ESS · team desk
Essex Team: Squad, Results, Stats & Schedule
Essex men's complete 2026 Vitality Blast hub: the documented 16-player season group, all 12 South Group scores plus the quarter-final, Paul Walter's 382 runs, Shane Snater's 17 wickets, Matt Critchley's all-round return, Simon Harmer's captaincy, Chris Silverwood's staff, Chelmsford home, title history and official channels.
Chelmsford, Essex, England
ESS
2019 Vitality Blast champions · 2023 runners-up · seven Finals Day appearances
- Captain
- Simon Harmer
- Head coach
- Chris Silverwood · Director of Cricket
- Home
- County Ground, Chelmsford
- Founded
- 1876 · first-class county since 1894
Team overview
Essex at a glance
Essex are the men's professional side of Essex County Cricket Club, a member-governed county club with an elected board and Members' Committee. The men's team competes in the Vitality Blast, County Championship and One-Day Cup; the professional Essex Women's record is kept separate.
Essex finished third in the six-team 2026 South Group with seven wins, five losses, 28 points and a +0.354 net run rate. Consecutive wins over Hampshire and Surrey secured an away quarter-final, where Hampshire's James Vince-led 211/3 set up a 75-run Essex defeat.
Paul Walter topped Essex's completed campaign with 382 runs, Michael Pepper followed with 361 and Charlie Allison made 346. Shane Snater led the attack with 17 wickets, one ahead of Charlie Bennett, while Matt Critchley combined 136 runs with 13 wickets.
Completed seasonQF
South Group third; quarter-finalist
The ECB table records seven wins, five losses, 28 points and a +0.354 net run rate across 12 group matches. The quarter-final loss makes the complete season record seven wins and six losses from 13 games.
Performance leaders
Essex's 2026 Vitality Blast team leaders
Figures include all 12 group games and the Hampshire quarter-final and were reproduced from the complete Cricsheet ball-by-ball archive, with headline performances checked against Essex match reports. The all-round card is a runs-and-wickets summary, not an official award.
Paul Walter
Played all 13 matches and made the team-high 78 against Surrey
Second run-scorer361 runsMichael Pepper
Included 71 not out in the qualification-clinching win at The Oval
Shane Snater
Played every match and took three wickets against Hampshire in Chelmsford
Charlie Bennett
Eleven matches, including 3/25 in the nine-wicket win at Kent
Matt Critchley
Took 4/16 and 3/16 in the final two group wins
Paul Walter
Thirty balls in a 473-run match against Surrey at Chelmsford
Highest team score233/8 vs SurreyLost by 7 runs
Biggest victory204/6 vs Sussex+100 runs
Best bowlingSam Cook4/7
Completed scores
All 13 Essex scores in Vitality Blast 2026
The complete season is listed in order: 12 South Group matches followed by the away quarter-final at Hampshire. Essex won seven and lost six overall.
| Result | Date | Opponent & venue | Scores | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | Match 1st Match | Sussex SharksAmbassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | ESS 191/5 (20 overs)Sussex Sharks 192/4 (16 overs) | Lost by 6 wickets |
| L | Match 18th Match | Hampshire HawksUtilita Bowl, Southampton | ESS 170/7 (20 overs)Hampshire Hawks 200/4 (20 overs) | Lost by 30 runs |
| W | Match 25th Match | Kent SpitfiresSt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | ESS 130/1 (13.4 overs)Kent Spitfires 129/9 (20 overs) | Won by 9 wickets |
| W | Match 29th Match | Derbyshire FalconsAmbassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | ESS 179/5 (19.4 overs)Derbyshire Falcons 173 all out (20 overs) | Won by 5 wickets |
| W | Match 46th Match | MiddlesexMerchant Taylors' School, Northwood | ESS 176/5 (20 overs)Middlesex 116 all out (17.5 overs) | Won by 60 runs |
| W | Match 52nd Match | Kent SpitfiresAmbassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | ESS 187/6 (20 overs)Kent Spitfires 184/9 (20 overs) | Won by 3 runs |
| L | Match 59th Match | Northamptonshire SteelbacksCounty Ground, Northampton | ESS 108 all out (13.2 overs)Northamptonshire Steelbacks 238/6 (20 overs) | Lost by 130 runs |
| L | Match 68th Match | SurreyAmbassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | ESS 233/8 (20 overs)Surrey 240/4 (20 overs) | Lost by 7 runs |
| W | Match 74th Match | Sussex SharksCounty Ground, Hove | ESS 204/6 (20 overs)Sussex Sharks 104 all out (17.3 overs) | Won by 100 runs |
| L | Match 78th Match | MiddlesexAmbassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | ESS 142/8 (20 overs)Middlesex 143/6 (19 overs) | Lost by 4 wickets |
| W | Match 91st Match | Hampshire HawksAmbassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | ESS 134/3 (16 overs)Hampshire Hawks 130 all out (15.5 overs) | Won by 7 wickets |
| W | Match 102nd Match | SurreyKia Oval, London | ESS 124/2 (16.5 overs)Surrey 123 all out (19.3 overs) | Won by 8 wickets |
| L | Match Quarter-final | Hampshire HawksUtilita Bowl, Southampton | ESS 136/9 (20 overs)Hampshire Hawks 211/3 (20 overs) | Lost by 75 runs |
Officially documented 2026 men's T20 group
Essex 2026 Vitality Blast squad
This 16-player season group combines Essex's official 13-player opening squad, the 14-player quarter-final squad and every player used in a 2026 Blast XI. Wiaan Mulder and Simon Fernandes belonged to the early group; Charlie Allison, Sam Cook and Jordan Cox joined later selections, while Robin Das remained in published squads. It is separate from the wider multi-format men's directory and Essex Women's squad.
