, but his experience and skill was to the fore when he bowled the final two overs from The River End in Essex’s victory against Middlesex. In those two overs, two wickets fell and he conceded just five runs.

Hear what Beau had to say on his time as an Eagle:

Essex v Surrey

Metro Bank One Day Cup

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Tuesday 22 August 2023 | 11:00am start

Essex’s 2023 One Day Cup campaign draws to a close with a final fixture against Surrey at The Cloud County Ground tomorrow.

It has been a tough tournament for the Eagles, but top run-scorer Charlie Allison, who has hit 250 runs at an average of 41.66 despite being aged just 18, has given all those connected to the Club great hope for the future.

Meanwhile, the recruitment of all-rounder Beau Webster has been another bright spot, with the Australian having hit 191 runs and taken a joint-team-high 12 wickets.

Essex will aim to finish the competition on a high, ahead of a pivotal September which will decide the winner of the LV= Insurance County Championship.

Squad:

Head Coach Anthony McGrath has named a 14-strong squad for this fixture, with the group unchanged from that which travelled to Kent on Sunday.

The Opposition:

Surrey squad: Rory Burns (c), Josh Blake, Tommy Ealham, Ben Geddes, Luke Griffiths, Conor McKerr, Dan Moriarty, Ryan Patel, Dom Sibley, Cameron Steel, Amar Virdi

Surrey have endured rather than enjoyed their One Day Cup campaign this year, currently sitting in ninth place of Group A with three points and one win to their name.

That one win came against Notts Outlaws, by three runs in a rain-affected meeting, but since then, the Brown Caps have suffered back-to-back heavy defeats against Lancashire and Hampshire.

While their chances of qualification in this competition may be gone, their campaigns in other formats have been comparatively better.

They are currently engaged in a tight title race with none other than Essex in the LV= County Championship, while they also joined the Eagles at Vitality Blast Finals Day but were eliminated in the semi-finals by Somerset.

Key Battle – Feroze Khushi v Dan Moriarty:

Last Time We Met:

Although Essex slipped to defeat in their last List A clash with Surrey, at the Oval in 2019, it is far more likely that another meeting with the Brown Caps in the format, in 2013, is the one which will stick in Eagles fans’ minds.

That was the day on which Graham Napier picked up not just back-to-back scalps, nor even a hat-trick, but in fact became only the sixth man in List A history to take four wickets in four balls.

Essex had set 312-7, with Owais Shah’s 53-ball 68 and 54 from Ravi Bopara being the top scores, while James Foster had blasted 39 off just 18 in the latter stages, with Surrey reaching 113/4 after 24 overs in response.

The following scenes were barely believable for those watching under the Chelmsford lights, as Napier, starting with the second ball of the 25th over, saw off Azhar Mahmood, Zander de Bruyn, Tom Jewell, and Jon Lewis.

Having also already taken care of Jason Roy and Australia legend Ricky Ponting, Napier went on to finish with 7/32, the second-best List A bowling return in Essex history, as the Eagles secured a crushing victory by 178 runs.

Metro Bank One Day Cup Remaining Fixture:

Tickets:

As ever, Essex Members can enter by showing their valid card at the gate, and are free to sit in any vacant seat in the ground, though the Doug Insole Pavilion benches and blocks 1-14 and 27-31 are reserved for Members.

General admission seats are located in blocks 15 to 26 and are unreserved, with the Family Area able to be found in block 23, which is part of the Felsted School Stand.

These are priced at £16 for adults if bought in advance or £22 at the gate on the day, while young adults aged between 18 and 25 can buy at any time for £11 and under-18 tickets cost just £5.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the link below:

How To Watch:

If you are unable to make it to The Cloud County Ground in person, the action will be streamed live via the Essex Cricket Matchzone and on the Essex Cricket TV YouTube channel.

Live updates will also be provided on the Club’s social media channels, while highlights will be available after the match via the Essex Cricket website and social channels too.
 

Essex’s Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign comes to a conclusion at The Cloud County Ground on Tuesday with Surrey the visitors.

Tickets are still available for this fixture at £16 for Adults and £5 for Juniors. Tickets rise to £22 for Adults on the gate and will be in limited supply so make sure to buy in advance.

Members’ Forum:

There will be a Members’ Forum hosted in the Doug Insole Pavilion before play. This will begin at 9am and the entry gates will open at 8:45am to accomodate those arriving early to attend the Forum.

Scheduled Hours of Play:

 

Ahead of Your Visit:

In the event of adverse weather conditions on the day of the match, please keep up to date with the prospects of play via the Club’s Twitter and Facebook channels.

Please note that the Prospect of Play phone line is no longer in use and all updates will be available online.

