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Somerset v Essex

Vitality County Championship

The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Friday 03 – Monday 06 May 2024 | 11:00am start

 
Having continued an unbeaten start to the season with a draw against Durham at the Seat Unique Riverside, Essex are again on the road this weekend with a trip to the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton to take on Somerset.

Nick Browne’s 184 was the standout in Chester-le-Street, along with 107 for Feroze Khushi, as the Eagles racked up a new team-record score against Durham of 488.

With Michael Pepper and Adam Rossington out with injuries, Yorkshire’s Harry Duke was loaned in, and he immediately endeared himself to his new teammates with a stunning low one-handed grab off Jamie Porter to remove Scott Borthwick.

With Tom Westley also unavailable due to personal reasons, the side was captained for the first time by Sam Cook, and with the Eagles in need of a nightwatchman late on Day One, the 26-year-old opened both the bowling and the batting.

Meanwhile, Browne underpinned the visitors’ innings by soaking up 321 deliveries, forming partnerships of 166 with Khushi and 100 with Jordan Cox, as the draw was agreed shortly before 5:00pm on the final day.

With one almighty journey in the space of a fortnight under their belts, Anthony McGrath’s side go on another this week in search of a third win of the season when they are welcomed to the West Country by fourth-placed Somerset.

Squad

Head Coach McGrath has named a 13-strong group for the trip to Taunton.

Captain Tom Westley, who became a father for the second time this week with the birth of his daughter Florence, returns in place of Robin Das.

The Opposition

Somerset have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to the campaign, with four draws from their opening four matches against Kent, Surrey, Nottinghamshire, and Worcestershire.

They dominated in Canterbury in the season opener and were denied only by the weather, while they fought back admirably at the Kia Oval to hold the Brown Caps to a stalemate.

A flat deck in their first home game against the Green and Golds set up an inevitable draw, while the rain again intervened during the relatively short trip to Kidderminster in their most recent fixture.

Jason Kerr’s men have taken 21 bonus points from those four games, split into 11 for batting and 10 for bowling, to sit fourth in the table, three points ahead of Durham and two behind Warwickshire, with the Eagles a further 16 ahead.

Tom Lammonby is the Taunton outfit’s leading run-scorer, and is indeed fifth in the entire division’s charts, with 373 from the first four matches, with Australian import Matt Renshaw having notched 245.

Meanwhile, Kasey Aldridge and new captain Lewis Gregory lead the way with the ball, having each claimed 11 wickets at 21.09 and 32.72 respectively, and 6’6″ Craig Overton remains a major presence in both disciplines.

Somerset squad: Lewis Gregory, Sean Dickson, Matt Renshaw, Tom Lammonby, Andy Umeed, Tom Banton, James Rew, Craig Overton, Josh Davey, Migael Pretorius, Kasey Aldridge, Jake Ball and Shoaib Bashir.

Last Time We Met

Essex recorded a comfortable 196-run win the last time they met Somerset, in high summer at The Cloud County Ground, thanks to centuries from Alastair Cook and Matt Critchley, and Simon Harmer’s eight match wickets.

Play began following an impeccably-observed minute’s silence to pay tribute to the victims of the Nottingham attacks, Barnaby Webber, who represented Bishops Hull CC in Somerset, and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who played in Essex age-group sides between 2015 and 2019.

Batting first, Essex piled up 462-9 as Cook amassed 128, in what would turn out to be his final century for Essex, Matt Critchley struck 121, and Feroze Khushi also chipped in with an unbeaten 56 from 69 deliveries.

In response, the visitors could only muster 167 as Harmer ripped through the lower order in returning 5/64 from 25 overs, including at one point being on a hat-trick, giving the Eagles an enormous first-innings lead of 295.

Deciding against enforcing the follow-on, Tom Westley sent his troops out to bat again, and they extended that lead to a near-insurmountable 465 by declaring on 170-7, with Critchley making another half-century.

The visitors gamely attempted to chase down their mammoth target, but their ultimate total of 269 was far short of what they needed as Harmer and Jamie Porter claimed three wickets apiece, with a 22-point Essex victory sealed on the final morning.

Division One Table

How To Watch

If you are not able to make the trip to the West Country in person, the game will be streamed live on our hosts’ YouTube channel and available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone.

A report and reaction will be published on the Club website after each day’s play, while live updates and daily highlights will also be provided on the Club’s social media channels.

Tickets

For anyone planning to join the Eagles in Taunton over the next four days, tickets can be purchased directly from Somerset’s website in advance of each day.

These are priced at £18 for adults, £9 for students, £8 for those aged 16-18, and £6 for juniors aged under 16, with seating unreserved at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Somerset also offer a ‘Member for the Day’ ticket, which grants access to members’ areas, priced at £20, while family tickets for two adults and two children can be purchased for £36 each.

Members’ areas are the James Hildreth Stand, the Lord Ian Botham Stand, the lower area of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion, and the elevated area of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.

