Worcestershire Head Coach Alan Richardson hailed Ethan Brookes’ remarkable innings and the overall fight shown by his side despite a narrow 28-run defeat to Essex in a thrilling final-day contest at Chelmsford.
Brookes lit up the latter stages of the game with a fearless display of ball-striking, smashing 88 from 105 balls, including seven sixes, in a dramatic attempt to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. His final-wicket stand with Jacob Duffy brought Worcestershire to within touching distance of their target, before he was eventually dismissed by Jamie Porter to bring the match to a breathless close.
Speaking after the match, Richardson said: “It was a remarkable innings from Ethan, it really was. He showed his skill level and ability in such a high-pressure moment. From a position where, for all the money, it looked like we were nowhere near, he produced something that was amazing to watch. It should give him a great deal of confidence going forward.”
Worcestershire began the day needing 110 runs with four wickets in hand and hopes high. But a testing opening spell from Essex saw Matthew Waite bowled early by a fine delivery, and further wickets followed as the pressure mounted.
“We were really hopeful going into the morning,” Richardson reflected. “We pride ourselves on batting all the way down and thought we had a real opportunity, even knowing it would be hard work. Essex bowled brilliantly first thing, gave us absolutely nothing, and created pressure that told in the end.”
Looking at the match as a whole, Richardson identified a crucial turning point in Essex’s second innings, where Paul Walter’s century and his partnership with Noah Thain proved decisive on a challenging, seamer-friendly surface.
“I think Paul Walter’s innings and that stand with Thain was the moment that really separated the sides,” he said. “We’d done well in the first two innings and would’ve loved a slightly bigger lead, but we won’t be greedy. That partnership, the biggest in the game, came at a key time and hurt us. Credit to them both.”
Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives for Worcestershire to take from the four days. The bowling group showed greater consistency, and the first-innings fightback with the bat, led by Brett D’Oliveira and Adam Hose, helped drag the side back into the contest after a shaky start.
“Jacob Duffy was excellent in the first innings, and the bowling unit as a whole took a real step forward,” Richardson said. “And the partnership between Dolly and Hose when we were 22-4 was really important, they applied themselves brilliantly and gave us a chance to stay in the game. Then of course, Ethan’s knock today was something else altogether.”
Reflecting on the conditions, Richardson acknowledged the surface heavily favoured the seamers, but added that it ultimately contributed to a high-quality, engaging contest.
“It was probably different from what we expected coming here, not a traditional Essex pitch, but it offered something for the bowlers if they got it in the right areas,” he explained. “There were still runs out there, as Paul Walter showed, and Ethan too. In the end, it turned into a really good game of cricket.”
With three away fixtures to start the campaign, including tough trips to Somerset, Yorkshire, and Essex, the Worcestershire squad has faced a demanding schedule, but Richardson believes the group’s character remains strong and their determination to improve unwavering.
“It’s been a tough start, but we always knew it would be,” he admitted. “We’ve lost two and drawn one, but the spirit and character in the dressing room is outstanding. The players have stuck together, shown real professionalism, and they’ll continue striving to get better. If we keep doing the basics well and do them for longer, we’ll keep creating chances to win games of cricket.”
