The details are the player's usual name followed by the years in which he was active as an Essex player and then his name is given as it would appear on modern match scorecards. Note that many players represented other first-class teams besides Essex and that some played for the club in minor cricket before 1894. Current players are shown as active to the latest season in which they played for the club. The list excludes Second XI and other players who did not play for the club's first team and players whose first team appearances were in minor matches only.[4]
^abcdAdair, Campher, Dockrell, and Foster were part of the Ireland team touring England in 2023. A match against Essex was part of that tour as a warmup prior to the test match against England. In order that more members of the Ireland squad could participate in the match, these four were “loaned” to Essex, and thus appeared for the county.[21][22] Campher subsequently played for Essex in the2025 One-Day Cup.
^Davis played in four County Championship matches during 1920 as well as for the Second XI during the same season. Other than a surname and initial no biographical details are known.[5]
^Gunary was born atDagenham in 1895. He was a farmer[6] who playedclub cricket for Ilford, captaining the first XI from 1929 to 1932,[7][8] as well as playing for both Dagenham and Dagenham United.[9] He played a single match for the county side, a 1929 fixture againstLeicestershire in which he bowled 19 overs in the match without taking a wicket.[10]
^Harris played in two first-class matches for the side as awicket-keeper in 1905, scoring no runs and holding four catches.[11] He may have had the first initial J,[12] but otherwise no biographical details are known.
^The brother ofSam Meston, Alexander Meston played 12 first-class matches for the county, two in 1926 and ten the following year. Anall-rounder, he scored 143 runs and took four wickets. The son of a Portuguese born export clerk, Meston was born atLeyton, educated at Kirkdale Road School, and worked as a clerk in the post office. He died atIllogan inCornwall in 1980 aged 81.[13][14]
^Naylor played in one first-class match for Essex as awicket-keeper in 1906. He scored two runs and held two catches. Other than a surname and initial no biographical details are known.[15]
^Stead never actually appeared in a match for Essex. He was selected to play in the match v Oxford University starting on 13 June 1962, but he chose instead to play for Nottinghamshire 2nd XI v Worcestershire 2nd XI starting on the same day. He was on the Essex team sheet and thus appears on the scorecard of the Essex v Oxford University match despite not participating in the game.[16]
^Womersley, whose fatheralso named Dale playedlawn tennis competitively, played a single first-class match for the side in 1910, scoring nine runs. Born atFryerning nearIngatestone and educated atMarlborough College, he played cricket at school and club matches for the Gentlemen of Essex side andFree Foresters. His father and brother also played cricket, although neither played at first-class level. Womersley died atChelmsford in 1971 aged 79.[17][18][19][20]
