Cook century drives strong Essex start to County Championship season

Sir Alastair Cook showed his thirst for runs remains after he scored a century for Essex on the opening day of the new LV= Insurance County Championship season.

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.

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

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

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 which included two maximums.

Ollie Pope continued his excellent domestic form with an almost run-a-ball 40 before rain saw his innings halted with Surrey on 168 for three after Oliver Hannon-Dalby's two-fer.

James Hildreth's 87 was the lone highlight for Somerset after they were dismissed for 180 at the Ageas Bowl.

Mohammad Abbas claimed two wickets for Hampshire, but it was Keith Barker who had the pick of the figures with three for 33.

Home openers Joe Weatherley and Ian Holland put to bed any talk of a tricky wicket with an unbeaten century stand with the former finishing not out on 65.

Wickets tumbled in Northamptonshire but England hopeful James Bracey showed his class to lead