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After coming so close to victory in an enthralling contest with Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Sunday, the Eagles will face Kent Spitfires at Chelmsford on Thursday.

Essex have enjoyed the better of The Battle of the Bridge this season, with two wins in the Vitality Blast and a draw in their first LV= Insurance County Championship fixture.

Despite being yet to notch their first win of this year’s Royal London Cup, Essex fans have already been treated to a glimpse of the future with excellent performances from Feroze Khushi, Jamal Richards and Robin Das.

Squad:

The Eagles have named an unchanged 13-player squad for tomorrow’s game.

The Opposition:

The Spitfires had a difficult season in last year’s competition, finishing bottom of Group 1 with just a single win in the tournament.

However, they have already proved to be a competitive side this year, winning one of their opening three games and coming close to victory against last year’s champions, Glamorgan.

Their batting unit has been particularly effective posting over 300 on two occasions, including chasing 352 against Worcester in the opening game of their campaign.

Despite their batting strengths, they have been less successful with the ball, conceding scores of 351, 308 and 396 in their three games so far.

Their mammoth chase against Worcestershire was underpinned by Ollie Robinson’s 206*, Kent’s highest ever List A individual score. Unsurprisingly, Robinson is Kent’s highest run-scorer this season with 278 runs at an average of 139. Captain Alex Blake (152 runs at 50.66) and new signing Joey Evison (129 runs at 43) have also contributed well with the bat.

As the scores suggest, the Spitfires bowling attack have struggled with their economy so far this season, with only Overseas recruit Matt Henry going at under 6 runs per over. Ex-Eagle Matt Quinn is their leading wicket-taker with five, while Hamidullah Qadri has four.

While Matt Henry has been replaced with Indian seamer Navdeep Saini, the Spitfires are missing Daniel Bell-Drummond, Sam Billings, Jordan Cox, Zac Crawley, Fred Klaasen and Jack Leaning to the Hundred and Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart and George Linde to injury.

Kent Spitfire squad: Alex Blake (c), Ben Compton, Joe Denly, Joey Evison, Harry Finch, Nathan Gilchrist, James Logan, Tawanda Muyeye, Harry Podmore, Hamidullah Qadri, Matt Quinn, Ollie Robinson (wk), Navdeep Saini.

Last time out:

The two sides last faced in List A cricket at Chelmsford last season, when a fantastic team performance by the Eagles saw them complete a nine-wicket victory.

Batting first, no batter scored more than George Munsey’s 39 in Kent’s innings as the away team were bowled out for 158 in 47.5 overs. Shane Snater, Simon Harmer, Ben Allison and Ryan ten Doeschate picked up two wickets each while Aron Nijjar and Tom Westley chipped in with one-a-piece.

Essex knocked off the 159 runs required with ease and for the loss of only one wicket. After the loss of Will Buttleman, Alastair Cook (77) and Tom Westley (69) combined for a 127-run stand to seal victory for the Eagles.

Back in 2008, Essex secured the Friends Provident Trophy title with a victory over Kent in the final. Chasing 214 to win, a nerveless 70* from Grant Flower and 30* from Ryan ten Doeschate saw Essex over the line with seven balls to spare. The trophy was the last one to be secured by the Club in List A cricket.

How To Watch:

A free live stream of the game will be available via Essex Cricket TV on YouTube. It can be accessed through The Essex Cricket Matchzone, which includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the game.

Keep up to speed with proceedings with the Essex Cricket Matchzone here.

Essex Eagles will be hoping to get off the mark in the Royal London Cup this Thursday, with Kent Spitfires making the trip over the Thames to The Cloud County Ground.

Anthony McGrath’s side are still searching for their first 50-over win of the campaign, following a washout against Lancashire and successive defeats to Derbyshire and Northamptonshire Steelbacks.

Gates Opening Times:

The Royal London Cup has split gate opening times and will be from 12:30pm for Members and 1pm for non-Members via the main entrance on New Writtle Street or the Tees River Gate which is the closest entrance from Chelmsford City Centre and Chelmsford Bus/Train Stations.

