Matt Critchley and Charlie Allison helped Essex recover from a Kyle Abbott-induced sticky start on the first day of the Rothesay County Championship season.

South African Abbott claimed two wickets to leave the visitors 67 for 3, but Critchley and Allison put on an unbroken 152 for the fourth wicket. Critchley ended the curtailed day three runs short of a century, while Allison was unbeaten on 60, and Essex much more comfortable at 219 for 3.

The day also saw County Championship history made when Tom Westley suffered a finger injury and was replaced for the rest of the match by Noah Thain – the first time the new ECB player replacement trial had been utilised.

Essex were stuck into bat after a delayed start and a minute’s silence for Hampshire great Robin Smith – who died aged 62 over the winter.

It only took four balls for Abbott to strike, although he was indebted to 18-year-old debutant Ben Mayes for pulling off a sensational catch at fourth slip, to get rid of Dean Elgar.

Abbott was Hampshire’s highest wicket-taker in a dismal 2025 campaign – where they only escaped relegation due to Durham’s final-day capitulation – and has pressure to lead a young attack.

One of those juniors is Sonny Baker, who bowled sharply with dangerous seam movement. His delivery to dismiss Paul Walter wickedly moved away to have the batter caught behind. Baker, who played for England Lions over the winter, ended the day with figures of 1 for 45, while Eddie Jack showed promised but lacked consistency in his wicketless nine overs.

Baker didn’t manage to take Westley’s wicket, but a short ball did rap the Essex captain on the gloves and end his stay at the crease on 28 – having previously been dropped at second slip on 16.

Westley initially retired hurt but after a medical assessment, it was deemed he could not continue, and therefore was eligible to be replaced by a like-for-like replacement. An X-ray suggested he had a fracture on his index finger on his right hand.

Thain, who played in all but one of Essex’s Championship matches last season, was added to the team – although he is not allowed to bowl in the match. Sam Cook took over as captain.

The ECB pilot is part of a wider ICC trial for replacement players and allows for players to be fully replaced in the match if they suffer an injury, illness or a significant life event. As well as not playing a further part in this match, Westley will now be unavailable for next week’s fixture against Somerset – even if he is fit to play – due to the eight-day stand-down period.

Essex’s overseas batter Wiaan Mulder lost his middle stump to Abbott after lunch to leave them in danger of a first-day collapse, but Allison and Critchley settled things down.

Allison predominantly used the square region on the off side to compile his runs, especially with his extravagant cut shots. Neither he nor Critchley played a false shot or offered a sniff to the bowlers, as the pitch lost its movement and the ball got soft.

Half-centuries were passed in 83 and 89 balls respectively as the partnership grew to 152 before bad light stopped play, with 25 overs unbowled.