Essex 10 for 1 trail Surrey 183 (Thomas 43, Akhter 3-36, Cook 3-41) by 173 runs

Cook, substituting in for Charlie Bennett from the XI that started a day shorn of 36 overs by heavy rain, extracted swing and bounce off a typical Chelmsford green-tinged wicket. Pope came in for Nikhil Gorantia, who was thereby denied an active part in what would have been his first-class debut.

Put in, Surrey limped to 183 inside 54 over but quickly hit back in the 25 balls possible before bad light ended play prematurely. Paul Walter looked surprised to be given out, caught behind to Dan Worrall, to a ball that swung away late. Dean Elgar and Tom Westley were both hit on the hands by spitting deliveries from Worrall and Matt Fisher as Essex finished on 10 for 1.

Cook was straight into the attack when he appeared on the pitch an hour after a start delayed until 1.30pm. He needed just 10 deliveries to announce his arrival. Dom Sibley was all at sea as he nicked behind one that swung into him. Cook’s initial six-over burst contained four maidens and just eight runs conceded.

It was a tad unfortunate on the withdrawn Bennett, who had built up a head of steam in the three overs he managed to squeeze in before his departure, with Josh Blake struggling to lay a bat on some lively deliveries.

Surrey had already lost Rory Burns by the time of Cook’s entrance, lbw to one from Jamie Porter that jagged into his back pad, and were soon to lose Blake, caught at second slip aiming a drive through the covers. Ben Foakes lasted three balls before he was pinned lbw for a second wicket in eight deliveries for Shane Snater and a third for Essex in 14.

Pope had to sit padded up for 17 overs before he strode to the wicket as Adam Thomas and Mahipal Lomror put on 52 for the fifth wicket. But to the first ball after tea, Lomror turned Cook to square leg, took one comfortable run and wanted a second that Thomas patently didn’t. A relay of throws from Ahkter to Michael Pepper to the non-striker’s end completed the reckless run-out.

Thomas followed almost immediately, playing loosely at Cook to third slip. Pope played all around a delivery from Akhter that kept low and Fisher played the same bowler airily to mid-on. Rahul Chahar became Cook’s third victim, chipping another catch to Westley, and Tom Lawes was the last of Akhter’s trio after a battling 38 with eight fours.

Between them, Essex and Surrey have won the Championship six times in the last 10 years. However, they have lost a combined eight matches this season and been dragged into a tense battle to stay in the top division. On this evidence, allied to three defeats in the previous four, Surrey arguably have the most to concern them.