Scheduled Hours of Play:

Toss: 1:30pm
First Innings: 2pm-5:30pm
Second Innings: 6pm-9:30pm

Members Entry & Matchday Tickets:

The Royal London Cup is part of the 2022 Membership and Members are required to scan their card on the gate.

We encourage supporters to purchase tickets in advance of the game to speed up your entry into the ground and also to save you money with a saving of £5 on Adults tickets – £15 Adults (£20 on the gate), £10 Students/Young Adults (18-25) and £5 Juniors (U18s).

These can be bought online via the following link or alternatively by phone (01245 254010)/in person at The Cloud County Ground.

Tickets will also be available on the gates from 1pm and this is strictly card sales only. Post-interval tickets are available, priced at £12 Adults, £5 Students/Young Adults (18-25) and £1 Juniors (U18s).

Matchday Purchases:

The Cloud County Ground is a cashless ground, which includes purchasing tickets on the gates, scorecards on the gates, and on food and drink purchases in the Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas. Find out more – here

Please note that the Essex Cricket Store is the only on-site location which accepts cash payments.

Scorecards will be available from the Essex Cricket Store for the priced of £1.

Accessibility:

Accessible parking:
Spaces are located at The Cloud County Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating can be found in the Hayes Close End of the ground with a wheelchair-accessible platform located in Block One of the Tom Pearce Stand.

Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge. 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 scorecard (Red Area), rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion (Blue Area) and adjacent to Block 25 at County Corner (Green Area).

Ahead of Your Visit:

We want to make sure supporters are all set ahead of visiting the ground. COVID-19 safety measures have been removed for the 2022 season but spectators are welcome to wear facemasks in the seated areas and whilst walking around the concourse if they choose.

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 or from our automated phone line on 01245 254049.

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 late for this match and closes at 11pm.

• Meteor Way will be open for Members and open three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis.

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 42 and 100, which are operated by First Group, 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.

Ground Entry:

Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate.

Members:
• The Members’ areas for the Royal London Cup include the Doug Insole Pavilion, Pavilion Benches, Tom Pearce Upper Stand and MDS Civil Engineering Stand Upper.

• The Doug Insole Pavilion is open for Members upon the presentation of a valid Membership card and accessible by entering the ground through the Main Gate.

• Members are not required to pre-book a match ticket and can enter by scanning their Membership card on the gate. If you require a replacement card, please get in contact with the Membership & Ticketing Office before the fixture to arrange a replacement or this may cause delays on entry for you and other spectators.

• Entry to this fixture are included in 2022 Membership and encourage Members to arrive early to secure their desired seat. All seating for the Royal London Cup games is Unallocated and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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.

• Ticket holders for this game are welcome to sit in all areas of the ground except for the Doug Insole Pavilion, Pavilion Benches, Tom Pearce Upper Stand and MDS Civil Engineering Stand Upper.

• 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.

Around the Ground:

• Spectators are welcome to enter the pitch during the interval when instructed over PA or by a member of the Club’s stewarding team. Please follow the guidance to the specific areas permitted to enter and please respect the playing surface. We encourage spectators to play on the outfield but please use softballs.

• 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.

• The Peter Edwards Museum & Library is located on-site adjacent to the Essex Cricket Store and will be open for the duration of the game.

• 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 ‘CROWD’ including your stand and issue to 60066.

Food & Drink:

• The Doug Insole Pavilion will be welcoming Members back 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 home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Hayes Close End and River End.

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 can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture. A limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person but there’s strictly no glass or sharp objects permitted into the ground.

• Please note that The Cloud County Ground is now a cashless ground for 2022, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit.

Leaving the Ground:

At the conclusion of the day’s play, 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 returns for the 2022 season with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary courtesy of BBC Essex. Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live ahead of the toss, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.

