Final 2023

[Gilders]

OK we had our chances and lost it, having just scraped through the group stages (last ball) and QF (penultimate ball) and SF (last over).

Mistakes were made with bat and ball on a tricky pitch.  Above all though, Somerset outfielded us - both catching and ground-fielding.  Going forward, we do need to find a way to sharpen that up.

When I first started watching Essex in the 70s we were not much good at batting or bowling but we prided ourselves on fielding.  Need to recapture some of that somehow.

[Caughtright]

Always hate to see Essex lose any match, but we did so well to reach the Final - which most folk expected to be Surrey-Hampshire - that being runners-up was something of which to be proud. As has been said elsewhere, credit also to another non-Test-ground side for winning.

[smandlej]

We read the article in Sunday's Telegraph, talking about T20 finals day and the 16.4, and they spoke of Essex and Somerset being counties who don't have 'a Hundred team'.  Pardon us, but nobody has 'a Hundred team', they're just a mixture of players who happen to use your ground to play their matches.

Lynda and Steve

[nat]

We read the article in Sunday's Telegraph, talking about T20 finals day and the 16.4, and they spoke of Essex and Somerset being counties who don't have 'a Hundred team'.  Pardon us, but nobody has 'a Hundred team', they're just a mixture of players who happen to use your ground to play their matches.

Lynda and Steve

Indeed. We are coming up to the period of 'purdah' for this damned circus which I hope will be observed by all.

[Valentines Park]

nobody has 'a Hundred team'

Surrey has a 100 team.

They don't even disguise it much.

[dazedpenguin]

I think all the counties who host a hundred team regard it as "their team" to a certain extent. Definitely for Notts and the Trent Bridge Rockets. The Essex players are scattered throughout the franchises, so I've got no affinity for any of them. I'll watch games that Cook or Walter are playing in and I like to see them do well, but I don't care who wins.

[SirChef26]

We read the article in Sunday's Telegraph, talking about T20 finals day and the 16.4, and they spoke of Essex and Somerset being counties who don't have 'a Hundred team'.  Pardon us, but nobody has 'a Hundred team', they're just a mixture of players who happen to use your ground to play their matches.

Lynda and Steve

That's what the ECB would want you to believe. The reality is that all eight host counties have a Hundred team of their own. They get paid far more than the other ten counties through host fees/corps/food/drink and their members get free tickets to their home games.

Fun fact, I was in Cardiff for football back in the winter and took a stroll through Bute Park in the morning having never been to Sophia Gardens. I walked around the outside of the ground (lovely location) and make no mistake there was just as much Welsh Fire paraphernalia around the place as there was Glamorgan. You try telling the folks at Glamorgan that Welsh Fire isn't "their team". Lancashire are quietly starting to do the same with Original signage around Old Trafford, mainly interior stuff at the moment which fans can't see outside, but that will come soon.

[nat]

Ignore the b*****d circus.

[smandlej]

Strikes a bit odd, if 'our team' is different players each year.  Anyway, we do ignore it, Nat, and are hoping that the rest of the country follows suit asap.

Lynda and Steve