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Essex will have gone thirty-three days sitting on top of the Specsavers County Championship without a game by the time they rock up in Canterbury on Sunday, and for the fit-again Sam Cook, the wait to get a red ball in his hands has been interminably longer.

It was the middle of June, two months ago, when Cook pulled up in agony four balls into his second over during Hampshire’s second innings at Chelmsford and headed straight to the treatment room with what turned out to be a tear to the muscle just underneath his ribs.

Cook said: “The injury came at a pretty inconvenient time of the season. It’s been pretty tough. At the time I knew it probably wasn’t great, but I didn’t know how long it was going to take.

“Anything that exerted my side, or involved moving my side, was pretty painful. For someone who suffers with hay fever, sneezing wasn’t particularly fun for the first few weeks.

“The gym work I’ve been doing is as much about prevention to try and get it so it doesn’t happen again. Bowling isn’t a natural movement for the body, so injuries come with the territory. But you’ve got to ride these injuries and make sure you’re ready to come back as soon as required.”

It has been a difficult period in the 22-year-old Cook’s nascent career, as Cook says: “I’m a terrible watcher. From a personal point of view, it’s pretty gutting not being able to be out there contributing. As well as the boys did, I just wanted to be part of it.

“It was tough watching from the sidelines, but I was there every day supporting the boys. It’s quite an Essex thing: if anyone gets injured, everyone gathers around and still makes you feel part of it. It’s brilliant.”

During his rehabilitation, Cook played half-a-dozen white and red-ball games for the Second XI in readiness for his return to First Team action.

“As bowlers we know we are going to pick up injuries but, yes, it’s good that I’ve got back fit now. We’ve got a good squad, good depth, and that’s been our strength. Of course, Sids is going to be a big loss and we know we’re going to have to step up now and fill his boots.

“We had a similar thing happen in our Championship season [2017] when we lost Mo [Amir] earlier than we thought. But some of us came in and we did pretty well. So we back ourselves to do it again.”

Essex lead Somerset by four points as the Championship season enters its last, four-game phase, and Cook says: “We’re in the box seat and we’ve just got to concentrate on our own games.

“There’s as much pressure on them as there is on us. Yes, we could slip up, but they could slip up as well. We’re just concentrating on what we’re doing and keep playing the brand of cricket that’s been so successful for us over the last couple of years.

“I’d be lying if I said we didn’t look at what’s going elsewhere. When we come off the field at lunch or tea at the end, of course, we’ll check on the other scores. But while we’re out there it’s 100 per cent focus on what we’re doing.

“We’ve been in this position before and I think that’s going to stand us in good stead. We’re confident that we’re capable of finishing it off and we can bring the Championship home.”

Essex County Cricket Club are pleased to welcome The Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation to The Cloudfm County Ground for tomorrow’s Vitality Blast fixture against Middlesex.

The JE3 Foundation will be holding a bucket collection at tomorrow’s game and fans will have the chance to donate to the charity throughout the evening, with collectors being located at both the Main Gate and River Gate.

We’re also pleased to welcome Justin’s son Charlie to the game. Charlie will be talking to fans around the ground and speaking to the crowd prior to the match starting about the foundation and what they are setting out to achieve and campaign for.

The Club are proud to be supporting The JE3 Foundation and if you’d like to donate online, you can do so by clicking here.

Essex Eagles v Somerset
Vitality Blast
Friday 09 August
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Essex Eagles Team: Tom Westley, Cameron Delport, Adam Wheater (wk), Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer (c), Mohammed Amir, Aaron Beard, Adam Zampa

Glamorgan: David Lloyd, Fakhar Zaman, Jeremy Lawlor, Colin Ingram (c), Chris Cooke (wk), Callum Taylor, Owen Morgan, Graham Wagg, Andrew Salter, Michael Hogan, Marchant de Lange

Umpires: Alex Wharf & James Middlebrook

Toss: Glamorgan, who elected to bowl

Result: Match Abandoned

Match Reaction: Dan Lawrence

Match Report:

A ‘no result’ was the outcome of the Eagles match with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens after heavy rain brought a premature close to the brief proceedings that had taken place, and both teams taking a point.

