From the outset of the Sunrisers, one challenge was establishing a clear identity. The team covered a vast area, stretching from Cambridgeshire to London and East Anglia. This made logistics tricky, it was difficult to manage talent and have a central base. Essex played a key role, hosting most of their home games at Chelmsford, a ground with a proud history of putting on women’s cricket. While Middlesex had their own challenges, Essex proved the best fit and with a central base now at the Chelmsford campus of the University of Essex, there is more a sense of belonging.
The Sunrisers ended the Regional era on a high, claiming victory in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final at Leicester. Despite earlier struggles, Essex have successfully retained most of that Sunrisers squad, which transformed from a struggling side into genuine contenders. With a newfound confidence, they enter Tier One of the County era believing they can take on any team.
At the forefront is 21-year-old Grace Scrivens, who captained last season. Expectations are high for the young leader, with some calling for her to be fast-tracked into the England captaincy despite a lack of international experience. Essex will be eager for her to pursue these aspirations, with coach Andy Tennant noting, “Hopefully, one day, she’ll become England captain. I think she’d be a bloody good one.”
As a left-handed batter, Scrivens builds innings and partnerships with composure, while her off-spin is a valuable asset. However, her strike rate in shorter formats remains an area for improvement if she is to become a true multi-format player.
While Scrivens deserves much of the attention, Tennant’s impact as coach has been pivotal. He has instilled belief in his players, empowering them to take charge of games. His trust in his squad is reciprocated, with players given the space to develop, supported by strong guidance. He will also be assisted this season by Darren Stevens who has experience in the women’s game with South East Stars.
Cordellia Griffith is one player who has thrived in this environment. Consistent yet lacking big scores in previous seasons, Griffith stepped up with 420 runs in the RHF Trophy last summer, including four fifties, one of which was a match-winning 57 in the final against South East Stars. Essex will be pleased to have retained most of that Sunrisers squad, with Mady Villiers the only departure. SHe has been replaced by the promising Sophia Smale. A young left-arm spinner who can bat, she already has three fifties to her name. She looked comfortable on the bigger stage in the Hundred and should fill the role left by the departing Villiers.
They also have the Scotland international leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood, ensuring their spin-bowling ranks are well stocked. She brings valuable experience, having featured in the Hundred, where she never looked out of place. In an era when players are increasingly expected to offer more than one string to their bow, her fielding still has room for improvement — but it’s an area that can be developed. Her presence nonetheless adds important depth and variety to Essex’s attack.
Essex’s experienced players will also play an important role. Jo Gardner is a reliable all-rounder capable of adapting to any situation, while Eva Gray is a strategic bowler, using subtle pace variations to take wickets. Kate Coppack, who until recently combined her cricket with a career as an employment lawyer, provides early movement with the ball, often putting the team in control early in her spells.
Another strong addition is Sophie Munro, who initially moved on loan last season before signing a permant deal in the winter. She is a pace bowler who gets early movement and has found the move from The Blaze beneficial having found regular opportunities harder to come by. She has also developed her batting significantly since starting as a young bowler at Nottinghamshire.
Amara Carr, a highly regarded wicketkeeper, will offer reassurance behind the stumps, contributing valuable runs and experience to Essex’s young squad.
Last season, Flo Miller began to establish herself as a dynamic presence in the field and behind the stumps. She adds energy to the side and will look to build on her promising start to her career.
Key Player
It’s hard to look past Grace Scrivens. The ‘Future England Captain’ tag won’t faze her; it has been attached to her for some time and she consistently delivers strong performances. With greater scrutiny comes added responsibility—not only for the runs she scores but for how she scores them. Essex will expect her to maintain her performances and lead with style.
Player to Watch
Jodi Grewcock, who played in the same England Under-19 team as Scrivens, has been able to fly under the radar. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. She has scored five fifties in the last two seasons while also honing her leg-spin. Grewcock could develop a strong partnership with Smale, potentially controlling the middle overs and helping Essex take charge in more games.
How will they fare
Essex are likely to contend in the 50-over format once again. They have the players to compete at the highest level and repeating last season’s success will be a tough task. With the focus on Scrivens, the pressure is on, but that could drive the team to even greater heights.
Opening fixture: Metro Bank One Day Cup: 23 April 2024 v Durham at Banks Home Riverside, Chester-le-Street
