Dean Elgar's first century for Essex pays fitting tribute to Chelmsford's departed

Nothing changes with great speed at this location. There are currently plans for a grand renovation of the pavilion and its surrounding concourse at Chelmsford, which is the only corner of this postage-stamp ground with any wriggle room for expansion. This week's announcement that the ground's Hayes Close and River Ends have been renamed in honour of its most storied Test performers, Graham Gooch and Sir Alastair Cook, has not been accompanied by an upgrade in signage in the interim. The interactive 'Graham Napier Sixes Trail' is Chelmsford's most visible tribute to any former player, Graham or otherwise. It features 16 plaques commemorating each of Napier's swings for the bleachers in his famous T20 onslaught against Sussex in 2008. Cook retired last summer, and his departure was unceremonious, so Elgar's tribute was a fitting send-off for the former player.

Dean Elgar's note-perfect tribute to Cook has now surpassed it. In an effort to make amends, Elgar played exceptionally well, without any unnecessary showmanship. He scored his runs with nuggetty application in just 176 balls over two sessions. The left-handed ex-Test opener from Essex shifted through his gears with the same unshowy elitism that his English forebear had habitually brought to bear.

As in Essex's opening-week victory at Trent Bridge, Elgar's partner in a crucial third-wicket partnership of 159 was an up-and-coming England prospect with a similar range of strokes to the recently departed Dan Lawrence. Elgar and Jordan Cox worked together to convince an impressive first-day crowd of 2,226 that nothing has changed about Essex's red-ball batting prowess. A scoreline of 421 for 6, including an unbeaten century from Matt Critchley, confirmed this.

Essex didn't have an easy time after Tom Westley won the toss on a warm day. Due to the challenging conditions caused by the Kookaburra ball, Kent's seamers caused havoc for just 21 balls. During that period, Westley was dismissed for just 5 runs by George Garrett. Feroz Khushi, who was caught using an improperly sized bat at Trent Bridge, decided not to use it this week and was bowled by Wes Agar while shouldering arms to the first ball.

Cox faced his former team-mates at an awkward 10 for 2 after the double-whammy. He had previously made pointed pre-season remarks about Kent's lack of red-ball ambition, setting the stage for him to experience schadenfreude. Cox began his innings with a series of confident drives down the ground, hitting three fours and a three as Garrett struggled to find swing. In the first six balls, Cox had already scored 15 runs, making it seem as though any potential danger from the pitch or the air had disappeared.

Cox's confidence on the front foot gave Elgar the impetus to play a series of compact drives. However, it was the introduction of Matt Parkinson's legspin that accelerated Essex's innings. Cox hit the first ball, a full-toss, through the covers for a boundary. He hit two more fours in the first over, which yielded 13 runs. Parkinson conceded 25 runs in his first three overs, putting him under pressure.

After scoring his fifty from 61 balls, Cox missed a chance when Agar at fine leg fumbled a top-edged pull off Nathan Gilchrist. However, he could only add seven more runs before Garrett bowled a fuller delivery that hit him on the knee-roll, dismissing him for 67. This was not a sign of a Kent fightback. Critchley finished with a score of 169 for 3. The Kookaburra entered its dead-zone in the 39th over, allowing Essex to score at a rate of 4.5 an over without over-reaching themselves.

Elgar's departure was unexpected. On 120, he was caught at short midwicket off Parkinson and dropped his bat in frustration. However, this allowed 'Tall' Paul Walter to take over and hit a four and two powerful sixes before being caught on his third attempt, giving Parkinson his second wicket.

Michael Pepper hit a six over the cover rope but was caught out at deep third with an attempted ramp, falling one run short of his fifty. Critchley, on the other hand, successfully carried Essex past the second new ball and through to the close. The first-day offerings promise more to come.

Essex's only setback occurred before play when Sam Cook, their seamer who took ten wickets in the first round and proved Kookaburra-resistant, was ruled out due to a thigh strain. This was not due to any objection to the wrong Cook being honoured with an End named after him.