At that point, the visitors had faced just 4 overs in reaching 30 for 1 with Cameron Delport the man out for 20 when he was adjudged caught behind off Graham Wagg to what was to prove the last ball of the match. The opener had managed three boundaries from the 19 balls faced.

Adam Wheater had just arrived at the crease to join Tom Westley who was 7 not out but then rain swept across the ground sending the players scurrying to the Pavilion.

When the rain abated, umpires James Middlebrook and Alex Wharf decided that a resumption could be made at 8:25pm with the match reduced from 20 overs to 11 overs a-side. However, that all became academic when as the covers were being removed, the rain returned with a vengeance and the game was called off.

Next up is the visit of Middlesex on Wednesday, with the return fixture against Glamorgan taking place two days later against at Chelmsford on Friday 16 August.

LOOKING FORWARD: The Eagles travel to Cardiff to face Glamorgan later this week before returning to Chelmsford to play Middlesex next wednesday.

ALL OUT: Essex are all out for 111, falling 114 runs short of the target.

WICKET: AMIR, BOWLED WALLER, STUMPED BANTON.

OVER 12: Essex take 16 from the over.

5-FER: ROELOF VAN DER MERWE.

WICKET: BEARD, BOWLED VAN DER MERWE, CAUGHT OVERTON.

OVER 11: With Captain Harmer departing the task is left to Beard and Zampa. Essex sit on 93-8.

WICKET: HARMER, BOWLED WALLER, CAUGHT ABELL.

OVER 10: Roelof Van Der Merwe has blown the middle order apart with 3 wickets in 4 balls. A serious uphill battle awaits the Eagles.

WICKET: WALTER, LBW VAN DER MERWE.

WICKET BOPARA, BOWLED VAN DER MERWE, CAUGHT BANTON.

WICKET: TEN DOESCHATE, BOWLED VAN DER MERWE, CAUGHT ABELL.

OVER 9: The experienced heads of Ravi and Tendo are at the crease with Essex on 87-4.

WICKET: LAWRENCE, BOWLED WALLER, CAUGHT OVERTON

OVER 8: The Eagles had began to tuck into Roelof Van Der Merwe’s bowling, however the spinner struck in the penultimate ball of his over.

WICKET: WHEATER, BOWLED VAN DER MERWE, CAUGHT HILDRETH.

OVER 7: Some excellent running between Wheater and Lawrence sees Essex get to 61-2.

OVER 6: The fifty is up for the Eagles who are battling hard against an efficient Somerset outfit.

OVER 5: Essex Eagles are on 43-2. Wheater and Lawrence at the crease.

WICKET: WESTLEY, BOWLED OVERTON, CAUGHT WALLER.

OVER 4: The Eagles had made a strong start before the important wicket of Delport was taken with the final ball.

WICKET: DELPORT, BOWLED GROENEWALD, CAUGHT ABELL

OVER 3: The eagles take 10 from Craig Overton’s first over.

OVER 2: The openers take a watchful approach to Taylor’s first few balls before hitting 3 boundaries off the final 3 balls. Essex Eagles 20-0 after 2.

OVER 1: A decent start for the Eagles who take 8 from the opening over.

THE OPENERS: Westley and Delport stride out, looking to make the most of the important power play period.

INNINGS: Somerset post a commanding 225-6. Essex will need to bat well to secure back-to-back victories.

OVER 19: Somerset bring up their 200. The west-country outfit are 205-6.

WICKET: VAN DER MERWE, BOWLED AMIR, CAUGHT WHEATER.

OVER 18: Byrom had teed off aggressively scoring a very quick 44 before Zampa removed the Somerset youngster. Somerset are on 192-5 with just 12 balls left.

WICKET: BYROM, BOWLED ZAMPA, CAUGHT BOPARA

OVER 17: Amir returns but Somerset continue to accelerate. Score sits at 174-4.

OVER 16: Ravi finishes his excellent spell with figures of 18-3 from his 4 overs.

WICKET: AZAM, BOWLED BOPARA, CAUGHT HARMER.

OVER 15: Harmer changes ends, but unfortunately Somerset don’t change their approach as they take 10 from the over.

