Cook scores another hundred as son of a gun impresses

Sir Alastair Cook has shown his unquenchable thirst for runs remains by scoring a century for Essex on the opening day of the new County Championship season in England and Wales.

Cook shared an opening stand of 220 with fellow centurion Nick Browne to help the hosts get off to a canter against Kent in Chelmsford on Thursday.

The 37-year-old, who retired from Test cricket in 2018, continues to churn out the runs at domestic level while England's Test side struggles for runs.

After being crowned the best red-ball team in the country in three of the last five years, Essex signalled their intentions with Browne the first to bring up three figures before he was out for 107 to become one of two scalps for Australian Jackson Bird.

Cook, who signed a new two-year deal in November, was caught for exactly 100 as last season's Division Two champions finished on 4-272 against Division Three champions Kent.

SCORES: County Championship, Round 1

The Essex side also features Queensland fast bowler Mark Steketee, who is making his County Championship debut.

In Division Two, Middlesex's Stephen Eskinazi had the honour of being the first batter to reach three figures this season, scoring a hundred against Derbyshire.

Eskinazi struck 16 fours in his 216-ball innings of 118 to help his side into a position of strength at Lord's, with Joshua De Caires – the son of former England captain Michael Atherton – hitting 80.

The 19-year-old opener De Caires, playing just his third first-class match, posted his maiden half-century at the level, with his watchful style taking his stay at the crease beyond four hours before he was caught in the cordon.

Elsewhere, Australian Peter Siddle was wicketless in nine overs for his new county, Somerset, in their match against Hampshire.

The majority of the Australian contingent in county cricket this northern summer will be arriving later this month.

Warwickshire are the team to beat following their County Championship and Bob Willis Trophy double last season, but they were only able to pick up one bowling point at Edgbaston against Surrey.

Visiting captain Rory Burns made a solid 41 on his first competitive innings since the Ashes but was overshadowed by Ryan Patel's 75.

Ollie Pope continued his excellent domestic form with an almost run-a-ball 40 before rain saw his innings halted with Surrey on 3-168.