Acting Essex skipper James Foster felt the form of Alastair Cook provided some brightness amid the gloom as Essex’s tour game against the West Indies was abandoned because of rain.

Not a ball was bowled on the third day, but Essex had already made their mark.

England opener Cook came through his first match of the season in positive mood after his testing of a fractured finger returned a 46 and 74 not out.

“I thought Cook looked in extremely good touch, particularly for someone who has not played much cricket for the last three or four weeks,” said acting Essex captain James Foster.

“The finger caused him a little bit of gip in the first innings but when I was batting with him yesterday, he said it was feeling a lot better which was very encouraging.”

The ease with which Cook and Foster shared an unbroken 77 for the fourth wicket contrasted sharply to the shambolic batting display of the tourists against a young Essex attack led impressively by Jamaican-raised Maurice Chambers.

The 21-year-old, one of half-a-dozen pacemen cherry-picked by England for a Florida fitness course this past winter, snared a career-best four for 62.

“We exploited the conditions presented to us to their absolute fullness,” said Foster. “We were delighted with that.

“The spearhead was probably Maurice: the way he bowled was exceptional, he is a real talent and no wonder England have got their eyes all over him.

“He has had a very solid winter, worked hard on his fitness and the way he has started the year has been excellent.”