>> Visit Matchzone

Law Changes for 2022:

A number of new cricket rules have been introduced for the professional game in 2022, which can be viewed here

The Eagles will be looking to arrest a slow start to their Royal London Cup campaign with a victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road on Sunday.

After a washout at Sedbergh, the Eagles were beaten at home by Derbyshire. But despite the disappointing result, Essex fans were treated to promising first glimpses of new Overseas recruit Grant Roelofsen and young all-rounder Jamal Richards.

Tom Westley’s youthful team will be hoping that they can put in a more complete performance on Sunday.

Squad:

The Eagles have named an unchanged 13-player squad for this game.

The Opposition:

Northamptonshire struggled in the 2021 Royal London Cup, however, have been in good spirits this season after strong performances in the County Championship and a Vitality Blast campaign which showed signs of promise.

They will also be boosted by the fact they can field a near full-strength side in this year’s competition, with Josh Cobb being the only player unavailable due to the Hundred.

Northants leading run-scorers from last season, Ricardo Vasconcelos (218 runs at 31.14) and Emilio Gay (189 runs at 37.80) are once again expected to take their place at the top of the order.

Of their 6 players to feature in every Royal London Cup game last year, leading wicket-taker Ben Sanderson and batter Ben Curran were missing from the team in their opening round loss to Yorkshire.

Last time out:

Of the 22 players to take to the field last time these two sides met in 2014, only two are likely to play tomorrow.

It was largely down to one of those, Tom Westley, that Essex recorded a dramatic four-wicket victory at The County Ground in Northampton.

Batting first, Northants were given the perfect start by Richard Levi (84) and Rob Keogh (50) who brought up the 100 within 15 overs before a mini-collapse saw them lose three wickets for 16 runs.

That only set the stage for David Willey who smashed 113 from 93 balls to guide Northants to an imposing 311 all-out.

Their total would have been higher had Essex not taken regular wickets in the last 15 overs. Tom Westley was the pick of the bowlers with career-best List A bowling figures of 4/60.

Westley carried that form into his batting and, opening with Mark Pettini, raced to 62 from 50 balls. At the other end, Pettini hit 88 and a 61 from Ravi Bopara at number three left Essex on top.

Despite a flurry of late wickets, Greg Smith and Tim Phillips saw Essex over the line with three balls remaining.

How To Watch:

A free live stream of the game will be available courtesy of our hosts. It can be accessed via The Essex Cricket Matchzone, which includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the game.

The broadcast can be accessed via the Essex Cricket Matchzone here.

Essex Eagles v Derbyshure

Royal London Cup

The Cloud County Ground, Friday 05 August

Team News:

Essex Eagles: Feroze Khushi, Josh Rymell, Tom Westley (c), Grant Roelofsen, Robin Das, Will Buttleman (wk), Aaron Beard, Shane Snater, Aron Nijjar, Jamal Richards, Jamie Porter.

Derbyshire: Luis Reece, Billy Godleman (c), Harry Came, Tom Wood, Brooke Guest (wk), Anuj Dal, Mattie McKiernan, Alex Thomson, Mark Watt, Ben Aitchison, Sam Conners.

Match Details:

Umpires: Nigel Llong & Russell Warren
Match Referee: Steve Davis
Toss: Essex won and chose to bowl
Result: Derbyshire won by 92 runs

Scorecard: View Here

Match Highlights:

Sponsored by Trade Nation

Match Reaction:

Grant Roelofsen

Match Report:

Essex slipped to defeat in their Royal London Cup fixture against Derbyshire as Brooke Guest anchored the visitors to a big first innings total.

Guest, who has four first-class centuries to his name this season, frustrated a sizeable, sun-drenched Chelmsford crowd with a 79-ball 88, entering stage right in the midst of a mini-collapse when three wickets fell in five balls.

However, the Derbyshire innings flashed back into life when the 25-year-old Guest was joined by Mattie McKiernan (72 not out) for a 125-run sixth-wicket stand. It helped Derbyshire reach 318-6 which, ultimately, proved to be too much.

