Essex 2025 County Championship Preview

Essex are a storied county. they have won the County Championship title on eight occasions, most recently in 2019. Their form in recent years has also been stellar. The Chelmsford-based side have been in the top division for almost a decade now and have consistently challenged for first place. However, they are coming off the back of their weakest season in quite some time and the expectation surrounding the club anticipates a bounce-back of sorts. Summer business was fruitful and leaves reason for optimism, as I will discuss in this article whether or not Essex can truly stake a claim for the 2026 title or if they will continue down last seasons slippery slope towards relegation.

Last Season (6th)

2025 proved to be somewhat of an anti-climactic season for Essex. Used to the ups and downs of title battles and challenges at the top of division one, last season was rather modest by their standards. A sixth placed finish was their worst result in a first class campaign since their promotion from division two in 2016. It looked at various points through the year that they may return to the second tier, as the question of relegation loomed large. The Eagles managed to string together an unbeaten run in their last five championship fixtures to secure their division one status and finish just 28 points from the drop.

Changes

The acquisition of South African Wiaan Mulder this winter is huge and potentially the biggest overseas signing across the county circuit. Whilst he will only be available for the opening six games of the campaign, Mulder’s impact with bat and ball should be profound. Many may remember the all-rounder for his unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe last summer, which ranks as the fifth highest individual test match score ever. His experience with Leicestershire in county cricket will also prove to be vital.

Essex also secured the highly contested signature of former Gloucestershire seamer Zaman Akhter. The 27 year-old’s experience will prove valuable to a bowling department already rich in depth and talent. Though he averages a measly 41 in first-class cricket, his pace and height will be useful, particularly if the side loses their attack leader, Sam Cook, to England once again. The signing of the promising young pace bowler, Mitchell Killeen, from Durham rounded off a tidy off-season for the club.

The retirement of opening batter Nick Browne seems to be the only departure of any significance from the team ahead of this season. Though they lose one of their most reliable sources of runs over the last decade or so, coming out of the winter relatively unscathed is important to a side who will be aiming to climb back to the top of the table in this upcoming campaign.

Lineup

Essex Probable XI

*Wiaan Mulder is only available for the opening six matches, Jordan Cox is at the IPL and will miss the opening six matches

The Essex side, as it has done consistently for many years now, looks strong. Of course their obvious strength lies in the supremely talented bowling attack that they possess. The seam lineup of Sam Cook, Jamie Porter, Wiaan Mulder, Zaman Akhter and possibly Netherlands international Shane Snater appears menacing. Not much needs to be said about the tremendous quality and output of Cook, who has year on year delivered nothing but the best for this side, but perhaps Porter’s praises should be sung more often. The underrated piece of the attack, Porter took 49 wickets and averaged 20.57 with the ball last year. In 2024, he led division one with 56 poles at a fantastic 19.25 apiece.

All of this would be enough to strike fear into any batter across the country and we are yet to name the Eagle’s most valuable asset. Simon Harmer returns to the team for the tenth consecutive season. The off-spinner has taken 508 wickets at 23.14 for the Chelmsford-based outfit and has starred in the capture of two previous County Championship titles. Though his form took a dip last year, he still projects to be a key player in Essex’s ambitions this season. He is partnered, in the spin attack, by leg spinning all-rounder Matt Critchley. The former Derbyshire talent has proven to be a stellar signing for Essex and has been a reliable source of runs and steady provider of wicket throughout his time with the county.

The development of batting all-rounder Paul Walter as an opener will certainly ease the loss of veteran Nick Browne. The 31 year-old averaged 50.78 in his new role last season and will once again be partnered by Dean Elgar at the top of the order. The former South Africa captain has been prolific in his pursuit of runs since joining Essex at the beginning of 2024. Captain and former England test match batter Tom Westley provides an ever-present sense of reliability in the middle order, alongside the aforementioned all-rounder Critchley. Both averaged north of 40 last year.

Wiaan Mulder is poised to star in this side, whether it will be with bat or ball. The marquee signing averages roughly 35 in test cricket. He will most likely be replaced by Jordan Cox, who arrives back from the IPL, at the end of his stint at Chelmsford. Cox has built his reputation, since joining Essex, as one of the most dangerous and talented batters on the county circuit. He has averaged more than 60 across the previous two County Championship campaigns, whilst striking at almost 70. He will be the ‘X factor’ for the Eagles. Michael Pepper should retain the gloves after a settling and productive couple of campaigns with the red ball. His inclusion, likely at seven, really emphasises the depth of this batting lineup. Young Charlie Allison also looks poised to be included after the 2005 born right-hander broke into the first-team last season and never relinquished his spot.

Outlook

Overall, this Essex side looks incredibly strong. Their batting stretches deep down the order and features some of the strongest quality of any lineup in the country. The luxury of being able to replace South Africa star Wiaan Mulder with club favourite Jordan Cox emphasises this very point. The bowling attack that will feature at Chelmsford this year will once again be the best on show across the competition. The experience and brilliance of Simon Harmer and Sam Cook stands out, and they will be leading a well equipped arsenal of bowling talent that will be waiting in the ranks.

Fuelled by disappointment in last year's campaign, Essex will be looking to channel the same fight that they had last season, but this time towards the title. This team looks like it has all the ingredients; a quality pair of openers, a scintillating middle-order, the finest group of seam bowlers in the nation, and a spin attack that can take wickets on any pitch. Fortress Chelmsford should remain an uneasy destination for opponents this year, and that is a big reason why I’ll pick Essex to go all the way. They may not have the glitz and glam of a Surrey or Nottinghamshire, but they have the fight and they have availability; something that the previously mentioned counties are not so lucky with. I believe it will be Essex that will triumph, and reclaim the County Championship title this season.

Prediction- 1st