Essex 2026 One Day Cup Preview
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Dan Clark
2025 Review:
League Position: 4th in Group A
Top Runscorer: Tom Westley - 561 runs
Top Wicket Taker: Charlie Bennett - 12 wickets
Top Points Scorer: Tom Westley - 1354 points
It was a campaign of two halves for Essex in the competition last season. Having lost their first three matches in the competition, Essex went on to win their remaining five matches, narrowly missing out on a spot in the knockouts. The run of form was aided by veterans Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter returning, along with the strong form of established young players Charlie Allison and Luc Benkenstein. In the five match winning run, Essex only scored below 320 once, including an imposing total of 417 against Surrey, in which Curtis Campher scored a memorable 123 not out. This goes to show the batting talent that the Eagles possessed last season, with captain Tom Westley leading the way, averaging over 70 with the bat.
Last year’s competition saw the breakout of young seamer Charlie Bennett too. The academy product led the team in wickets, and has since gone on to establish himself this season, featuring in all formats. Elsewhere, the likes of Porter, Snater and Harmer continued their ever reliable form with the ball, in what was an overall solid campaign for Essex, under the stewardship of interim coach Tom Huggins.
Essex 2026 One Day Cup Preview - Fantasy Cricket Banker, Wildcard & Young Gun
Essex look set to be without young star Charlie Allison for the competition, after he was selected in the Hundred wildcard draft, following on from a stellar start in the T20 Blast. Elsewhere, the addition of promising young seamer Mitchell Killeen could prove a vital addition, with the former Durham man ready to help lead a pace attack that will see the likes of Porter and Snater rested at times, with Sam Cook away at the Hundred.
The veteran leadership of Tom Westley will once again prove crucial, and the likes of Matt Critchley and Robin Das will be required to contribute with the bat if Essex are to make a statement run this season.
Banker: Matt Critchley
The former Derbyshire all rounder Critchley is one of the most expensive players in the game, for good reason. He has batted at every spot in the top six throughout his time at Essex, contributing runs at every point, including a career best 173 against Hampshire this season, a game he also took 5/9 in. In last year’s One Day Cup, Critchley opened, along with bowling a good volume of his leg spin, and players with such great match involvement always fare well. Look to Critchley as a reliable, premium points scorer over the course of the campaign.
Wildcard: Luc Benkenstein
Benkenstein, son of former Lancashire head coach Dale, has displayed flashes across all formats for Essex, without really consolidating a set role within the side. A capable contributor with both bat and ball, Benkenstein will be looking to build on a strong white ball campaign last year, which saw him feature in every T20 and ODC game for Essex last time around. Benkenstein, who debuted at the age of sixteen, made an impressive 74 off just 48 deliveries against Derbyshire in the final group game last term, and this will be hoping this destructive form will carry over into this year’s competition. Watch out for his leg breaks too, with him also picking up two wickets in the contest.
Young Gun: Charlie Bennett
Charlie ‘Bomber’ Bennett has truly broken through and consolidated himself as a key member of Essex’s first XI this year, across all formats. After Sam Cook went under the knife, Bennett stepped in, making his First Class debut for the club, along with appearing in every single T20 Blast game this campaign. The twenty year old featured in seven ODC games last term, taking twelve wickets at a superb average of 23.66. The highlight was a superb 5/36 against Surrey, netting his highest fantasy score of the season along with career best figures. Expect another big stride forward from Bennett in this competition for Essex.
Potential Starting XI:
Robin Das
Matt Critchley
Tom Westley
Luc Benkenstein
Noah Thain
Simon Harmer
Simon Fernandes
Zaman Akhter
Mitchell Killeen
Charlie Bennett
Jamie Porter
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