Essex vs Somerset, CC_2025, Today Match Prediction 24 September 2025

ESS vs SOM Match Prediction & Analysis

And so here we all are, the final round of fixtures in the 2025 County Championship Division One season!

Essex host Somerset in Chelmsford with a game which begins with autumn making itself well known with Britain and with the result of this game potentially having an outcome in who gets relegated.

Although Somerset begin this round in third, the title is out of reach with Nottinghamshire, the leaders 28 points clear at the top. They could however pip Surrey to third place and begin 14 points behind the current champions.

As for Essex, they are in sixth place but only ten points above Durham in the final relegation place and they have work to do when this game gets underway on Wednesday morning.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Essex Preview

Rain was the clear winner in Essex's last match in this competition when they travelled to Edgbaston to take on Warwickshire last week.

Only 104 overs in total were bowled, and all of them were sent down by the home sides so the Essex bowlers should be nice and fresh ahead of this week's final fixture.

Dean Elgar showed his durability and class with 48 runs from 111 balls and he will be keen to sign off from this season with another obdurate innings of his own.

Jordan Cox returns to the XI after being on England duty and the bowling attack of Simon Harmer, Jamie Porter, Khaleel Ahmed, Sam Cook and Kasun Rajitha looks a dangerous one.

Essex Predicted Playing XI:

Paul Walter, Dean Elgar, Tom Westley (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Matt Critchley, Noah Thain, Simon Harmer, Sam Cook, Khaleel Ahmed, Jamie Porter, Kasun Rajitha

Somerset Preview

It was late April when Somerset last lost a County Championship Division One game with the last match to end in such a fate against Surrey who they could still overtake on the last round of the season.

Somerset had an awful start, failing to win any of their opening four and losing two but they have since gone nine games unbeaten and very nearly pulled off another win last week.

Their XI for this game will be boosted by the return of Tom Banton who has been away in Ireland representing his country and he will boost an already strong top order.

With the ball, the England internationals Jack Leach and Craig Overton will leead the attack alongside Josh Davey.

Somerset Predicted Playing XI:

Archie Vaughan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Banton, Tom Abell, James Rew (wk), Lewis Gregory (c), Kasey Aldridge, Josh Davey, Alfie Ogborne, Jack Leach, Craig Overton

Weather Conditions

Considering it is the back end of September, the weather will still be pleasant for most of this game in Chelmsford with only a slight chance of rain on Thursday.

ESS vs SOM Pitch Report

Chelmsford is an excellent place to watch and play cricket without any of the imposing stands of modern stadia and fans feel they are very close to all the action. A par total in the first innings is likely to be around 320.

Toss: To Bowl

The conditions look likely to encourage the pacers on Wednesday morning at the toss so we predict that both captains will choose to bowl first ahead of this match.