All tickets are available to buy direct from the hosts’ website by clicking the link below. Please be mindful of selecting the correct day on which you would like to attend by using the calendar icon in the top right corner of the seat selection box.

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex return to shortest-format action in Chelmsford from Sunday 02 June.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there are now only 15% of tickets remaining across all seven home fixtures, with two already sold out.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Sunday 02 June, 4:00pm: Essex v Middlesex – buy here
Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

Fans of Vitality Blast T20 cricket have until Wednesday 01 May to save up to 20% on the price of T20 tickets at The Cloud County Ground.

The Eagles are set to return to T20 action on Thursday 30 May, with the first home game on Sunday 02 June as Middlesex visit what’s set to be a packed out Chelmsford.

Only 500 tickets are left for the opening fixture and just 15% of tickets remain for Essex’s T20 fixtures at their home ground.

By purchasing on or before Wednesday 01 May you could save as much as 20% on the price of your tickets with prices increasing after the early bird deadline.

Prices after Wednesday 01 May:

All Adult tickets: +£5
Members allocated ticket: +£4
Junior and Young Adult tickets: Unchanged
Prices as of Thursday 02 May 2024

Match Availability

More T20 cricket at The Cloud County Ground

The T20 action keeps coming in 2024 with your chance to attend two other Vitality Blast fixtures at Chelmsford!

We will be staging Middlesex against Kent Spitfires (Friday 31 May, 7pm) and Gloucestershire (Thursday 18 July, 7pm) at The Cloud County Ground.

Tickets for these matches cost £20 for Essex Members, £25 for Adult tickets and £10 for Under 18s.

Wicket-keeper Harry Duke has joined Essex on a two-week loan deal from Yorkshire ahead of the Vitality County Championship matches away to Durham and Somerset.

Duke, 22, has made the temporary switch from Yorkshire, who he has represented in all formats since his debut in 2021.

A specialist keeper, he has 73 catches and four stumpings across 44 matches in red- and white-ball cricket for the Headingley side.

Duke has also struck five half-centuries and two hundreds in all formats, totalling more than 1,100 runs, and in January 2020 was included in England’s Under-19 World Cup squad.

He joins the Club with existing wicket-keepers Michael Pepper and Adam Rossington both currently receiving treatment for finger injuries.

Meanwhile, Jordan Cox is currently unable to keep wicket following his rehabilitation from a finger injury sustained during The Hundred last season.

Duke will wear the number 2 shirt during his time with Essex, and Head Coach Anthony McGrath said: “We’re really happy to have added quality to the squad with the signing of Harry.

“Obviously, the situation with injuries to our wicket-keepers is unfortunate and not what any of us would have wanted, but it’s about how you adapt and overcome challenges like this.

“By signing Harry, we’ve brought in a young, talented cricketer who possesses the ability to play at the top level, and we’re all looking forward to seeing him in an Essex shirt.”
 

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex return to shortest-format action in Chelmsford from Sunday 02 June.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there is now just one Friday night fixture with availability remaining, the visit of Glamorgan to The Cloud County Ground on 07 June.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Sunday 02 June, 4:00pm: Essex v Middlesex – buy here
Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
 

Essex Cricket is delighted to announce a successful bid to form a Tier One professional women’s team from the 2025 season.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ratified the decision on Wednesday and Essex join Durham, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, and Warwickshire in being granted a professional women’s team.

Our bid centred on community engagement and empowering women and girls to become the future of the game.

At the core of our professional women’s team lies a robust partnership with the University of Essex and the neighbouring professional sports club, the Essex Rebels, renowned for their excellence in basketball and volleyball at the national level.

This collaborative effort underscores the shared aspirations of all parties to celebrate our region and contribute to the transformation of women’s sports.

We are aiming to revolutionise the landscape of women’s cricket under the unifying mantra of ‘We Are Essex’.

With a rich history of cultivating inspiring role models, cricket in Essex has consistently served as a powerful force for good within the region.

Now, with the awarding of a Tier One professional women’s team, we are poised to deepen these connections, serving as a catalyst for change, breaking down barriers, and empowering the next generation of female cricketers.

Our bid advances with a vision to establish The Cloud County Ground and the wider region as the premier destination in England for women and girls’ sports, with cricket serving as its cornerstone.

John Stephenson, Chief Executive Officer at Essex Cricket, said: “We are thrilled by the opportunity to host a Tier One side, and we thank the ECB for embracing our submission.

“We are a Club that has always aimed to empower and promote women and girls, and we now have a once in a generation opportunity to transform female sport in the region.

“The bid encompassed the support of many key organisations and partnerships, including the University of Essex and the cricket boards of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk. Their support was instrumental in bringing our submission to life and it’s an exciting time for us all.

“Now, with the awarding of Tier One status, we are focused on making a big impact on the growth of women’s cricket in the UK and look forward to working together with all of our stakeholders to achieve the aims we set out.”

Prisha Bedi, Essex Women’s 2023 Young Player of the Year, said: “This is a watershed moment for sport in our region, and Essex being awarded this status will hugely benefit my generation of players.

