Lyndon James, a 19-year old former academy graduate on his first-class debut, altered the complexion of the opening day of Nottinghamshire’s County Championship match against Essex at Trent Bridge.

The Worksop-born all-rounder recovered from the blow of only making a single in his maiden innings by snaring three wickets for 34 during his opening spell, to leave the contest on an even keel.

Essex closed on 133 for five, with another debutant, India’s Murali Vijay, making 56.

Earlier, Notts had been bowled out for only 177 in 58.1 overs, after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Ben Slater top-scored for the home side with 33 but Essex’s three front-line seamers held sway and shared all the wickets to go down.

Jamie Porter finished with figures of four for 50, Matt Quinn took three for 37 and Matt Coles took three for 62.

Things could have been even healthier for the title-holders, who had reduced Notts to 104 for eight by mid-afternoon, before the lower order plundered a further 73.

Porter pinned Kraigg Brathwaite lbw from the second ball of the match, and the same bowler struck again in the ninth over, bowling a full-length delivery to clip the top of Jake Libby’s off stump.

Slater and Ben Duckett added 50 for the third wicket, before Coles had Duckett caught behind for 21. Slater was bowled by Coles, and Steven Mullaney nibbled at Quinn and was caught behind as Notts went to lunch on 82 for five.

The hosts were rocked straight after the interval when Quinn picked up the wickets of Tom Moores and Samit Patel. James edged Coles to slip, the only wicket in the innings to fall from the pavilion end of the ground.

Luke Wood initiated the Nottinghamshire fightback by plundering 27 from 30 balls before being bowled by Porter.

Last wicket pair Luke Fletcher and Mark Footitt frustrated Essex for 16 overs in adding 45 together.

Released from India’s touring party after playing in the first two Test matches of the current series, Vijay helped Nick Browne (24) add 56 for Essex’s first wicket.

Essex slipped from 93 for one to 102 for four, but in his maiden county match, Vijay reached his 50 from 89 balls.