Essex are currently engaged in a championship match against Glamorgan at Cardiff which commences today (Thursday), and is scheduled to finish on Sunday.

On Wednesday (June 21), it's another game in the Principality when Essex travel to Swansea to engage the Wales Cricket Board in the Third Round of the NatWest Trophy.

Meanwhile the Essex Board XI play Warwickshire at Billericay Cricket Club in the same competition on the same day (Wednesday)

The visitors are likely to include former Essex player Nick Knight and the match commences at 10.45am.

The ground is sited in Blunts Wall Road and entry is priced at £8 with a price of £4 for concessions. Car parking is available at £3.

Essex members are reminded that they do have to pay for entry for this game, membership passes are not valid for this fixture.

On Tuesday (June 21), the County Ground, Chelmsford, plays host to the first of five Women's One-day International between England and South Africa.

Women's cricket is emerging rapidly in this country as previously male-dominated barriers are now being broken down.

Only last week, the ECB announced that, for the first time, more than half a million girls are playing cricket.

This is the first meeting between the two sides since they last met in England in 1997 in the series that marked the return of South Africa to international cricket, a series England won 2-1 with two matches abandoned through rain.

Later this year, England will be competing in the Women's World Cup in New Zealand at the end of the year and this current series against South Africa will serve as vital preparations for that tournament.

Play commences at 11 am and entry is free.

Then on June 21, the County Ground stages a prestigious four-day tourist match between the West Indies Tourists and New Zealand A.

For the West Indies this game is the only fixture that they have scheduled between the first two Test matches with England and they are bound to be selecting a competitive side which could include the likes of Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose while other members of their touring party will be hoping to catch the attention of skipper Jimmy Adams with some impressive performances in attempting to win a Test place.

Lara only decided to tour England at the last moment having withdrawn from his country's Test against Pakistan and Zimbabwe during March and April and he having committed himself to this tour, may opt for batting practice in the middle as he prepares to recapture past glories.

New Zealand A have a talented squad of young cricketers and will need no incentive to put on a memorable performance against the Windies to hasten their transition into the full Kiwi Test side.

Admission prices for each of the four days are £8 for adults and £4 for concessions although Essex members will be allowed free entry.

The match starts at 11 am.

Tickets for this game can be purchased in advance in person at the County Ground with cash, cheque or credit/debit cards, or by telephone on 01245 254010.

They can also buy by e-mail: administration.essex@ecb.co.uk

or via the website:

www.essexcricket.org.uk

using Visa/Mastercard/Delta/Solo or Switch.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.