“The commitment by the ECB to women and girls’ sport is special, but for Essex to now be a Tier One county makes me so excited for what comes next.”

Dr Dave Parry, Director of Sport at the University of Essex, added: “The award of a Tier One professional women’s cricket team to Essex is a hugely exciting and significant moment.

“The University of Essex is a leading academic institution for sports science research and has an established reputation for promoting women’s sport. We are determined that through our expertise in sports science and athletic training, as well as the collaboration with our elite-level Essex Rebels basketball and volleyball teams, we will enhance women’s cricket both on and off the pitch, bringing a new audience of fans to the women’s game.

“Our aim is to establish the leading region in the country for women’s sport, and we can’t wait to get started on that mission.”

Find out more on the ECB’s process to create eight Tier One professional women’s teams here

Women’s Cricket at Chelmsford in 2024

Essex Women begin their season on Sunday 21 April with a ECB County 50-over match against Sussex at Felsted School. The full fixture list for the 2024 season are available to view here with three fixtures staged at The Cloud County Ground, including the Battle of the Bridge T20 clash against Kent on Wednesday 07 August (6pm start).

England Women return to Chelmsford on Wednesday 29 May with Heather Knight’s team facing Pakistan in Metro Bank One Day International. Play begins at 1pm for a day/night fixture under the lights at The Cloud County Ground.

Sunrisers will compete in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint (50-over) and Charlotte Edwards Cup (20-over) competitions at The Cloud County Ground with their opening 50-over match taking place on Saturday 27 April (10:30am) against The Blaze.

Ticket for all these fixtures are available now from essexcricket.org.uk and visit here for further information.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Wednesday the eight First-Class Counties who have been successful in their bid to be awarded Tier One women’s team status from 2025.

As a further outcome of the Tier One invitation to tender process, the ECB has also today announced the selection of two additional First Class Counties to expand Tier One from eight to ten teams by 2027, and an intent to grow to 12 teams by the 2029 season.

The eight selected Counties to compete in Tier One of the evolved women’s professional domestic structure from 2025 are:

• Durham
• Essex
• Hampshire
• Lancashire
• Nottinghamshire
• Somerset
• Surrey
• Warwickshire

Joining them, by 2027, will be Glamorgan and Yorkshire, who have been named as the first two Tier One expansion teams.

To accelerate Glamorgan and Yorkshire’s Tier One preparations between 2025 and 2027, and to enhance access for talented female players across the North East and Wales before such a time the clubs join Tier One, both Counties will receive additional funding from 2025 to run their own “Tier One standard” talent pathway.

The ECB has also set the ambition to expand Tier One to 12 teams by 2029, given the rapid growth of the women’s game and the level of passion and desire for the growth of women’s professional cricket demonstrated across the FCC network during this tender process. No decision has been made yet as to where these further two teams would be based.

The plans – which could see an 80% increase in the number of professional female players in England and Wales by 2029 compared to today – will further accelerate the growth of women’s cricket as a three-tiered domestic competition structure is introduced, and the ownership model underpinning the women’s professional game evolves.

To enable the expansion from eight to ten Tier One teams, the ECB is committing a further £3m a year from such a time Glamorgan and Yorkshire are operational. It will mean a total of £8m new funding per year is invested into women’s domestic cricket by 2027 – taking annual investment in this area to c.£19m.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “Through this process we’ve seen a huge appetite from First Class Counties to have a women’s professional team, and a real commitment to growing women’s and girls’ cricket in this country.

“I’d like to congratulate those counties who have been successful in their bids. I’m also delighted that in light of the support we have seen and the strength of the bids we have considered, we can accelerate our plans, including new top tier professional teams at Glamorgan and Yorkshire by 2027 with and a further two being introduced by 2029.

“More professional teams means more women able to make a career out of being a cricketer, more role models to inspire future generations, and more of the country having a women’s professional team to follow nearby.

“I recognise today’s announcement will also be disappointing to those who haven’t been successful at this stage. But with the new three-tier structure we are introducing, there is still a huge opportunity for them to compete in the other tiers so together we can all realise the potential of women’s domestic cricket.”

ECB Director of Women’s Professional Game Beth Barrett-Wild said: “At the start of this tender process we challenged the First Class Counties to show us their vision for the women’s professional game and to demonstrate their desire and commitment to becoming one of our professional Tier 1 Clubs.

“Over the last couple of months it’s been brilliant to see the time and energy that has gone into the submissions, and I’ve been hugely impressed by the quality and ambition of the bids.

“The decision to select two additional Counties – Glamorgan and Yorkshire – as the ninth and tenth Tier One Clubs by 2027, and our stated aim to move to 12 teams in Tier One by 2029, is testament to the strength of the bids and the pace at which we all want to move to effect change.

“It’s clear that the game is united in wanting to take the women’s professional game forward, and in wanting to produce commercially vibrant teams and competitions that excite fans and showcase the quality of our professional players.

