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Essex vs Hampshire, CC_2026, Today Match Prediction
ESS vs HAM Win Probability
Toss Winner - Essex won the toss and choose to bowl first
Can Essex make it 2-0 against Hampshire?
- Paul Walter and Dean Elgar scored a hundred each for Essex in the last game
- 5 of the last 8 County Championship matches played here ended in a draw
- Hampshire dropped in-form Jake Lehman from the side in their recent match
Essex to win
| Tournament: | County Championship Division One 2026 |
| Format: | test |
| Venue: | Essex County Cricket Club, Chelmsford, United Kingdom, United Kingdom |
| Toss Prediction: | To Bowl |
| Weather: | 15.1°C|Sunny |
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ESS vs HAM Betting Odds
| Bookie | EssexESS | HampshireHAM |
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ESS vs HAM Match Prediction & Analysis
Essex will be out to beat Hampshire for the second time in the season as they take on the struggling Hawks at home in Chelmsford. In their opening game at The Rose Bowl, Essex beat Hampshire by an innings and 137 runs.
And though Hampshire bounced back quickly with a comfortable win in the very next game, they have lost two consecutive games since then. Essex have had a similar fate, losing two of their last 3 matches, with their most recent game ending in a draw.
It was after two back-to-back losses that Essex found their rhythm with the bat, as opening batters Paul Walter and Dean Elgar led with impactful knocks, supported by skipper Tom Westley in the second innings.
Hampshire’s recent loss was the second time they lost by an innings this year. They haven’t reached the 300-run mark in the first innings once in their last 4 matches. Batting all-rounder from Australia, Jake Lehmann, was dropped from the side in the last game, after having scored 4 consecutive fifties.
RECENT PERFORMANCE
ESS
L
L
W
W
W
ESS
149/10 in 51.0 2.92
CC_2026
Somerset beat Essex by 10 wickets
49/0 in 5.4 8.65
322/10 in 47.3 6.78
RLODC
Essex beat Derbyshire by 44 runs
366/6 in 50.0 7.32
HAM
L
L
W
L
L
HAM
HEAD TO HEAD
Last 10 Matches
Show More Show Less
447/9 in 119.4
CC_2023
Hampshire beat Essex by 3 wickets
267/7 in 58.1
115/5 in 11.3
VITALITY T20 BLAST 2023
Essex won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining) (D/L method)
170/7 in 20.0
212/6 in 19.2
VITALITY T20 BLAST 2023
Hampshire won by 4 wickets
209/7 in 20.0
TEAMS PREVIEW
Essex Preview
Essex made a comeback with the bat in their recent outing. They had struggled in their previous matches, being bowled out for 205 and 149 in their first innings.
The openers, along with skipper Tom Westley, led the comeback in the last match, scoring a hundred each. The senior player in the top order, Dean Elgar, was particularly impressive, making a big impact in both innings of the game.
Charlie Allison and Matthew Critchley are key players in the middle order. Since his fifty against Sussex in the second innings, Critchley hasn’t found his rhythm and is struggling to get off to a decent start.
However, Allison was in good touch in the last game, and looks promising coming into this match. There is depth in the batting order with Michael Pepper, Noah Thain, and Simon Harmer in the lower order.
Thain scored a fifty in the first innings of the last game, and along with Harmer stitched an 84-run partnership for the 7th wicket. There is also a great variety in the bowling attack, with Sam Cook and Jamie Porter leading the charge for Essex.
Simon Harmer and Matthew Critchley are other wicket-taking options in the side to watch. Critchley scored 173 runs the last time these two teams played and picked a fifer in the second innings to lead Essex to a huge victory by an innings and 137 runs.
Interesting Stats
Charlie Allison has scored 40 or more thrice in the last 3 matches and missed out on a fifty every time.
Dean Elgar scored 92 and 107 in the last match, after having scored in double digits only once in his 4 previous innings.