Batters
Wicketkeeper-batters
WK-BatterMichael PepperAll-Rounders
All-RounderWiaan MulderBowlers
Competition record
League and season history
Essex have competed in England's domestic T20 tournament since 2003. Simon Harmer captained their first title-winning side in 2019, and Essex returned to Finals Day in 2023 before losing the final to Somerset. The club's 2026 preview records six prior Finals Day appearances, making the completed 2026 quarter-final their latest knockout run without a seventh Finals Day.
2026 Men · England & WalesVitality BlastCompetition hub →2026 · England · Division One first classRothesay County ChampionshipOfficial competition site ↗2026 · England · men's 50 oversMetro Bank One Day CupOfficial competition site ↗
| Season | Finish | Record | Top scorer | Most wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3rd South · Quarter-final | 7 wins · 6 losses overall | Paul Walter · 382 | Shane Snater · 17 |
| 2025 | 9th · South Group | 3 wins · 10 losses · 1 NR | Michael Pepper · 364 | Mohammad Amir · 20 |
| 2024 | 5th · South Group | 7 wins · 6 losses · 1 NR | Michael Pepper · 535 | Paul Walter · 17 |
| 2023 | 4th South · Runners-up | 10 wins · 7 losses overall | Daniel Sams · 419 | Daniel Sams · 25 |
| 2019 | Champions | First men's T20 title | Official club history | Official club history |
Team operations
ESS coaching and support staff
Chris Silverwood
Led the men's programme and selected Essex's 2026 Blast squads.
Tom Huggins
Listed in Essex's 2026 men's coaching cohort.
Dougie Hondo
Joined permanently before the 2026 season to lead work with the pace group.
Mark Pettini
Part of the coaching cohort announced for 2026.
Simon Harmer
Captained the side through the group stage and quarter-final.
Home venue
Ambassador Cruise Line Ground
Chelmsford, EnglandAll six Essex home matches in the 2026 Blast group stage were played at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in Chelmsford. The ground has hosted first-class cricket since 1925 and took its current naming-rights identity before the 2025 season.
Open the official venue source ↗Team news
Latest ESS updates
Official Essex reports covering the last four decisive stages of the campaign. Women's results and external rumor coverage are excluded.
Quarter-final · 15 Jul 2026
Hampshire end Essex's campaign in the quarter-final
Read at Essex Cricket ↗Qualification · 12 Jul 2026Eight-wicket win at Surrey secures a quarter-final
Read at Essex Cricket ↗Match report · 10 Jul 2026Critchley and Snater lead seven-wicket Hampshire win
Read at Essex Cricket ↗Match report · 03 Jul 2026Essex beat Sussex by 100 runs at Hove
Read at Essex Cricket ↗Official destinations
ESS website and social handles
Use these direct links to avoid fan accounts and lookalike profiles.
Official club websiteessexcricket.org.ukOfficial destination ↗Official X@EssexCricketOfficial destination ↗Official FacebookEssexCricketOfficial destination ↗Official Instagram@EssexCricketOfficial destination ↗Official YouTubeEssexCricketTVOfficial destination ↗Official TikTok@essexcricketOfficial destination ↗
Reader questions
Essex FAQ
Where did Essex finish in the 2026 Vitality Blast?
Essex finished third in the South Group with seven wins and five losses, then lost the away quarter-final to Hampshire by 75 runs.
Who captained Essex in the 2026 Vitality Blast?
Simon Harmer captained Essex throughout the group stage and quarter-final.
Who scored the most Essex runs in the 2026 Blast?
Paul Walter led Essex with 382 runs, 21 ahead of Michael Pepper.
Who took the most Essex wickets in the 2026 Blast?
Shane Snater took a team-high 17 wickets, with Charlie Bennett second on 16.
Who was Essex's leading all-rounder in 2026?
Matt Critchley combined 136 runs with 13 wickets, including seven wickets across the final two group wins.
Who coaches Essex's men's team?
Chris Silverwood is Director of Cricket, supported by batting coach Tom Huggins, fast bowling coach Dougie Hondo and high performance coach Mark Pettini.
Where do Essex play home matches?
Essex play at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in Chelmsford, traditionally known as the County Ground.
Who owns Essex County Cricket Club?
Essex is a member-governed county club with elected board and Members' Committee positions, not a privately owned franchise.
Have Essex won the T20 Blast?
Yes. Essex won their first title in 2019 and finished runner-up in 2023.
What are Essex Cricket's official social handles?
The club links @EssexCricket on X and Instagram, EssexCricket on Facebook, EssexCricketTV on YouTube and @essexcricket on TikTok.
References
Sources for this team page
Updated 2026-08-09 after the quarter-final. Essex and ECB sources establish the official squad announcements, every score, table, captain, staff, venue, governance and title history. Cricsheet's complete ball-by-ball data was used to reproduce the player aggregates. Men's and women's records remain separate.
01
ECBFinal 2026 South Group table, points and net run rate
Open ↗02Essex CricketOfficial 13-player opening squad
Open ↗03Essex CricketOfficial 14-player quarter-final squad
Open ↗04Essex CricketQuarter-final scorecard and final XI
Open ↗05CricsheetComplete 2026 Blast ball-by-ball archive used for team leader aggregates
Open ↗06Essex CricketOfficial 2026 men's coaching cohort
Open ↗07Essex CricketClub governance, elected board and Members' Committee
Open ↗08Essex CricketGround naming and home venue history
Open ↗09Essex CricketClub history and 2019 Blast championship
Open ↗10Essex Cricket2026 preview with prior seasons, Finals Days and title count
Open ↗