“I’m energised about what comes next, for the Counties themselves, for the players, for fans and for everyone who wants to see women’s cricket continue its accelerated trajectory.”

All 18 First Class Counties and MCC were invited to tender to become a women’s Tier One Club, with the vast majority submitting bids. A panel comprising ECB Board members, Executives and independent members considered the bids which were assessed on four criteria:

• Vision and mission – Their passion, ambition and prioritisation.
• Quality cricket – Player development and squad composition plans, coaching and sports science and medicine provision, talent pathway activation and training/match day facilities.
• Passionate fans – Marketing, digital and communications plans, match day experiences and fan facilities.
• Long-term value – Financial investment, commercial strategy, governance, leadership and EDI plans.

First Class Counties who were not awarded Tier One status and, separately, National Counties will now be invited to be involved in a process to determine the composition of Tier 2 and Tier 3 in the new-look women’s domestic competition structure. It is anticipated that the outcome of this process will be confirmed by September 2024, ready to launch the evolved women’s domestic structure in full in 2025.

For the duration of the 2025-2028 seasons all three tiers will be ‘closed’, with no promotion or relegation.

The three-tier structure aims to build on the impact of the existing Regional Model, which has accelerated performance levels within women’s cricket and laid solid foundations, to further grow the depth and reach of the women’s professional game.

Essex v Kent

Vitality County Championship

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Friday 12 – Monday 15 April 2024, 11am start

Team News

Essex: Dean Elgar, Feroze Khushi, Tom Westley*, Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper †, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Aaron Beard, Jamie Porter.

Kent: Ben Compton, Tawanda Muyeye, Daniel Bell-Drummond*, Jack Leaning, Joe Denly, Harry Finch †, Jaydn Denly, Wes Agar, Nathan Gilchrist, Matt Parkinson, George Garrett.

Match Details:

Umpires: Ian Blackwell & Graham Lloyd
Match Referee: Phil Whitticase
Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bat
Result: Match Drawn

Scorecard: View Here

Day Four Highlights

Day Four Reaction: Anthony McGrath:

Day Four Report

Jamie Porter claimed four wickets but Essex’s attempt to force victory over Kent came up just short on the final day of the sides’ Vitality County Championship clash at The Cloud County Ground.

Although they reduced the visitors to 65-5, two separate rain stoppages reduced the available overs and ensured that Essex were frustrated in their quest to complete a second successive victory.

After wind and rain delayed the start to after lunch and forced the loss of 32 overs from the day’s play, Tom Westley declared the Essex second innings closed, with Jordan Cox and Michael Pepper not out.

That left 64 overs for Essex to attempt to bowl Kent out, and their quest to do so got off to an ideal start as Tawanda Muyeye departed for a duck, caught behind by Pepper off Jamie Porter.

Ben Compton, who had dug in for an attritive 165 in the first innings, was uprooted far more quickly second time around, being pinned lbw by Porter for six.

A quick burst to remove his fellow first-innings centurion Daniel Bell-Drummond, trapped in front by Harmer for 18, and Jack Leaning, who had his furniture rearranged by Shane Snater, left Kent 37-4.

Harry Finch then became the third lbw victim of the innings, this time at the hands of Critchley, to leave the visitors seriously listing.

However, uncle and nephew Joe and Jaydn Denly battled back to halt the decline, reaching tea without further loss before shepherding their side into three figures with a sixth-wicket stand of 51.

Their partnership was broken when Porter returned to the attack to see the elder Denly flick into the hands of Feroze Khushi at short leg for 39, raising Essex hopes once more.

By this time, they were not just battling Kent, but also the weather, as just after Porter took his fourth, seeing Wes Agar caught by Snater at square leg for six, a passing shower forced the players off.

Fortunately, it cost just four overs, with the changeable spring weather then illustrated by the fact that the remainder of the game was played in bright sunshine.

Regretfully for Essex, Denly the younger, alongside Nathan Gilchrist, resisted for the remainder of the match, with the former finishing unbeaten with an innings top-score to see the visitors escape.

Coupled with their seven bonus points, the draw saw Essex take 15 points from the fixture ahead of another home clash with Lancashire from Friday.

Day Three Highlights

Day Three Reaction: Jordan Cox

Day Three Report

Jordan Cox hammered a stunning 85-ball century late on Day Three as Essex teed up a potential victory push against Kent at The Cloud County Ground.

Having hit two half-centuries in his three previous knocks for the Eagles, Cox went one better against his old side, bashing 13 boundaries to end the day unbeaten on 116 off just 89 deliveries.

Matt Critchley had earlier shone with the ball by returning figures of 5-105 as Kent, who resumed on 245-1, were bowled out for 413.

That gave Essex a lead of 137, which they then extended to a very healthy 374 by the close with some sparkling strokeplay late on, reaching stumps at 257-4.

After a Saturday that saw the Eagles go without any reward for their efforts, they found far more joy early on, taking quick middle order wickets to reduce the visitors to 312-7.