FIFTY: BABAR AZAM, 37 BALLS

OVER 14: Dan Lawrence has his first bowl since the the Blast game at Lord’s, his first over going for 7.

OVER 13: Zampa strikes, removing the dangerous Tom Abell. Somerset remain well poised however on a score of 132-3.

WICKET: ABELL, BOWLED ZAMPA, STUMPED WHEATER.

OVER 12: Harmer comes back into the attack, but the change does not have the desired affect for the Eagles. The over going for 24, largely down to some clean striking from Somerset’s captain Tom Abell.

OVER 11: Ravi continues to plough away, Somerset remain resolute however. The score is 104-2.

OVER 10: Beard bowls the over that takes us to the half-way mark. Somerset accelerating well and getting to 97-2.

OVER 9: The crowd are delighted to see Ravi come back into the attack, and with good reason as his second over goes for 4 giving him impressive figures of 5-2 thus far.

OVER 8: Captain Harmer is into the attack, Somerset still have the dangerous Babar Azam at the crease and his wicket will be key to this contest.

OVER 7: Zampa comes back into the attack, conceding 9 runs.

OVER 6: Amir bowls his second over. Somerset sit on 60-2.

OVER 5: Ravi comes into the attack and gives the Eagles just what they need, taking 2 wickets and conceding just one run. First Banton went, playing one too many shots, before Hildreth was caught by a superb catch from Paul Walter.

WICKET: HILDRETH, BOWLED BOPARA, CAUGHT WALTER

WICKET: BANTON, BOWLED BOPARA, CAUGHT ZAMPA

OVER 4: Essex continue to mix and match their bowlers, Paul Walter bowling the 4th over. Somerset are relentless however and bring up their 50.

OVER 3: Zampa enters the attack, the Somerset batsmen appeared cautious at first before eventually taking the over for 12 runs.

OVER 2: Aaron Beard opens up from the other end where Somerset opener Tom Banton shows his class hitting 5 consecutive boundaries in an over that went for 22.

OVER 1: Amir bowls the first over tightly, going for just 5. A crisp 4 from fellow Pakistani Babar Azam the only shot of note in the over.

THE SIDES ARE ENTERING THE FIELD: Essex are led out by Simon Harmer, hoping to make it two wins in two.

TEAM NEWS: Somerset select a side including young talent Tom Banton as well as Pakistan national team player Babar Azam. Essex make one change from the side that won at Gloucester picking Ravi Bopara ahead of Shane Snater.

TOSS NEWS: Somerset win the toss and elect to bat. The Eagles will field first.

AN HOUR TO GO: The ground is beginning to fill with fans ready for this exciting fixture between the Eagles and Somerset. Team news due shortly.

WEATHER OUTLOOK: The sun is now shining at the Cloudfm County Ground following a brief but heavy shower. Play is due to start at 7 as expected still with no rain expected throughout the evening and into the night.

Welcome to The Cloudfm County Ground, where Essex Eagles take on Somerset in the Vitality Blast, with Simon Harmer’s side searching for back to back wins for the first time in the competition following last week’s victory over Gloucestershire.

Simon Harmer and Anthony McGrath made a change to their batting line-up for last week’s Vitality Blast fixtures against Hampshire and Gloucestershire, and promoted Tom Westley to the top of the order.

It’s the first time that the 30-year-old has opened the batting for the Eagles in T20 cricket and the shift has given the side a boost right when their campaign needed it.

The Eagles had won one of their first four matches before Westley was moved up the order from the number three position he has made very much his own across all formats. It did not have an immediate effect on the team’s fortunes, though, as despite his sterling 44 against Hampshire at The Cloudfm County Ground last Thursday, which included an 81-run, second-wicket stand with Adam Wheater, the Eagles slipped to defeat.

However, on the road the following night, Westley’s unbeaten 86 laid the foundations for a morale-boosting victory over Gloucestershire that has ignited hopes of landing one of the four qualifying places for the knockout rounds as the group stage approaches its halfway point.

Westley said: “Opening is not too dissimilar to batting at three, you can be in from the second ball anyway in T20 cricket, so it’s not a huge change for me, but it’s one that I’m enjoying.