Essex Predicted Playing XI:
Dean Elgar, Paul Walter, Tom Westley (c), Charlie Allison, Matthew Critchley, Michael Pepper (wk), Noah Thain, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter
Essex Key Players From Previous Game Of County Championship Division One 2026
Essex Actual Playing XI:
Tom Westley, Wiaan Mulder, Dean Elgar, Paul Walter, Charlie Allison, Matt Critchley, Michael Pepper, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Samuel Cook, Jamie Porter
Hampshire Preview
Hampshire Hawks have lost 3 of their 4 matches so far. Their only win came against Yorkshire in the away game in Headingley. Though they were bowled out for just 251 runs in the first innings, Jake Lehmann and skipper Ben Brown ensured they ended up with a bigger score in the second with impactful knocks, scoring 92 and 103 respectively.
We think Hampshire will need Lehmann back in the XI as they face a strong Essex bowling attack. Though the opposition is also struggling to win games, they have a bowling attack that is not only strong but also varied, and they have completely outplayed Hampshire in their previous encounter.
After their win over Yorkshire, Ben Brown and co. played Somerset at home, where they suffered yet another loss. It was by a lower margin this time around, as the bowlers picked up 8 wickets while defending a 288-run target. Lehmann and Brown came to the rescue in the second innings, scoring 50 and 66 in the middle order, but were also joined by Nick Gubbins with his 83-run knock at the top.
Ben Brown’s form continues as he scored another fifty in the second innings in their last game against Glamorgan. However, Hampshire lost the game by an innings and 69 runs. Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest must step up in the top order and deliver big partnerships, while Lehmann should come back in for Fletcha Middleton.
In the bowling attack, Kyle Abbott, Felix Organ, and Sonny Baker are the key players expected to make a strong comeback and put the struggling Essex on the back foot.
Interesting Stats
Ben Brown has scored 96, 66, and 103 in the second innings of the last 3 matches
Kyle Abbott has picked up only 4 wickets in his last 3 innings for Hampshire
Hampshire Predicted Playing XI:
Toby Albert, Nick Gubbins, Tom Prest, Fletcha Middleton, Ben Mayes, Ben Brown (c) (wk), Felix Organ, Scott Currie, Kyle Abbott, Codi Yusuf, Sonny Baker
Hampshire Key Players From Previous Game Of County Championship Division One 2026
Hampshire Actual Playing XI:
James Fuller, Scott Currie, Toby Albert, Nick Gubbins, Tom Prest, Jake Lehmann, Ben Brown, Ben Mayes, Liam Dawson, Codi Yusuf, Kyle Abbott
PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
Weather Conditions
It will be mostly sunny on the first day of the Test in Chelmsford with a high of 18 degrees Celsius. The next two days will be mostly cloudy, and the final day will again be partly sunny. The overcast conditions will certainly allow for swing and later reverse swing in the match. There is no rain forecast for these four days, and we don’t expect to lose any overs in this match.
ESS vs HAM Pitch Report
It is a balanced wicket that has something to offer for everyone. Bowlers and batters have found great help, though most of last season was dominated by the batters. This year, we saw the team batting first score only 149 runs in the first innings, while the average first innings score at this venue in the last 5 County Championship matches stands at 362 runs. We reckon anything over 400 in the first innings will be a great total in this game.
Toss: To Bowl
Though most of the matches played here last season ended in a draw, the last two matches on this ground were won by the team bowling first. The last match of the previous season saw Essex chase down 99 runs in the fourth innings. Whereas, this year, the only game played here so far, between Essex and Somerset, had the latter chase down 49 runs in the fourth innings with 10 wickets in hand.
ESS vs HAM
Winning Prediction
Both teams have struggled with the bat recently, but the home team has bounced back and looks promising. They can put up a much better first innings total than the visitors. Hampshire relies on a very few players in the side, and their best bowler isn’t in the best form, which makes their case weaker. Essex will start as the favourites in our match prediction.
Essex to win
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