Captain Daniel Bell-Drummond was first to go, trapped lbw by Jamie Porter after adding only one to his overnight 134, just before the exact same fate befell Jack Leaning for four.

Shane Snater then uprooted Joe Denly’s off stump for 16, before Critchley took the first of his five by having Harry Finch held by a diving Tom Westley at mid-off for six.

Kent stuttered past 300 but almost immediately afterwards lost Jaydn Denly, nephew of Joe, for a duck on his first-class debut as he nicked Critchley into the hands of Feroze Khushi at short leg.

With Wes Agar then following for 10, trapped leg before for Critchley’s third, there was hope of Kent being asked to follow on, only for Nathan Gilchrist to hold Essex up with a counter-attacking 41.

He partnered still-unbeaten opener Ben Compton, who was batting in typical attritive fashion at the other end, to put on 68 for the eighth wicket and stave off the threat of Kent being put back in.

Gilchrist’s resistance was eventually ended by Critchley as he edged through to Michael Pepper behind the stumps, before Matt Parkinson fell too, caught by Simon Harmer, to confirm his five.

Harmer himself then wrapped up the innings by finally bowling Compton for 165, giving Essex a sizeable first-innings advantage.

Dean Elgar and Tom Westley then overcame the loss of Feroze Khushi for eight, caught by Jaydn Denly off Agar, by fluently taking the hosts past 50 before Elgar fell for 34.

Westley hit 22, with his and Cox’s stand for the third wicket enough to grow Essex’s lead beyond 200, before the dismissal of the former, lbw to Agar brought about a change in intent from Cox.

Against his former side, he motored through the gears to reach his half-century in just 52 balls, doing so with a monstrous strike for six high over midwicket.

Critchley looked to be similarly positive, contributing a 23-ball 25, but was bowled aiming a similar shot at Parkinson.

However, that took nothing away from the one-man show of Cox, who continued to pillage the boundary as Essex moved further and further out of sight.

He reached his century in the same way he had posted fifty, by dispatching a huge six over the leg side, as he and Pepper, who made 34, put Essex firmly in with a shout of pressing for a win tomorrow.

Day Two Reaction: Matt Critchley

Day Two Highlights

Day Two Report

Daniel Bell-Drummond hit a second successive Vitality County Championship century to continue the good start to the season on a Chelmsford pitch where only two wickets fell all day.

The Kent captain reached three-figures against Somerset at Canterbury last week, and helped his side fight back with a second ton after suffering three and a half sessions of unremitting toil in the field at Chelmsford.

However, in company with fellow centurion Ben Compton for 71 overs, Bell-Drummond led the Kent fightback against an unresponsive Kookaburra ball. Needing 381 to make Essex bat again, Kent had knocked off 245 by the end of day two for the loss of one wicket with Bell-Drummond 134 not out and Compton 100.

Essex’s 530-7 declared was anchored for 73 overs by Matt Critchley’s career-best 151 not out – beating his unbeaten 137 against Northamptonshire in his second appearance for Derbyshire as an 18-year-old back in 2015. His marathon innings encompassed 212 balls and included just five fours, but four sixes.

Shane Snater had claimed the first Kent wicket just before lunch when Twanda Muyeye shouldered arms to one that went straight on and rapped his pad. But it was the last wicket to fall.

Compton and Bell-Drummond dug in doggedly initially at around two an over until the Kent captain hit Simon Harmer straight for four and added another through midwicket in the same over. When Compton flicked Jamie Porter off his legs, Kent had added 14 runs in six balls. It marked a sea-change as the gloves came off.

Bell-Drummond reached his half-century from 99 balls with a push into the covers off Aaron Beard, and then cross-batted the same bowler through midwicket for his sixth boundary. Compton, who was dropped at slip on 20, batted just under three hours for his fifty, which took up 147 balls.

When Critchley strayed down either side of the wicket, Compton came out of his self-imposed shall and nudged the ball three times to the boundary in quick succession. Suddenly, as the evening session progressed in bright sunshine, it was the turn of the Essex attack to suffer.

Bell-Drummond’s 10th four, chopped through the covers for three off Beard, took him to a 168-ball century, and also brought up the 150-run stand for the second wicket. A six over long leg followed by a full-toss for four off Critchley kept up Bell-Drummond’s dominance. Harmer also came in for similar treatment with another maximum disappearing into the far distance.

Compton reached his century on the last ball of the day, having batted for 237 minutes with 12 fours.

Essex had batted on for 70 minutes in the morning, adding 109 runs, losing just the wicket of Harmer and claiming full batting points before the declaration put Kent’s demoralised fielders and bowlers out of their misery. Only George Garrett, who took two for 80, went at less than four runs an over.

Critchley made hay, hitting three sixes over long leg, one out of the ground, in his record knock while also sharing half-century partnerships on the day with Harmer and Snater. As the declaration approached Critchley and Snater put on 52 from 28 balls with the latter’s 26 coming off just 16 balls.