“It probably gives you a little more licence to be aggressive. Having 10 wickets in the hutch means you can go for it a bit more, especially opening with someone like Cam Delport who gives it a serious whack. We’ve actually had two good power plays in the last two games, so hopefully this is something we can continue and set the boys up.”

The suggestion that Westley should open came from the management, with him saying: “Harmy and Mags felt a change was needed, and it paid off down in Bristol. In fact, we were going quite nicely against Hampshire until that drastic batting collapse. But down in Bristol, myself and Delport got fifties and Dan Lawrence, going up a place in the order, got a magnificent fifty as well.

“I haven’t opened in T20 cricket before, but I have in 50-over cricket, and when it was 40 overs before that, and I’ve opened in first-class cricket as well, so it’s nothing new. I like going in when the power play’s going on anyway as it gives me the chance to try and hit a few boundaries.”

The addition of the power-hitting of South African Delport to the batting line-up has enabled the Eagles to play the brand of attacking cricket required in the short format, with Westley commenting: “That hundred he got against Surrey was one of the best white-ball knocks you will see. He takes a lot of pressure off the non-striker because he gets fours and sixes galore.

“T20 cricket has changed massively in the last three or four years. There is not much scope now to try and knock it around at a strike-rate of around 110-120. If you’ve got the honour of batting in the top six then you’ve got to be striking at 130-plus, so Cammie obviously sets the tone and hopefully the rest of us can follow suit.”

Next up at The Cloudfm County Ground in the Vitality Blast are Somerset, who along with Essex, lead the way in the County Championship.

Westley added: “It’s a completely different format, different teams, different make-ups, but I suppose just beating them will be a slight psychological advantage for us going back into the Championship campaign. But we’re very much into taking one game at a time. It would be brilliant to beat Somerset on Wednesday, that’s our first challenge, then we’ll take care of all the four-day stuff later on.”

As for his own form this season, Westley says: “I’m scoring consistently, it’s just been a bit frustrating in the sense I’ve got a lot of starts, so many 30-plus scores, maybe seven or eight fifties across all the formats, but still haven’t managed to get a big hundred yet. But, more importantly, I feel I’m offering valuable runs to the team.”

The 30-year-old committed himself to another three years at Chelmsford last month, said: “It was a no-brainer, because I think we’re in the middle of what could be a very successful era for the club.”

Essex Eagles entertain Somerset in the Vitality Blast on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Ravi Bopara and Jamie Porter return to the squad, but Matt Quinn drops out after picking up a shoulder injury which forced him out of the clash against Gloucestershire at The Bristol County Ground.

The 26-year-old is the leading wicket taker for the Eagles in the Vitality Blast, and he’s due to have a scan on Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury.

Simon Harmer’s side are looking to build on last week’s win where they beat Gloucestershire by 25 runs, and the skipper is hoping that his side can build momentum from the victory, saying: “The win showed the character we have in the group together with the talent and potential.

“To go to a strong Gloucestershire side and turn them over was excellent particularly after the disappointing defeat to Hampshire the previous evening.

“I’m trying my best to make things happen as they should but I also have in mind that there are certain things here and there that we can work on and be better at going deeper into the competition. But as a captain watching that performance on Friday was very enjoyable.

“We needed our batters to take responsibility because our top-six needs to be scoring the bulk of our runs. They put their hands up and showed what they could do and that set us up. It was a real positive performance from them and a good blueprint of how we want to play our T20 cricket.

“It showed what we’re capable of and I think it also demonstrates that we have a lot of talent, youth and depth in our squad.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Somerset:

Simon Harmer (11) (captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter(44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

Dot balls are the currency T20 bowlers deal in. Essex’s overseas leggie has sent down 23 of his 66 deliveries in this fledgling Vitality Blast campaign without a run being hit off them.

In the bish, bash, bosh world of T20 cricket, he even managed the rarity of bowling a maiden over against Surrey, a wicket maiden at that, only the third he has recorded in a career of 118 matches and nearly 400 overs. It is a feat akin to a batsman scoring a century.

