Charlie Edward Bennett, born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, graduated from the Essex Academy in June 2025 to sign a rookie contract with the Club.
Bennett developed his early cricket in the pathway of one our National County Partners – Suffolk, whilst playing for his club side, Copdock & Old Ipswichian Cricket Club.
The tall right-arm seam bowler joined Essex’s Regional Emerging Players Programme at under-14 and under-15 level before progressing to the Academy in 2023.
Charlie made his Second XI debut on 01 July 2024 against Hampshire in a T20 match at Garon Park before making his first team debut at Somerset in the Vitality Blast live on Sky Sports nearly a year later.
Bennett showcased his talent during Essex’s 2025 Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign, taking 12 wickets in seven matches at an average of 23.66, including a five-wicket haul against Surrey at Chelmsford.
He made his official first-class debut later that year in mid-September at Edgbaston, but the match was abandoned due to weather, with Essex 325-5 in their first innings. As a result, Bennett did not get the chance to bat or bowl. In the last game of that season, Bennett played against Somerset at Chelmsford, where he took 5-109 across both innings in his first red-ball appearance at his home ground.
