Exciting Essex Cricket partnership launches with landmark game

The first delivery of the University’s exciting Essex Cricket partnership was bowled last week - as the professional women’s side played their landmark first home game in Chelmsford.

In what has been dubbed ‘the new era of professional women’s cricket’, the side ran out at the prestigious Ambassador Cruise Line Ground on Sunday.

The 50-over Metro Bank One Day Cup game saw crowds flock to Chelmsford to mark the ground-breaking collaboration between Essex Cricket and the Essex Rebels.

The cricket team will use the Colchester Campus as a training base and the Rebels will share knowledge gained over seven years of professionalism, boosting women’s sports across the county.

University researchers will also work with the basketball, volleyball and cricket teams to explore science supporting women in sport.

Photos by ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk

Essex Cricket Chief Executive, Dan Feist said: “It has been a historic week for the Club, beginning with a trip to Durham for the Essex Women’s first competitive match as a professional side.

“This was followed by the team’s first home match of the season at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, which was a very special occasion for the Club and everyone involved.

“We are extremely grateful to Dave Parry and his team at the University of Essex for all their hard work in helping us reach this point.

The future is very exciting for the Essex Women’s team, and the partnership with the University and Essex Rebels will be fundamental to its continued success.”

Revisit Essex Cricket's first visit to the Colchester Campus in the photos below

The start of the cricket season comes as the University’s basketball and volleyball teams play their final games.

The men’s volleyball sides raised their first national cup, finished top of the regular season in the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League, and just missed out as runners-up at Super League Final 4 in a five-set thriller.

Our women’s side also finished as runners up in the Final 4.

On the basketball court, the women’s side are into the business end of the season – heading to Newcastle this weekend for the play-off quarter finals.

Pictures by Sanne Hoffman

A Rebels spokesperson said: “It was fantastic to see the Essex Women’s team start their inaugural season of Tier 1 cricket at their Chelmsford home.

“We are looking forward to watching the team flourish in this exciting new chapter of women’s cricket in England.

“With the basketball and volleyball season coming to an end we are really looking forward to cheering on the team and developing the partnership with Essex Cricket.

Away from the professional sides Essex celebrated its best ever season in the student competition.

The Essex Blades teams took home three British University and College Sport (BUCS) championships at its flagship Big Wednesday tournament.

The men’s and women’s volleyball sides secured gold – with the women’s basketball team also clinching the hotly contested title.

It is the first time Essex has won three national championships at BUCS Big Wednesday – the pinnacle of university sports.

The breakthrough season comes just months after the University was named one of Britain’s top 30 sporting institutions.