FREE STREAM: Surrey vs Essex in County Championship - Day 1

Cricket fans can watch Surrey take on Essex in a mouthwatering County Championship Division One fixture on Wednesday, with both counties aiming to build on promising starts to the 2026 season. The match begins at 11am at The Kia Oval, and live streaming is available free of charge for supporters unable to attend in person.

Watch the highlights:

Surrey enter the match sitting third in the early Division One standings, having secured victories in two of their opening three matches. Captain Rory Burns has led from the front, scoring 423 runs at an average of 70.5, while the bowling attack featuring Kemar Roach and Dan Moriarty has taken 34 wickets between them.

Essex arrive in London in confident mood after a dominant win over Northamptonshire last week. Pakistani international Imam-ul-Haq has made an impressive start to his county career, compiling 312 runs including two centuries, providing stability at the top of the order.

The surface at The Oval traditionally offers assistance to seam bowlers early in the match, with increasing turn expected as the game progresses. Both captains have named seam-heavy attacks, anticipating helpful conditions under cloudy skies in the capital.

England centrally contracted players are unavailable for county duty, meaning this represents an opportunity for fringe players to push their claims for international recognition. The match is scheduled to resume on Thursday and Friday, weather permitting, with a result likely given the competitive nature of both teams' red-ball cricket this season.