Day Two Reaction: Dean Elgar

Day One Highlights

Day One Report

Dean Elgar, on his home Essex debut, and Matt Critchley both struck sparkling centuries as the Eagles piled on the runs on Day One of the Vitality County Championship clash against Kent.

Having shown more than a glimpse of his class with an impressive 80 at Trent Bridge last week, Elgar took centre stage by going one better at home with a masterful 120 from 176 balls, featuring 18 fours.

Meanwhile, Critchley, who had also chalked up his first 50 of the season in Nottingham, followed the South African in posting triple figures off 168 balls, with his knock including four fours and one six.

He ended the day unbeaten on 103, while Jordan Cox also backed up his bright start to the season by hitting 67, and Michael Pepper contributed late on with a swift 42-ball 49.

On a bright and warm day at The Cloud County Ground, those knocks contributed towards Essex’s Day One total of 421-6, which came after Tom Westley had won the toss and eagerly opted to bat first.

Feroze Khushi was an early victim, bowled by Wes Agar in the opening over of the day, and Westley made five before following him as he edged George Garrett behind to Harry Finch.

That left the Eagles in a sticky spot at 10-2 early on, but Elgar and Cox, as they had a week earlier in Nottingham, rebuilt fluently and effectively with a stand of 159 in 34.4 overs either side of lunch.

Cox in particular scored rapidly, hitting back-to-back fours on three occasions and crunching spinner Matt Parkinson for a giant straight six to bring up his 50 in just 61 balls.

By comparison, Elgar was more watchful, but he too hit Parkinson for a boundary, this time a lofted drive for four, to post his own half-century in 76 deliveries as the duo took Essex to 123-2 at lunch.

Their stand looked set to continue to flourish into the afternoon, with Elgar cutting Parkinson away for two to tick it past 150, but it came to an abrupt end nine runs later when Cox was pinned lbw by Garrett.

However, after seeing himself in, his replacement Critchley took up the mantle with enthusiasm, striking only his tenth ball, bowled by Parkinson, for an almighty maximum.

He followed it up immediately with four more, and was then on hand to partner Elgar to see Essex beyond 200 midway through the afternoon.

Elgar’s partnership with Critchley did not quite reach the levels of his one with Cox, being worth 89 in the end, but it was enough to take him to his individual ton.

That arrived off the final two balls of the 49th over, as he hit Nathan Gilchrist for consecutive fours, one driven through the covers and the other flicked beyond mid-on.

He and Critchley saw the total beyond 250, but the South African fell in the next over, turning Parkinson into the hands of Tawanda Muyeye at short leg.

Now partnered by Paul Walter, Critchley continued to attack and posted his own fifty in 80 balls by driving Jack Leaning for four, just before Walter hit the same man for six to push the total beyond 300.

Parkinson removed Walter for 33, caught by Joe Denly at long-off, but again there was no let-up, as Pepper partnered Critchley past 400.

Their stand was worth 80 in just 72 balls, and shortly after it ended via Pepper being caught by Muyeye at third off Gilchrist following a blustery knock featuring eight boundaries, Critchley posted his century.

Having tiptoed his way through the 90s, the all-rounder finally sent the crowd into raptures with a cut single off Gilchrist in the final trappings of the day.

He and Simon Harmer then confidently saw out what remained of the day, ending with an unbroken stand of 25 for the seventh wicket.
 

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex return to shortest-format action in Chelmsford from Sunday 02 June.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there is now just one Friday night fixture with availability remaining, the visit of Glamorgan to The Cloud County Ground on 07 June.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Sunday 02 June, 4:00pm: Essex v Middlesex – buy here
Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
 

Nottinghamshire v Essex

Vitality County Championship

Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Friday 05 – Monday 08 April 2024, 11:00am start

Team News

Nottinghamshire: Haseeb Hameed*, Ben Duckett, Ben Slater, Joe Clarke +, Matthew Montgomery, Jack Haynes, Lyndon James, Calvin Harrison, Brett Hutton, Dillon Pennington, Dane Paterson.

Essex: Dean Elgar, Feroze Khushi, Tom Westley*, Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Adam Rossington +, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.

Match Details:

Umpires: Tom Lungley & Steve O’Shaughnessy
Match Referee: Steve Davis
Toss: Nottinghamshire won the toss and elected to field
Scorecard: View Here
Result: Essex win by 254 runs

Day Four Highlights

Day Four Reaction: Jamie Porter

Day Four Report

Sam Cook and Jamie Porter shared nine wickets as Essex bowled out Nottinghamshire for 80 on Day 4 at Trent Bridge to win the first Vitality County Championship game of the season by 254 runs.

Beneath heavily overcast conditions, Cook and Porter underlined their status as one of county cricket’s most potent bowling duos to claim combined figures of 9-57.

Cook, who claimed a hat-trick in Notts’ first innings, led the way with 6-14 to complete match figures of 10-73, the fourth time in his career he has achieved the feat in first-class cricket.