Essex’s innings was headlined by two impressive debuts as South African Grant Roelofsen and 18-year Jamal Richards displayed their talents making 43 and 46 respectively. However they struggled to find partners and Essex were eventually bowled out for 226 in 45 overs to fall 92 runs short.

Under the floodlights of a day-night contest, Feroze Khushi fell lbw early in Essex’s chase. He was quickly followed by captain Tom Westley, who went in similar fashion to a ball that kept low from Ben Aitchison.

Josh Rymell steadied things with Roelofsen, the pair piecing together 53 runs, before edging Luis Reece behind to Guest for 38.

Robin Das entertained briefly with 19 from 13 balls, including a straight six, before Mark Watt gained revenge by positioning himself under a steepling catch off his own bowling. Will Buttleman was caught behind off Reece and suddenly Essex were in trouble at 99-5.

Roelofsen had impressed at Billericay and the Essex Second XI this summer, and played himself in quietly but efficiently. He progressed serenely to 43, unfurling a series of strokes that left the Chelmsford crowd drooling before being run out after a mix-up.

Aaron Beard, at the other end then, was on the wrong end of a different type of run-out when McKiernan diverted Aron Nijjar’s drive on to the non-striker’s stumps with Beard out of his ground.

After Shane Snater departed, Nijjar and 18-year-old Jamal Richards brought some life to proceedings with a swashbuckling stand of 51. Nijjar edged behind to give Guest his fourth catch before Richards clubbed two more sixes over midwicket in his enterprising first knock before falling to a catch just inside the ropes.

Earlier in the day, Luis Reece and Billy Godleman overcame a tentative start by accelerating towards the end of the powerplay. After a series of attacking shots, Godleman departed when he decided to charge Snater and was bowled for 35 after a 64-run opening stand.

Harry Came joined Reece to add another fifty for the second wicket before chipping the ball back to Nijjar to precipitate the quick clutter of wickets. Tom Wood lasted three deliveries before his middle-stump was pegged back by Nijjar and then Reece tamely patted the ball back to Westley to end a 63-ball stay for 52.

Richards claimed his first senior wicket when Dal clipped to midwicket after a fifth-wicket partnership of 52 with Guest that put Derbyshire back on an even keel.

Guest and McKiernan kept the scoreboard ticking to the extent that Derbyshire only failed to score from four of the last 68 balls.

Guest moved to 88 with a six over mid-on off Snater, but perished the next ball when attempting the same shot but only finding Beard on the fence.

Essex’s Sam Cook and Dan Lawrence have been named in the 13-man England Lions squad for the four-day match against South Africa, which starts on 09 August at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

Lions squad versus South Africa:

Sam Billings (Kent), Captain
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Sam Conners (Derbyshire)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire)
James Rew (Somerset)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Dom Sibley (Warwickshire)

Mo Bobat, ECB Performance Director, said:

“We are delighted that the Lions will have a competitive fixture against the South African tourists. The squad strongly represents some of the country’s current, next best and future England players. For some players, this game will be important preparation going into the Test series.

“These matches for the Lions are pivotal as we try to build the depth of players that can further enhance the way the Test team have been playing this summer. It is a reward for players who have scored runs and taken wickets this season in the LV= Insurance County Championship campaign and have caught our eye in how they’ve gone about their business.

“I would also like to thank The Hundred teams and respective Head Coaches who have enabled the eight players who are playing in the competition the opportunity to play for the Lions. We are grateful for their support.”

England Men’s Assistant Coach Paul Collingwood has been appointed Head Coach for the match.

After a washout in Sedbergh, the weather is set fair in Chelmsford for the Eagles to take to the field for the first time in the 2022 Royal London Cup.

While the Eagles will be looking to record their first victory of the campaign after taking a point from the washout against Lancashire, Derbyshire will be wanting to bounce back after a defeat at the hands of Glamorgan in their opening game.