“I’ll take that!” the 27-year-old Australian white-ball international says eagerly. “I’m happy to say I’ve got three centuries! It’s a good feeling to bowl a maiden, particularly in such a high-scoring game as that one was. We got over 220 – and it was only a 15-over game. Once you bowl a maiden, and the asking rate goes up, it’s game-changing, particularly when you’ve got guys at the other end like Aaron Finch who can potentially win the game for the opposition.

“Yes, dot balls are very important. I’m not the kind of guy who will blast teams out; I’m not the kind of guy who will get three wickets in an over. I’m more the kind of bowler who builds pressure and does it that way.

“Dot balls tend to turn to wickets. In the role I’m playing here I’m finding myself bowling throughout the innings. I usually bowling an over of power play, a couple in the middle and one towards the end. So it’s important to keep taking wickets the whole time. Sometimes you aren’t going to get them yourself, so it’s important that you close out overs to make it easier for the guy at the other end.”

The guys at the other end when Essex play Hampshire at The Cloudfm County Ground on Thursday (7pm) will include Mohammad Amir. It is a double-whammy for Essex. As he showed when he turned out for the county in the 2017 season, his economy rate then was often below even his impressive career average of 6.75 runs per over.

“It’ll be exciting to have Mo on the field for the first time,” says Zampa. “We’ve probably missed him the first couple of games. He’ll make a huge difference in the power play for us and he’s going to be really important at the death. Having him at the other end is probably going to help me: maybe I’ll become more of a wicket-taking option for the team and my role might be a little bit different now.

“He got a five-fer against us [Australia] in the World Cup, so I was able to watch that and realise just how good he really is.”

After a disappointing World Cup in which Zampa played just four games, and Australia were knocked out in the semi-final by England, all eyes turn to the Ashes. In particular, in this part of the country, they will focus on Peter Siddle, Essex’s Aussie seamer, recalled to arms at the age of 34 for his sixth Ashes campaign.

“I’m really stoked for him,” Zampa says of his close friend. “It’s a good story. He’s been in and out of the team, but he got his opportunity in Test cricket again last year. He really appreciates the opportunity that Essex have given him. I think if it wasn’t for that, he probably wouldn’t be in the Ashes squad. He’s definitely benefited from his time over here.”

As for the series itself, Zampa says: “I think the top orders are what will define the series. Steve Smith is huge. He’s on a different level to everyone else. Him batting at No4, Usman Khawaja at three, David Warner opening; England don’t have a lot of Test match experience compared to that top order. I think that could have a huge bearing on the series.”

RESULT Kent take the points on this occasion, winning by 22 runs.

WICKET: HARMER, CAUGHT KLAASEN, BOWLED MILNE.

OVER 19: Essex will need 34 from the last over. Time to channel the inner Garfield Sobers.

FIFTY: Tendo brings up a 50 from 41 deliveries.

OVER 18: Serious uphill battle ahead. Essex need 42 from the final 2 overs.

WICKET: WHEATER, CAUGHT KLAASEN, BOWLED NABI.

OVER 17: Tendo hits a most needed 4 from the final ball of the over. Essex need 49 from the final 18 balls.

OVER 16 Kent stifle the Essex men to a set of singles with a double coming from the final ball.

OVER 15: 9 From the over. Tendo and Wheater are taking this deep.

OVER 14: Essex are on 102-5. 74 needed.

OVER 13: Huge let off for Essex as Tendo is dropped by Nabi at fine leg. Essex sit on 96-5 with 7 overs left.

WICKET: BOPARA, CAUGHT BELL-DRUMMOND, BOWLED KLAASEN.

OVER 12: 9 off the over. Great running from Bopara and Tendo.

OVER 11: A big few overs ahead for the Eagles. 81-4.

WICKET: LAWRENCE, CAUGHT BELL-DRUMMOND, BOWLED VILJOEN.

OVER 10: At the halfway stage Essex sit on 71-3. 105 needed in the final 10 overs.

OVER 9: A decent over for the eagles. 59-3 the score.

OVER 8: An outrageous catch dismisses Chopra, Essex sit on 50-3.