Not one home batter made it beyond 20 as the Eagles, who declared their third innings on 374-9, clinically defended a target of 335 to execute a comprehensive win in just 34.3 overs of bowling.

Having resumed on an overnight 329-8, with a lead of 289 already in the bank, ninth-wicket pair Adam Rossington and Shane Snater continued their free-scoring approach early on.

In all, the duo put on 63 together in just 73 balls, with Rossington in particular providing the highlight as he lifted Dillon Pennington for an almighty six over midwicket and into the Larwood & Voce Stand.

Their rapid scoring was briefly interrupted when Snater was caught by Pennington off Lyndon James for 47, just one ball after being dropped by wicketkeeper Joe Clarke.

Last man Jamie Porter was then sent in for one ball which he heartily slapped back past James for a straight four, prior to which the Eagles immediately then declared, with Rossington unbeaten on 39.

That left Essex with 88 overs to bowl in which to taken ten wickets and win the match, and the quest to do so got off to an ideal start, with the hosts reduced to 50-4 by lunch.

Dangerman Ben Duckett was bowled by a beauty from Porter inside three overs, before captain Haseeb Hameed suffered the same fate at the hands of Cook.

Ben Slater was then caught at second slip by Simon Harmer, before the hosts’ situation became even worse when first-innings centurion Clarke was bowled by Shane Snater for an innings top-score of 19.

Notts did at least reach lunch without further loss, but the rampage continued early on in the afternoon, as only nine balls after the restart, Matt Montgomery was bowled by Cook.

Within the next ten overs, all of Jack Haynes, Calvin Harrison, and Brett Hutton followed him back to the pavilion, with the former two lbw to Cook and Porter respectively, and the latter castled by Cook.

That gave Cook his five-for, before he made it ten for the match when Pennington was caught by Elgar to leave Notts hurtling towards defeat at 73-9.

Although last man Dane Paterson provided some late resistance with a six, the game was complete when he had his furniture rearranged by Porter to confirm a big Essex win.

Day Three Highlights

Day Three Reaction: Paul Walter

Day Three Report

Paul Walter and Matt Critchley put on a vital stand of 132 as Essex battled into a strong position on Day Three of the Vitality County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

At one point on the third morning, the Eagles stood at 129-5, a lead of only 89, but half-centurions Walter, who hit 79, and Critchley, who made 68, valiantly pushed back during the afternoon.

They increased the lead to a far-healthier-looking 221, and a further unbeaten 29 from Shane Snater, in just 30 balls, pushed Essex’s total beyond 300 before bad light and rain brought an early close.

Heading into the final day of what has so far been a gripping contest, the visitors stand at 329-8, leading by 289.

With the Eagles having resumed on 65-1, with a slender lead of 40, Sam Cook continued his impressive game by overcoming the loss of Dean Elgar in the day’s third over to belie his nightwatchman status.

Between Elgar being bowled by Lyndon James and his own wicket, caught behind by Joe Clarke off Brett Hutton, Cook batted assuredly alongside Tom Westley to score 29 in 42 balls.

Such was his confidence at the crease that he even pulled South African international seamer Dane Paterson for six into the Fox Road Stand, an act that brought up Essex’s team 100.

However, when he and Jordan Cox fell in successive balls to Hutton, the hosts sensed an opening, and gave themselves further hope when Dillon Pennington saw Tom Westley caught behind for 22.

It was at that point, though, that Walter and Critchley came together, and they ticked off the first aim of reaching lunch without further loss four overs later, with Essex on 139-5, a lead of 99.

The afternoon then allowed them to take a far more free-flowing approach, and by tea their alliance was worth 132, both had reached fifties, and Essex were 221 to the good.

Leg-spinner Calvin Harrison did strike twice in in three overs as Walter, who had batted with growing confidence for his 79, edged the third ball after the break to be caught at slip.

Simon Harmer was then snapped up by Clarke for his fourth catch of the innings before Hutton removed Critchley leg before in the fifth over with the new ball.

However, a late flurry of attacking shots at the other end saw Pennington concede five boundaries in two overs as the Essex lead edged towards 300 before rain arrived.

Day Two Highlights

Day Two Reaction: Sam Cook

Day Two Report

Sam Cook claimed a masterful hat-trick as Essex fought back against a Joe Clarke century to keep the Vitality County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire tantalisingly in the balance at halfway.

With his fourth, fifth, and sixth deliveries with the second new ball in hand, Cook removed Lyndon James, Brett Hutton, and Dillon Pennington to record Essex’s first Championship hat-trick since 2009.

It helped Essex roar back against a partnership of 159 for the fourth wicket between Clarke, who hit his ton in 173 balls before falling for 104, and Jack Haynes, who made 77.

From 259-4, Cook led the way in ripping through the Notts lower order to see the hosts dismissed for 293, replying to the Eagles’ 253 all out.

Dean Elgar then overcame the late wicket of Feroze Khushi to end the day unbeaten on 16 alongside none other than Cook, now filling the role of nightwatchman, on 10, giving Essex a lead of 25.