 

Accessibility:

Accessible parking:
Accessible parking spaces at The Cloud County Ground are available for Members on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spectators with accessibility needs can be dropped off by drivers at the main gate via New Writtle Street.

Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating is located in The Kenton Group Stand (Hayes Close End) and in Block 1 of the Tom Pearce Stand Lower for this game.

Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge and must be arranged in advance. This is upon the presentation in the Membership & Ticketing Office or on the gate with proof of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16 years old.

We can also accept a Blue Badge and Access card.

Accessible Toilets:
Wheelchair accessible toilets are located behind the main scoreboard (Red Area), rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion (Blue Area) and adjacent to Block 25 at County Corner (Green Area).

 

Travel:

Parking:
• Spectators travelling by car will need to locate a public car park in the proximity of the ground as there is no parking available on-site at The Cloud County Ground.

• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open and closes at 10pm for this fixture.

• Meteor Way will be open for Members from three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis. This car park will close 30 minutes after play has concluded.

Public Transport:
• Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the County. Alternatively, bus numbers 13, 46 and C1 shuttles, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the Ground, via New Writtle Street.

• Chelmsford Railway Station is operated by Greater Anglia and is an approximate 10-minute walk from The Cloud County Ground. Regular direct train services depart from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline.

Please note that there will be a disrupted train service on Friday due to a train strike. For further information and to view the revised timetable, please visit Greater Anglia – here.

 

Ground Entry:

Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate. Please enter through the gate nearest your seat location.

General Public Seating:

• Supporters who have purchased tickets can enter the ground by scanning the QR on your tickets that has been sent to you via email following your purchase. If you choose to print out your ticket, please ensure that the match details (including name and seat details) are included as per the image below. Make sure you have your match ticket available on your phone or printed out so it is easily accessible for ticket scanning on arrival. Please do not take a ‘screen grab’ of your QR code as that will not be read by the scanners.

• In the event of rain forecast on the day of the match, spectators can bring a small umbrella into the ground but metal spiked umbrellas are not permitted.

• Please note, blocks 28 and 29 are strictly alcohol-free. If you are seated in either block you will not be permitted to take an alcoholic beverage to your seat.

• The designed Family Area is located in block 30-31.

 

Around the Ground:

• Spectators are permitted on the pitch during the interval and please be guided by the safety stewards on the playing areas. We also ask that only soft balls are used when playing cricket on the outfield.

• The pitch will also be accessible for 30 minutes after play for spectators.

• Spectators are permitted to move behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players’ area and walkway.

• The Club Store and Membership & Ticketing Office will be open for spectators for the duration of your visit.

• Scorecards will be available for £1 from the Club Store for cash or card payment, or alternatively by card from the Tees River Gate entrance.

• If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloud County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or text ‘RESPECT’ including your stand and issue to 60066.

• Fan Wi-Fi is available at The Cloud County Ground for every matchday giving you the opportunity to share photos and videos of your Eagles experience. Simply logon to ‘EC-Public’ from your seat to access.
 

Food & Drink:

• The Food Court is located in the blue area of the ground by the Essex Cricket Store which includes hog roast for this match.

• The Level Head Bar is new for 2023! This new area in partnership with Greene King brings you live music and beer garden vibes to enjoy before and throughout your evening with us.

• The Doug Insole Pavilion will be welcoming Members through its doors and serving a wide range of hot and cold drinks from the bar. A choice of snacks will also be available to purchase.

• Anne’s Pantry will be offering a choice of hot meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Hayes Close End, River End and will also be operating a Food Court outside the Essex Cricket Store.

They will be serving a range of meals suitable for all dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as children’s portions.

• Other refreshment kiosks include bar areas located at either end of the ground in County Corner and Spinner’s Bar.

• Spectators are not permitted to bring alcohol into the ground for Vitality Blast fixtures. However, food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed providing there is no glass or sharp objects such as cutlery.

• Please note that The Cloud County Ground is a cashless venue, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit.

 

Leaving the Ground:

During T20 fixtures, spectators are not allowed to reenter the ground after leaving.

At the conclusion of the game, players will be signing autographs by the players steps which are accessible in front of the Doug Insole Pavilion.

We ask spectators to leave the ground in a safe and patient manner. Stewards will be on hand to help direct you safely out of the ground.

We hope you have an enjoyable visit to The Cloud County Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on essexcricket.org.uk ahead of the match.

Get in touch with us by email if you have any further questions at [email protected] or via the Club’s official Twitter and Facebook channels.

Watch The Action On the Move

Our Live Stream will be available for spectators with multi-angled ball tracking and replays.

Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.

>> Visit Matchzone