WORCESTERSHIRE soon lost Elliott Wilson and Graeme Hick after being put in to bat by Essex in the County Championship Division Two match which opened at overcast Kidderminster today.

Wilson fell for five and was rapidly followed by Hick for just one.

Wilson and Philip Weston had launched the county's innings against paceman Ashley Cowan and Ronnie Irani.

Cowan, operating from the Pavilion End, began with a couple of maidens while Irani did likewise in his first over.

The scoreboard was finally sparked into action when Wilson picked up a single off Irani before edging Cowan through the slips for four.

Weston survived a loud lbw appeal against Irani before getting off the mark in the same over by taking two backward of square leg.

Wilson however departed when he played defensively to Cowan and was caught behind by Barry Hyam.

His dismissal heralded the arrival of Hick who played for Kidderminster as a teenager.

But the Worcestershire skipper managed only a single before playing on to Irani.

It left Worcestershire on 12 for 2 with Weston and Vikram Solanki trying to repair the early damage.

Worcs: Weston, Wilson, Hick, Solanki, Pollard, Leatherdale, Rhodes, Lampitt, Kabir Ali, Rawnsley, Sheriyar.