Tomorrow’s game against Derbyshire begins a spell of four home games in the space of 13 days for the Eagles, who will be hoping to repeat their strong group stage performance of last year.

Squad:

The Eagles have named an unchanged 13-player squad for tomorrow’s fixture.

The Opposition:

Derbyshire struggled in one-day cricket last season, finishing bottom of Group 2 with one win from eight games. They have, however, already enjoyed a much better season in white-ball cricket and made it as far as the Quarter-Finals in the Vitality Blast.

Their Royal London Cup campaign didn’t get off to the best of starts after an 8-wicket loss to last year’s champions, Glamorgan.

Last season’s leading run-scorer Fynn Hudson-Prentice has since moved to Sussex, however, Derbyshire will be boosted by the return of Tom Wood, who sat one behind Hudson-Prentice with 191 runs last year.

Ex-Essex batter Billy Godleman only played two games last season, but averaged 64 across both fixtures and is in good touch going into the competition after a century against Shropshire in a National Counties fixture.

Derbyshire were short of a strike bowler last year, taking just 25 wickets in the whole competition. Fynn Hudson-Prentice again led the way with six wickets, Alex Thompson the only other bowler to make it to five.

They’ll be hoping the addition of Scottish spinner Mark Watt as well as promising young seamer Ben Aitchison can aid a bowling attack shorn of George Scrimshaw, who is in the Hundred. Joining Scrimshaw in the Hundred are Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy.

Derbyshire: Billy Godleman (c), Tom Wood, Harry Came, Luis Reece, Brooke Guest (wk), Mattie McKiernan, Alex Thomson, Anuj Dal, Mark Watt, Sam Conners, Ben Aitchison, Nick Potts, Mitch Wagstaff.

Last time out:

Aside from a rained-off encounter in 2014, these two sides haven’t met in List A cricket since 2013 when Essex ran out victors by 107 runs in a 40-over match at Castle Park.

The game was significant as overseas star Gautam Gambhir made his debut for Essex, opening the batting and scoring 21 runs. Batting first, Essex eventually made 259 thanks to a superb 88 from Ravi Bopara.

With the ball, Tymal Mills then removed both Derbyshire openers early before Reece Topley took 4/26 to bowl the opposition out for 152. Billy Godleman, after leaving Essex the year before, top scored for Derbyshire with 60.

This will be the 50th time the two sides have met in List A cricket. Essex have won 31 times and Derbyshire have won 12, with six no results.

Essex’s highest score came in 2008 when they scored 304-1 thanks to centuries from Ravi Bopara and Jason Gallian. Bopara’s 112 in that match was also the highest score by an Essex player against Derbyshire in List A cricket.

With the ball, Neil Foster has Essex’s best figures with 5/17 in the John Player Special League in 1986.

How To Watch:

A free live stream of the game will be available on Essex Cricket TV on YouTube. It can also be accessed via The Essex Cricket Matchzone, which includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the game.

The broadcast can be accessed via the Essex Cricket Matchzone here.

Tickets

Tickets for tomorrow’s game are still available and can be purchased in advance online or at the gate. Adult tickets purchased in advance are £5 cheaper than at the gate. Advanced ticket prices are from £15 for Adults, £10 for Students and Young Adults and £5 for Juniors. Essex County Cricket Club Members are able to attend home Royal London Cup matches free of charge.

If you can only make the second innings, tickets purchased at the gate can be bought at a discounted rate if you purchase them after the interval. Prices range from £12 for Adults and £5 for Students and Young Adults to £1 for Juniors.

The Royal London Cup returns to Chelmsford on Friday 05 August for the first of 4 home matches this season. This will also be the first competitive action after the opening match against Lancashire on Tuesday was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Gates Opening Times:

The Royal London Cup has split gate opening times and will be from 12:30pm for Members and 1pm for non-Members via the main entrance on New Writtle Street or the Tees River Gate which is the closest entrance from Chelmsford City Centre and Chelmsford Bus/Train Stations.

