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Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox made eye-catching debuts for Essex but it was Elgar's fellow South African Dane Paterson who stole the show for Nottinghamshire on the opening day of the Championship season at Trent Bridge.

Opener Elgar, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, looked more than capable of filling the void left by Sir Alastair Cook, defying typical opening-day conditions with a classy 80.

He shared a 112-run third-wicket partnership with the talented former Kent batter Cox, who went on to make 84, but Paterson, who flew in only on Wednesday, powered a Nottinghamshire fightback by taking 5-49 with his wily medium pace.

Paterson bowled Elgar with one of several outstanding deliveries as Essex, runners-up in Division One last season, slipped from 170-2 to 176-5 before closing on 244-9 from 77 overs, with time having been lost due to a wet outfield at the start and bad light in the evening.

Cox impressed his new employers with a mature performance but one which, Elgar apart, lacked any meaningful support.

His hopes of a debut hundred were thwarted, however, having overtaken Elgar with his 11th four only to perish next ball when Calvin Harrison turned one past his defensive bat to bowl him.

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Lyndon James, meanwhile, dismissed Simon Harmer and Shane Snater to give the hosts three bowling points, with Essex still looking for a first batting point.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.