Jordan Cox celebrated his call-up to the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand next week with an unbeaten 184 as Essex overcame a rocky start to dominate a rain-affected day one in their visit to Leicestershire in the Rothesay County Championship.

The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who was named in a 15-strong party for The Oval after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were omitted for disciplinary reasons, hammered his first hundred runs off just 73 balls, hitting 14 fours before reaching the milestone with his second six.

Matt Critchley made 97 as Essex, who had been put in on a green pitch at Uptonsteel Grace Road, recovered from 8 for 2 to finish on 342 for 5 from 75 overs after the first session had been lost to early drizzle and a wet outfield.

Cox, who has three one-day internationals and six T20 appearances for England to his name, has yet to make his Test debut, having twice been on the verge of selection only to be injured. His addition to the squad this time comes despite this match giving him his first red-ball cricket since last July and only his fourth match in any format since February after a stint in the IPL that did not bring a single appearance.

Yet his form clearly has not suffered for that as he recorded his 12th century in 63 first-class matches and passed 4000 career runs at the same time.

He was the major partner in a stand of 147 for the Essex third wicket with skipper Tom Westley, which looked like it had some more mileage in it before Westley pulled the second ball after tea from Rehan Ahmed straight into the hands of short midwicket to go for 41.

That was a rare moment of encouragement for Leicestershire, whose only previous successes had come in the first eight overs after the delayed start, as seamer Ben Green straightened one enough to trap Paul Walter leg before and then uprooted Dean Elgar’s off stump.

At that point, Essex supporters might have feared a bad day for their side but on a pitch that seemed to have fewer demons than might have been anticipated, particularly once the dampness of the early part of the day had given way to sunshine, Cox and Westley soon took charge.

Once they had been parted, Cox and Critchley added another 183 before the latter, who hit 12 fours and a six before, was bowled by Joey Evison – at Grace Road on a two-match loan from Kent – just short of a second hundred of the season.

Leicestershire picked up another late scalp when Rehan dismissed nightwatch Jamie Porter but for the most part their bowlers had been punished ruthlessly for their inaccuracy, having compounded their problems by failing to take key chances.

Critchley had an escape after scoring only a single, albeit only when Rehan failed to hold what would have been a stunning caught-and-bowled. The legspinning allrounder later saw Cox put down on 146 at short extra cover.

Leicestershire – bottom of Division One without a win – are looking to avenge a seven-wicket defeat at Chelmsford when these sides met in the last Championship round before switching to the Vitality Blast, a result that came about when the Foxes were bowled out for 60 with Sam Cook and Shane Snater taking four wickets each.

Cook is ruled out here after suffering a fractured wrist in training last month. Leicestershire, meanwhile, have been forced into eight changes because of injuries and non-availability. Skipper Ian Holland, like Wiaan Mulder of Essex, is interrupting his season in England to play Major League Cricket in the United States.