County Championship 2025

Essex: 206 and 163/4 (52.3 Overs)

Somerset: 145/10

Essex lead by 224 runs

The season of summer is approaching England. Under a clear blue sky, carpets like soft green grass fields; an ideal day for cricket. 

County championship is underway in England; teams packed with international and underrated talents are showing their skills. When the cover was removed from County Ground's 22-yard surface, bowlers, especially field-first teams' pacers, were pumped after seeing a green top wicket. The wicket is looking so green from the stand that it is difficult to differentiate the pitch and the outfield— a heavenly view for pace bowlers.

The Somerset vs. Essex County Championship match is underway in Taunton, on the green topsoil. As the match progressed, spinners, along with pacers, also started to get help from the wicket. So batters mostly had to hold on to copybook basics and their techniques.

Essex is leading the race

Batted first, Essex managed to score 206, a good total considering the condition. 20-year-old all-rounder Noah Thain was the leading run scorer with 41 against 112 balls. Experienced spinner Jack Leach proved most effective for Somerset in the first innings with 3 scalps after bowling 30 overs, with an economy rate of 1.17.

Watch the green top wicket here

The pitch for Somerset Vs Essex match. pic.twitter.com/ey2p0bA6nD

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 4, 2025

Somerset, when out for batting, was mostly troubled by the off-break bowler Simon Harmer, who took 4 wickets. Sam Cook, recently named to the England Test side, claimed a brace. At the end of day 2, Essex, in a commanding position, escalated their lead by 224 runs. Jordan Cox, another Essex player with Cook, has made his way into the Test squad and remained on the pitch for an unbeaten 61. 

Cricket fans have reason to smile after Pakistan ace pacer Mohammad Amir returns to Essex County Cricket Club for the 2025 Vitality Blast. The left-arm seamer, who played for Essex between 2017 and 2019, will return to bring his experience and talent back into the side for this year's T20 campaign.

Amir, with 71 wickets in 62 international T20 games at a remarkable average of 21.94, will hugely strengthen Essex's bowling lineup. His earlier stint with Essex was very successful, with the club even featuring in a double-winning season in 2019.Amir did not feature in the knockout stages but contributed 24 wickets in 21 matches in his initial spell, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.

Chris Silverwood, Essex Director of Cricket, welcomed Amir's return with optimism, underlining the significance of his experience. "We are thrilled to have Mo return to Chelmsford and are very much looking forward to having him play for Essex once again. He will certainly strengthen what is already a good squad for our T20 Blast this summer," Silverwood said.

Amir will be available for the group stage of the Vitality Blast, with an option to extend his stay if Essex make it to the knockout stages. The team's first match is on May 30th against Hampshire Hawks. Essex is now as strong as ever with Amir in the team, and the fans are waiting eagerly for another excellent season.

ALSO SEE:Sophie Shine’s new post with Shikhar Dhawan sparks fresh dating rumours

Amir says he would choose IPL over PSL if given the chance

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has sparked buzz in the cricket world with his candid admission that he would choose the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the Pakistan Super League (PSL) if given the chance. Speaking on the Quetta Gladiators’ podcast, Amir said that if both leagues were to run at the same time in the future and he became eligible to play in the IPL as a British citizen, he would prefer the IPL without hesitation. “Honestly, if I get the opportunity, I’ll definitely play in the IPL. I’m saying this openly. But if I don’t get a chance, then I will play in the PSL,” Amir stated. The 32-year-old, who retired from international cricket in 2020, currently plays for Quetta Gladiators and revealed that he expects to be eligible for IPL selection by 2026. He also expressed a desire to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a team he believes suits his style and where his experience could prove valuable.

Backing Amir’s wish, fellow Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad said RCB would benefit from having a bowler like Amir in their lineup, especially given their longstanding struggles with bowling. “RCB needs a bowler like Amir to fix their bowling woes. If Amir plays for RCB, they will win the title,” Shehzad said during the same podcast. Due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, players from Pakistan have not featured in the IPL since its inaugural season in 2008, with Azhar Mahmood being the lone exception by playing as a UK citizen. Until the possibility of playing in the IPL becomes a reality, Amir will focus on the Pakistan Super League, which kicks off its 10th edition on April 11.

Cricket fans have reason to smile after Pakistan ace pacer Mohammad Amir returns to Essex County Cricket Club for the 2025 Vitality Blast. The left-arm seamer, who played for Essex between 2017 and 2019, will return to bring his experience and talent back into the side for this year's T20 campaign.

Amir, with 71 wickets in 62 international T20 games at a remarkable average of 21.94, will hugely strengthen Essex's bowling lineup. His earlier stint with Essex was very successful, with the club even featuring in a double winning season in 2019.Amir did not feature in the knockout stages but contributed 24 wickets in 21 matches in his initial spell, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.

Chris Silverwood, Essex Director of Cricket, welcomed Amir's return with optimism, underlining the significance of his experience. "We are thrilled to have Mo return to Chelmsford and are very much looking forward to having him play for Essex once again. He will certainly strengthen what is already a good squad for our T20 Blast this summer," Silverwood said.

Amir will be available for the group stage of the Vitality Blast, with an option to extend his stay if Essex make it to the knockout stages. The team's first match is on May 30th against Hampshire Hawks. Essex is now as strong as ever with Amir in the team, and the fans are waiting eagerly for another excellent season.

ALSO SEE:Sophie Shine’s new post with Shikhar Dhawan sparks fresh dating rumours

Amir says he would choose IPL over PSL if given the chance

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has sparked buzz in the cricket world with his candid admission that he would choose the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the Pakistan Super League (PSL) if given the chance. Speaking on the Quetta Gladiators’ podcast, Amir said that if both leagues were to run at the same time in the future and he became eligible to play in the IPL as a British citizen, he would prefer the IPL without hesitation. “Honestly, if I get the opportunity, I’ll definitely play in the IPL. I’m saying this openly. But if I don’t get a chance, then I will play in the PSL,” Amir stated. The 32-year-old, who retired from international cricket in 2020, currently plays for Quetta Gladiators and revealed that he expects to be eligible for IPL selection by 2026. He also expressed a desire to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a team he believes suits his style and where his experience could prove valuable.

Backing Amir’s wish, fellow Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad said RCB would benefit from having a bowler like Amir in their lineup, especially given their longstanding struggles with bowling. “RCB needs a bowler like Amir to fix their bowling woes. If Amir plays for RCB, they will win the title,” Shehzad said during the same podcast. Due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, players from Pakistan have not featured in the IPL since its inaugural season in 2008, with Azhar Mahmood being the lone exception by playing as a UK citizen. Until the possibility of playing in the IPL becomes a reality, Amir will focus on the Pakistan Super League, which kicks off its 10th edition on April 11.