Resuming on 244-9, Cook and Jamie Porter added six vital runs to pick up a bonus point for Essex, before Pennington had the former caught by Matt Montgomery for six to end the innings.

The duo then immediately returned to the action with ball in hand, but it was Snater who forced the first opening, knocking back Ben Duckett’s off stump for 21 with his very first ball.

Cook then followed up by pinning Ben Slater lbw for just nine, before Porter produced a beautiful delivery that took off and found Haseeb Hameed’s edge on its way through to Adam Rossington.

With their captain gone for 34, the hosts were 93-3 at lunch and still more than 150 adrift of the Eagles’ first-innings total.

Snater then struck again just three overs into the afternoon, as he found Matt Montgomery’s outside edge to give Harmer a routine catch at second slip.

However, that brought together Haynes and Clarke, who, for a little more than 44 overs, resisted everything the Essex attack could throw at them.

Both hit half-centuries shortly before tea, which was taken with the hosts having added exactly 100 runs throughout the afternoon, before Clarke advanced to three figures with a driven four.

The breakthrough was finally delivered by Harmer a little before the halfway point of an extended evening session when Clarke swiped the South African into the hands of Paul Walter at mid-on for 104.

Haynes then followed him back to the pavilion as Matt Critchley joined the party, with substitute fielder Ben Allison holding on at midwicket, but it was what followed that was truly remarkable.

The new ball was taken at the earliest possible opportunity, with the hosts on 278-6, and following Porter being allowed first use of it, Cook wreaked havoc in finishing with figures of 4/59.

Bowling from the Stuart Broad End, named for a man known for his ability to produce explosively unplayable spells, the 26-year-old pinned James and Pennington lbw either side of bowling Hutton.

With the crowd barely able to process the speed of what they had just witnessed, Porter then wrapped up the innings by knocking Dane Paterson’s leg stump out of the ground.

Facing a small deficit of 40, Elgar partnered Khushi for 11 overs before the latter was caught by Montgomery off Pennington for 32, prior to seeing out the day with hero of the hour Cook.

Day One Highlights

Day One Reaction: Jordan Cox

Day One Report

Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox began their Essex careers with half-centuries as the Eagles kicked off the 2024 season by hitting 244-9 on Day One against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Cox top-scored with 84 from 150 deliveries, including 12 boundaries, as the two new signings gelled together to add 112 for the third wicket.

Meanwhile, South African Elgar repelled the pressure of replacing the legendary Alastair Cook at the top of the Essex order in scoring a fine 80 from 156 balls, with his knock also taking in 12 fours.

Notts’ overseas seamer Dane Paterson was the standout with the ball, claiming figures of 5/49 in a day that was cut short by a mix of weather and bad light.

Overnight rain in Nottingham forced a short delay to the start of the 2024 campaign, though play was able to begin by midday, as home captain Haseeb Hameed won the toss and asked Essex to bat first.

That allowed Elgar an early opportunity for his competitive Eagles debut, and he made an instant impression by striking the first ball of the match, a full Brett Hutton delivery, for four.

The fluent start reached its zenith when Feroze Khushi hoisted Dillon Pennington for six over the leg side to take the visitors to 30 without loss in just 31 balls.

However, seamer Pennington hit back in his next over as Khushi edged to Matt Montgomery at first slip, before captain Tom Westley became Paterson’s first wicket, caught behind by Joe Clarke.

It fell to Elgar and Cox to guide Essex to lunch, which was taken with the total on 62-2, but it was as the sun illuminated Trent Bridge that the duo really began to spread their wings.

Elgar was the first to 50, reaching the milestone in 86 deliveries with a sharply-run three to long-off, before he took four more off Pennington through backward point to bring up the team 100.

The exact same outcome in Pennington’s next over posted the 50 partnership, before Cox clubbed spinner Calvin Harrison for four more to bring up his individual half-century in 76 deliveries.

Elgar’s departure, shortly after the partnership reached three figures, brought about a stutter, driven by Paterson, either side of tea as Essex slipped to 194-6.

A battling innings from Simon Harmer, in conjunction with the still-unbeaten Cox, saw Essex past 200, before he and Shane Snater both fell to Lyndon James.

Cox’s innings was brought to a close in between those two, bowled by Harrison, which left last pair Sam Cook and Jamie Porter to see out what remained.

They did so successfully for almost four overs before the umpires called a halt to proceedings as dark clouds swirled, with play then formally abandoned for the day shortly afterwards.
 

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex return to shortest-format action in Chelmsford from Sunday 02 June.

Demand remains exceptionally high, and there is now just one Friday night fixture with availability remaining, the visit of Glamorgan to The Cloud County Ground on 07 June.

With the Eagles aiming to go one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Sunday 02 June, 4:00pm: Essex v Middlesex – buy here
Friday 07 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here (LAST FEW TICKETS)
Friday 14 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Sussex Sharks – SOLD OUT
Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here