Essex have got off to a perfect start in Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship, with a 10-wicket victory over Gloucestershire.

Nick Browne (55) and Alastair Cook (35) ensured Chris Silverwood got his tenure as Essex head coach off to a perfect start, the hosts collecting the 94 runs required within the first session this morning.

Essex were in the driving seat from day one, bowling their visitors out for 262, Jamie Porter taking four for 59, before Cook (105) and Tom Westley (121) and the lower order helped the hosts post a competitive 385.

Ravi Bopara and Graham Napier then took three wickets each in the second innings as Gloucestershire were agin bowled out cheaply, this time for 215, leaving Browne, who scored one run in his first innings, and Cook, to wrap things up.

Essex’s second game of the season starts on Sunday when they visit Hove, to play Sussex.

Essex skipper Ryan Ten Doeschate said: “I’m naturally delighted with the victory but also the manner in which we went about thing.

“It was very convincing and our bowlers just kept coming at them and then Alastair Cook and Tom Westley batted beautifully, but the one dampener was the batting performance from our middle order.

“Conditions were a tougher for them when they batted but we need to do better in that situation. But everyone has got runs pre-season and they have good plans in place.

“We’ve strengthened our bowling options this season and were able to leave out players like Matt Quinn and David Masters so that shows our strength in depth and that will obviously be important as the season progresses.

“Obviously there is a long way to go, but it’s a good start and now we have a decent test against Sussex at Hove next week. They are pre-season favourites to get promotion so it should be an interesting game.”