Cricket enthusiasts are set for an exciting four-day encounter as Essex welcome Durham to the County Ground in Chelmsford for a crucial County Championship Division One fixture. This match will be vital for both teams as they battle for points in England’s premier first-class competition. The game is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 8th, 2025.
This Championship clash promises to be an intriguing battle between two competitive sides. Essex, led by Tom Westley, will look to capitalize on home advantage, while Durham under Alex Lees’ captaincy will be determined to secure valuable points away from home. Both teams possess quality players capable of turning the match in their favor.
Essex vs Durham County Championship: Match Overview
Essex enters this fixture looking to build momentum in their Division One campaign. Durham, meanwhile, will be eager to put in a strong performance and climb up the championship table with a positive result at Chelmsford.
Here are the complete match details:
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Essex vs Durham |
| Tournament | County Championship Division One 2025 |
| Date | Monday, September 8, 2025 |
| Venue | County Ground, Chelmsford, United Kingdom |
| Start Time (UTC) | 9:30 AM |
| Start Time (BST) | 10:30 AM |
| Hours of Play | 11:00 start, Lunch 13:00-13:40, Tea 15:40-16:00, Close 18:00 |
| Match Duration | 4 days (September 8-11, 2025) |
| Stadium Capacity | 6,500 |
Essex vs Durham County Championship Head-to-Head Record
Essex holds a commanding advantage in the historical head-to-head record against Durham, having won more than half of their encounters. However, recent matches suggest Durham has become increasingly competitive.
| Stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 20 |
| Essex Wins | 10 |
| Durham Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 7 |
Essex vs Durham County Championship Squads
Here are the confirmed squads for this Division One encounter. Both teams have selected strong lineups featuring experienced campaigners and promising talents.
Essex Squad
Captain: Tom Westley
Players: Dean Elgar (Opening Batter), Tom Westley (Top order Batter), Jordan Cox (Wicketkeeper Batter), Michael Pepper (Wicketkeeper Batter), Charlie Allison, Matt Critchley (Allrounder), Mackenzie Jones (Allrounder), Noah Thain (Allrounder), Paul Walter (Allrounder), Sam Cook (Bowler), Simon Harmer (Bowler), Jamie Porter (Bowler), Kasun Rajitha (Bowler), Shane Snater (Bowler), Khaleel Ahmed (Bowler)
Durham Squad
Captain: Alex Lees
Players: Alex Lees (Opening Batter), Ben McKinney (Opening Batter), David Bedingham (Middle order Batter), Graham Clark (Batter), Emilio Gay (Batter), Colin Ackermann (Batting Allrounder), Bas de Leede (Batting Allrounder), Will Rhodes (Batting Allrounder), Paul Coughlin (Bowling Allrounder), Ben Raine (Bowling Allrounder), Ollie Robinson (Wicketkeeper Batter), Sam Conners (Bowler), Brendan Doggett (Bowler), George Drissell (Bowler), Daniel Hogg (Bowler), Matthew Potts (Bowler)
Essex vs Durham County Championship Match Prediction
Based on current form and squad composition, this match appears evenly balanced with both teams possessing the quality to secure victory. Essex will have the advantage of familiar home conditions at Chelmsford, where their bowling attack has historically performed well.
Essex’s batting lineup features the experienced Dean Elgar at the top of the order, while Tom Westley provides stability in the middle order. Their bowling attack, led by Sam Cook and Jamie Porter, has the pace and skill to trouble Durham’s batsmen on a helpful Chelmsford surface.
Durham, however, boasts a well-rounded squad with Alex Lees providing solid leadership and opening partnership stability. David Bedingham offers crucial middle-order runs, while their all-rounders like Colin Ackermann and Bas de Leede provide valuable balance to the team.
The team that adapts better to the match conditions and executes their plans more consistently across all four days will likely emerge victorious. Both sides will be hungry for Championship points, setting up what promises to be a fascinating contest.
Where To Watch Essex vs Durham County Championship Match
Cricket fans can enjoy free worldwide coverage of this County Championship fixture through multiple platforms. The ECB provides comprehensive live streaming at ecb.co.uk/championship-live with synchronized BBC Radio commentary and detailed stats.
The official England Cricket app offers mobile streaming via the ‘VIDEO’ tab, along with live scorecards and push notifications. Plus, both Essex and Durham’s YouTube channels will likely provide alternative free streaming options for this four-day encounter.
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Conclusion: Essex vs Durham County Championship Clash Set For Compelling Cricket
This County Championship Division One encounter between Essex and Durham promises to deliver four days of high-quality cricket at Chelmsford. Essex will be confident about their chances with home advantage and a balanced squad capable of competing across all departments.
Durham, led by the experienced Alex Lees, will be determined to prove their credentials away from home. With quality players throughout their lineup, they possess the firepower to challenge Essex and secure a positive result.
Cricket fans can expect a proper Championship battle featuring traditional four-day cricket virtues: patient batting, disciplined bowling, and tactical captaincy. Both teams have everything to play for as they seek to climb the Division One table.
FAQs
The match starts at 9:30 AM UTC (10:30 AM BST) on Monday, September 8, 2025.
The match is being played at County Ground in Chelmsford, United Kingdom.
Tom Westley is the captain of Essex, and Alex Lees is the captain of Durham.
This is a 4-day match running from September 8-11, 2025.
Play starts at 11:00 AM with lunch from 1:00-1:40 PM, tea from 3:40-4:00 PM, and close of play at 6:00 PM (all local times).
