Essex v Leicestershire, Southend-on-Sea, 3rd day

Bopara and Masters sink Leicestershire

Jul 29, 2011: It is fashionable for those who rarely bother to attend such fixtures to suggest that the quality and entertainment offered by Division Two cricket is of little value

Essex v Leicestershire, Grace Road, 3rd day

Godleman sets up victory chance

Jul 12, 2011: Billy Godleman hit a career-best 130 as Essex moved into a commanding position at the end of the third day of the County Championship match against Leicestershire at Grace Road

Essex v Northamptonshire, Chelmsford, 1st day

Bowlers run rampant at Chelmsford

Jun 25, 2011: Seventeen wickets fell for 262 runs on the opening day of the County Championship Division Two game at Chelmsford, where Essex gained the upper hand against leaders Northamptonshire

Gloucestershire v Essex, Bristol, 3rd day

Late strikes give Essex victory chance

May 31, 2011: Half-centuries from Adam Wheater and Owais Shah and two late wickets from David Masters helped put Essex on top against Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire v Essex, Bristol, 2nd day

Masters takes five on truncated day

May 30, 2011: Ed Young's maiden half-century for Gloucestershire and a five-wicket haul for Essex seamer David Masters were the highlights of a rain-hit second day in the County Championship Division Two match at Bristol

Gloucestershire v Essex, Bristol, 1st day

Gloucestershire recover after collapse

May 29, 2011: Tail-enders Jon Lewis and Ed Young came to Gloucestershire's rescue on the opening day of their Division Two match against Essex at Bristol

Derbyshire v Essex. Derby, 2nd day

Derbyshire lower order defy Essex fight back

May 11, 2011: Derbyshire's lower order defied the Essex attack to give their side the edge on day two of their County Championship match at Derby

Essex v Netherlands, CB 40, Chelmsford

Win keeps Essex's hopes alive

Aug 29, 2010: Essex beat Netherlands by eight wickets under the Duckworth/Lewis method having been set 74 from 16 overs to win the Clydesdale Bank 40 Group B match at Chelmsford

Warwickshire v Essex, Edgbaston, 3rd day

Essex fight back in day of wickets

Aug 27, 2010: Essex battled to keep open an escape route in the County Championship relegation struggle as 16 wickets went down on the third day of their basement clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston

Essex v Somerset, Colchester, 2nd day

Trescothick double flattens Essex

Aug 19, 2010: Marcus Trescothick destroyed the Essex attack with the third double century of his career as Somerset carved out a commanding position in the County Championship Division One clash at Colchester

Essex v Somerset, Colchester, 1st day

Essex fail to build on Masters haul

Aug 18, 2010: Ravi Bopara missed a golden opportunity to press his claims for a place on the Ashes tour this winter when he failed to perform in front of national selector Geoff Miller at Colchester

Essex v Warwickshire, Southend-on-Sea, 3rd day

Westwood fifty guides Warwickshire to victory

Aug 6, 2010: Ian Westwood scored the only half-century of the match to guide bottom side Warwickshire to a seven-wicket victory over fellow County Championship strugglers Essex at Southend

Essex v Warwickshire, Southend-on-Sea, 2nd day

Warwickshire in charge after day of wickets

Aug 5, 2010: Essex and Warwickshire found themselves locked in a tense struggle at Southend on a day which saw a total of 17 wickets fall for 234 runs

Nottinghamshire v Essex, Trent Bridge, 3rd day

Masters and Bopara edge Essex ahead

May 31, 2010: A four-wicket haul from David Masters and Ravi Bopara's first half-century of the season put Essex in a strong position to force their first victory in the County Championship since the opening game of the season

Nottinghamshire v Essex, Trent Bridge, 2nd day

Pettini & Masters lead Essex fightback

May 30, 2010: Essex skipper Mark Pettini led from the front with a gutsy 96 as the County Championship strugglers compiled a useful first innings total of 329 against Nottinghamshire

Somerset v Essex, Taunton, 2nd day

Honours even after Godleman hundred

Apr 28, 2010: Billy Godleman hit a century for Essex on an absorbing second day of their County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.

Essex v Lancashire, Chelmsford, 2nd day

James Anderson builds on Paul Horton hundred

Apr 22, 2010: Paul Horton made a fine century and James Anderson continued his superb return to the Lancashire line-up with two second-innings wickets as the Red Rose took control against Essex at Chelmsford

Essex v Hampshire, Chelmsford, 3rd day

Tom Westley impresses for Essex

Apr 11, 2010: Tom Westley confirmed his rich promise by guiding Essex out of trouble in their County Championship clash against Hampshire at Chelmsfor

County Championship round-up

Foster cements Essex's control

Aug 27, 2009: A round-up from the latest action in the County Championship

County Championship round-up

Thomas crashes through Sussex

Jun 17, 2009: A round-up of the latest County Championship action as Alfonso Thomas gives Somerset control and David Masters stars against his former club