WICKET: CHOPRA, CAUGHT KUHN, BOWLED QAYUUM.

OVER 7: Chopra hits his groove, smashing Klaasen for a huge leg side 6. 47-2.

OVER 6: An eventful over as Ten Doeschate recovers from a body blow to hit Milne for a boundary. 36-2.

OVER 5: Viljoen bowls very well, restricting Essex to just 2 from his over.

WICKET: WESTLEY, BOWLED VILJOEN

OVER 4: Westley and Chopra knock the ball around for singles. The score sits at 27-1.

OVER 3: Viljoen comes into the attack and bowls sharply, Delport hits a 4 off the first ball, but the rest of the over is rather tight and Delport is run out off the final ball.

WICKET: DELPORT RUN OUT BY MILNE.

OVER 2: Nabi bowls for the home side, completing an international opening bowling partnership with Milne. 15-0.

OVER 1: The Eagles start well racing to 10-0.

INNINGS Snater bowls an expensive last over as Kent finish on 175.

WICKET: COX, CAUGHT WESTLEY, BOWLED QUINN

OVER 18: Zampa into the attack and goes for 8 runs. Kent getting riskier with their running at this late stage.

OVER 17: Quinn into his stride again now. His over going for 5.

OVER 16: Harmer strikes as Essex begin to get into Kent’s lower order. with 16 balls left Kent are on 132-5.

WICKET: BLAKE, CAUGHT SNATER, BOWLED HARMER.

OVER 15: No magic from Delport this over as Kent take 8 from the over.

OVER 14: Zampa bowls his third over, a superb set that goes for just 3. Kent are 115-4.

WICKET: NABI, STUMPED WHEATER, BOWLED ZAMPA

OVER 13: Delport strikes with the ball. We’ve seen what he can do with the bat, now he’s showing us his skills with the ball!

WICKET: BELL DRUMMOND, CAUGHT SNATER, BOWLED DELPORT.

OVER 12: Harmer is back on for another over of spin, 7 off it. 104-2

OVER 11: Bopara’s variations do the trick as Robinson departs in an over that goes for 4.

WICKET: BOPARA FORCES A DRAG-ON FROM ROBINSON

OVER 10: Zampa is back in the attack and goes for a further 10 runs. The Kent batsmen running very well between the wickets. 93-1 at the half way point.

OVER 8: Harmer continues, now in the second over of his spell. The over goes for 5 including the first extra of the game.

OVER 7: The power play is over and Ravi is brought into the attack, the over goes for 7 and Kent sit at 66-1.

OVER 6: Simon Harmer brings himself into the attack and goes for 8.

OVER 5: Kent are getting off to a flyer using the small boundary well. Quinn’s 2nd over goes for 16 before Crawley is bowled off the final ball. Kent sit at 51-1 after 5 overs.

WICKET: QUINN BOWLS CRAWLEY

Captain Simon Harmer considers his bowling options

OVER 4: Snater has changed ends and bowls his second over. Not the tightest however as it goes for 14.

OVER 3: Quinn is taken to by Crawley who hits back to back 4’s in an over that goes for 11. Kent are 21-0 after 3.

OVER 2: is bowled by Zampa, who bowls tightly conceding just 2 runs.

OVER 1: Goes for 8 with Zak Crawley starting well for the home side.

START: Snater is opening the bowling for the Eagles. Essex with an attacking field with Chopra at slip.

TEAM NEWS: Essex name an unchanged side. For Kent, Daniel Bell-Drummond captains a side featuring Mohammad Nabi and Imran Qayuum.

THE TOSS: Kent have won the toss and have elected to bat. Essex will field first.

Cameron Delport was the main man against Surrey smashing a superb century.

WEATHER OUTLOOK: With just under an hour until the first ball, the weather is set to be fairly wet tonight. Fans from both sides will be hoping for a full 40 overs play. Eagles fans however, will know just how strong their side can be in reduced over games after the match against Surrey.

Welcome to The Spitfire Ground, where Essex Eagles take on Kent Spitfires in the third Vitality Blast match of the 2019 campaign, with Simon Harmer’s side looking for back to back following last week’s victory over Surrey.