Scheduled Hours of Play:

Toss: 1:30am
First Innings: 2pm-5:30pm
Second Innings: 6pm-9:30pm

Members Entry & Matchday Tickets:

The Royal London Cup is part of the 2022 Membership and Members are required to scan their card on the gate.

We encourage supporters to purchase tickets in advance of the game to speed up your entry into the ground and also to save you money with a saving of £5 on Adults tickets – £15 Adults (£20 on the gate), £10 Students/Young Adults (18-25) and £5 Juniors (U18s).

These can be bought online via the following link or alternatively by phone (01245 254010)/in person at The Cloud County Ground.

Tickets will also be available on the gates from 1pm and this is strictly card sales only. Post-interval tickets are available, priced at £12 Adults, £5 Students/Young Adults (18-25) and £1 Juniors (U18s).

Matchday Purchases:

The Cloud County Ground is a cashless ground, which includes purchasing tickets on the gates, scorecards on the gates, and on food and drink purchases in the Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas. Find out more – here

Please note that the Essex Cricket Store is the only on-site location which accepts cash payments.

Scorecards will be available from the Essex Cricket Store for the priced of £1.

Accessibility:

Accessible parking:
Spaces are located at The Cloud County Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating can be found in the Hayes Close End of the ground with a wheelchair-accessible platform located in Block One of the Tom Pearce Stand.

Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge. 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 scorecard (Red Area), rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion (Blue Area) and adjacent to Block 25 at County Corner (Green Area).

Ahead of Your Visit:

We want to make sure supporters are all set ahead of visiting the ground. COVID-19 safety measures have been removed for the 2022 season but spectators are welcome to wear facemasks in the seated areas and whilst walking around the concourse if they choose.

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 or from our automated phone line on 01245 254049.

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 late for this match and closes at 11pm.

• Meteor Way will be open for Members and open three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis.

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 42 and 100, which are operated by First Group, 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.

Ground Entry:

Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate.

Members:
• The Members’ areas for the Royal London Cup include the Doug Insole Pavilion, Pavilion Benches, Tom Pearce Upper Stand and MDS Civil Engineering Stand Upper.

• The Doug Insole Pavilion is open for Members upon the presentation of a valid Membership card and accessible by entering the ground through the Main Gate.

• Members are not required to pre-book a match ticket and can enter by scanning their Membership card on the gate. If you require a replacement card, please get in contact with the Membership & Ticketing Office before the fixture to arrange a replacement or this may cause delays on entry for you and other spectators.

• Entry to this fixture are included in 2022 Membership and encourage Members to arrive early to secure their desired seat. All seating for the Royal London Cup games is Unallocated and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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.

• Ticket holders for this game are welcome to sit in all areas of the ground except for the Doug Insole Pavilion, Pavilion Benches, Tom Pearce Upper Stand and MDS Civil Engineering Stand Upper.

• 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.

Around the Ground:

• Spectators are welcome to enter the pitch during the interval when instructed over PA or by a member of the Club’s stewarding team. Please follow the guidance to the specific areas permitted to enter and please respect the playing surface. We encourage spectators to play on the outfield but please use softballs.

• 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.

• The Peter Edwards Museum & Library is located on-site adjacent to the Essex Cricket Store and will be open for the duration of the game.

• 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 ‘CROWD’ including your stand and issue to 60066.

Food & Drink:

• The Doug Insole Pavilion will be welcoming Members back 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 home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Hayes Close End and River End.

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 can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture. A limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person but there’s strictly no glass or sharp objects permitted into the ground.

• Please note that The Cloud County Ground is now a cashless ground for 2022, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit.

Leaving the Ground:

At the conclusion of the day’s play, 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 returns for the 2022 season with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary courtesy of BBC Essex. Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live ahead of the toss on Day One, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.

>> Visit Matchzone

Law Changes for 2022:

A number of new cricket rules have been introduced for the professional game in 2022, which can be viewed here