vs Glamorgan

[stickyboy]

What did grate was looking at all the empty seats, having been forced to pay the extra £7 for a reserved seat. I think asking people to pay £18/£29 for a seat is pushing it.

why do they need to have reserved seating anyway. When you buy a ticket for other cricket matches or football games you get an allocated seat anyway with the standard price

[IanS]

I had us down for a loss as soon as I saw the team sheet.....so pleasantly surprised.

Putting them in was the right call as you couldn't count on that threadbare attack defending a total.  As it was the bowlers did well although Sikander bowling to Rudolph was men against boys.  Good performances from Topley, Ryder and Salisbury who at one point was on a hat trick.  I know some on here don't rate Salisbury but from what I saw in this game and the championship match he looks promising.  Not as fast as Mills but five times as accurate.

Pessimism returned once Ryder and Pettini had gone, only for Westley and Foakes to follow up the promise they showed against Sri Lanka. I never had Westley down as a T20 player but he scored quickly and with proper cricket shots.  The real man of the match though was Foster who brought the required run rate down from 9 to 6 an over with one over of brutal hitting. Still time for some more pessimism when Foster departed.  Was there any batting left? Enter the much maligned Smith to steer the ship home.

I was intrigued to see the size of the crowd. I've always thought that, Friday nights notwithstanding, more games spread over a longer period would not be the money spinner Essex hoped for. Early days but it was definitely not a sell out - I would say about the size of a very well attended 40 over game.

I was amazed to see that this was only Westley's 5th T20 innings and he had scored just 15 runs before last night's match. The lad did well.

[afinetickletoleg]

What did grate was looking at all the empty seats, having been forced to pay the extra £7 for a reserved seat. I think asking people to pay £18/£29 for a seat is pushing it.

why do they need to have reserved seating anyway. When you buy a ticket for other cricket matches or football games you get an allocated seat anyway with the standard price

Even Ryanair have introduced allocated seats at no extra cost!!

[IlfordEagle]

I had us down for a loss as soon as I saw the team sheet.....so pleasantly surprised.

Putting them in was the right call as you couldn't count on that threadbare attack defending a total.  As it was the bowlers did well although Sikander bowling to Rudolph was men against boys.  Good performances from Topley, Ryder and Salisbury who at one point was on a hat trick.  I know some on here don't rate Salisbury but from what I saw in this game and the championship match he looks promising.  Not as fast as Mills but five times as accurate.

Pessimism returned once Ryder and Pettini had gone, only for Westley and Foakes to follow up the promise they showed against Sri Lanka.  I never had Westley down as a T20 player but he scored quickly and with proper cricket shots.  The real man of the match though was Foster who brought the required run rate down from 9 to 6 an over with one over of brutal hitting. Still time for some more pessimism when Foster departed.  Was there any batting left? Enter the much maligned Smith to steer the ship home.

I was intrigued to see the size of the crowd. I've always thought that, Friday nights notwithstanding, more games spread over a longer period would not be the money spinner Essex hoped for. Early days but it was definitely not a sell out - I would say about the size of a very well attended 40 over game.

Good summary Springbok, echoed my thoughts on the game.

Someone heard that the crowd was 4,100. which sounds about right.

Almost exactly my feelings as well, impressed by Salisbury who after being hit by Rudolph then bowled a good Yorker at him & overall did well, Ryder bowled well, difficult to get away & apart from one very loose & uncharacteristic beamer so did Reece. When Ryder got out I too feared the worst (BTW when he gets really going he will get a huge score) but Westley & Foakes stepped up & did us proud, Fossie did his usual with the bat - how can he not be considered good enough with the bat for England? A special mention for Foakes with a fine catch, terrific innings & some splendid work in the field.
Pity about the crowd, the lowest I've seen at a T20 home game, interesting to see what happens at future games, a great start for us, Glam will be kicking themselves at not beating a weakened team but full credit to our boys for winning a highly entertaining match.

[stickyboy]

Pity about the crowd, the lowest I've seen at a T20 home game, interesting to see what happens at future games

Yes considering it was a Friday when Essex say its always a sell out at the "Fortress". Was it because maybe May is too early for late night cricket, Glamorgan have little appeal or prices to high?

Looking at the prices, last year a non member (which i presume are the main T20 spectators) could get an unreserved ticket from £22, this year the minimum is £29. Last year as a member i paid £11 for an unreserved and managed to get a seat easily each time. This year there is only a handful of £11 tickets as everything has to be reserved so pretty much you have to pay £18, although this rises to £29 with less than a week to go still for members even if there are loads of spaces as was the game against Glamorgan.

Having done all the T20 games last year, didnt bother to go to the Glamorgan game as don't like the new tickets arrangements as i know a few other members who also did the same.

Checking Middlesex, Kent and Hampshire Prices, they charge £20 Adults (£29 Essex) and £5 Kids (£15 Essex)

[DT]

What did grate was looking at all the empty seats, having been forced to pay the extra £7 for a reserved seat. I think asking people to pay £18/£29 for a seat is pushing it.

why do they need to have reserved seating anyway. When you buy a ticket for other cricket matches or football games you get an allocated seat anyway with the standard price

Indeed and if you sell an unallocated seat ticket then you shouldn't sell more tickets than seats in the ground so everyone gets one but it's the clubs marketing ploy!

[DT]

Has the bubble burst perhaps for t20 matches at Essex?  I guess only time will tell?

[JasonP]

Pity about the crowd, the lowest I've seen at a T20 home game, interesting to see what happens at future games

Yes considering it was a Friday when Essex say its always a sell out at the "Fortress". Was it because maybe May is too early for late night cricket, Glamorgan have little appeal or prices to high?

Looking at the prices, last year a non member (which i presume are the main T20 spectators) could get an unreserved ticket from £22, this year the minimum is £29. Last year as a member i paid £11 for an unreserved and managed to get a seat easily each time. This year there is only a handful of £11 tickets as everything has to be reserved so pretty much you have to pay £18, although this rises to £29 with less than a week to go still for members even if there are loads of spaces as was the game against Glamorgan.

Having done all the T20 games last year, didnt bother to go to the Glamorgan game as don't like the new tickets arrangements as i know a few other members who also did the same.

Checking Middlesex, Kent and Hampshire Prices, they charge £20 Adults (£29 Essex) and £5 Kids (£15 Essex)

I went for £11 and was worried that there would be few unreserved seats available so I got there early but there were quite a few seats there that remained empty during the match.

[Slogger]

My pal reckons there was a table of T20 attendances in one of the national papers last week. He reckoned that Essex were about 13th or 14th in the table. I don't know if anyone else saw it but I guess it shows that we pretty well fill a small ground but other clubs have bigger grounds and get more people

[IlfordEagle]

If we charge the reported £29 in the final week before a match as some have stated then we won't sell all the tickets & attendances will continue to fall, equally if we don't do well ie stop winning the same will happen.

[stickyboy]

My pal reckons there was a table of T20 attendances in one of the national papers last week. He reckoned that Essex were about 13th or 14th in the table. I don't know if anyone else saw it but I guess it shows that we pretty well fill a small ground but other clubs have bigger grounds and get more people

heres the article. Essex were 11th but they were one of the highest ground filled percantages

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/10833162/Twenty20-revolution-does-not-go-far-enough.html