Marshall ton holds New Zealand together

New Zealanders 348 for 9 (Marshall 128, ten Doeschate 5-57) v Essex
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	James Marshall in action on the first day at Chelmsford © PA Photos

New Zealand's five IPL players struggled to shake off their jetlag on the opening day against Essex, but James Marshall showed there might be more to this New Zealand team than the leading lights. The quintet that arrived from India managed 64 runs while Marshall crafted a hard-working century in conditions that always offered something for the bowlers.

Ryan ten Doeschate shone among the big names on show with five-wickets, but the day took a concerning twist for England in the final hour when Alastair Cook had to leave the field with a dislocated little finger on his right hand after dropping a catch in the gully. There wasn't too much immediate concern from Essex, but Cook was sent for a precautionary x-ray.

Cook will want time in the middle ahead of the Tests, but doesn't have the pressure of fighting for his international place. Marshall, however, is trying to re-launch a Test career that has been stalled since 2005. He has already spoken about the challenge of replacing Stephen Fleming at No. 3 and showed his thirst for a fight by digging in and shouldering the responsibility for holding the innings together. The ball moved all day, but he was strong off the back foot and reached his century from 152 balls. To make it a day of happy families, his brother Hamish also reached three figures, albeit on the other side of the country playing for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan. They say that twins have a sixth sense.

James may have struggled to find a place in New Zealand's team if Hamish hadn't given up international cricket in favour of financial security in county cricket and the Indian Cricket League. But he knows there is a vital spot to fill and conditions here will have given him a good taste of what is to come at Lord's in two weeks.

If any of New Zealand's returning players had any doubts about the change of pace it was confirmed to them during a tough first hour as 19 runs came in 13 overs. The openers played a very watchful game as the new ball offered some swing, especially from the tidy Tony Palladino. Jamie How has spent more time in the middle than most of the New Zealanders so far - although that's not saying much - but today he struggled to find his timing before being trapped lbw by one which nipped back.

Alex Tudor made his mark against New Zealand eight years ago with an unbeaten 99 in the Edgbaston Test, and is making yet another return from injury. He improved in his second spell and struck Aaron Redmond, who profited from plenty of runs to third man, a painful blow on his bottom hand as one climbed off a length.

Maurice Chambers, who missed the entire 2007 season with a stress fracture of his back, produced a lively spell which troubled both Redmond and Marshall. The pressure Chambers built up played a part in Redmond's dismissal as he was caught half forward against the gentler pace of ten Doeschate, who struck with his fourth ball in the last over before lunch. The seamers of lesser pace benefited from pitching the ball further up than Tudor and Chambers.

Ross Taylor took up the attack early in his innings with a clean six straight down the ground which could have come right out of Mumbai or Bangalore. However, he couldn't curb his aggressive instincts and tried to flay a full delivery through the covers, edging to Jason Gallian at first slip. Brendon McCullum came in at No. 5, a signal that his talent could be more fully utilised in the Tests, but he fell victim to a slightly half-hearted push and a fine catch by James Middlebrook in the gully.

At 96 for 4 it was a familiar situation for the top, but Marshall engineered the recovery alongside Daniel Flynn, who made a brief appearance during the Twenty20 and ODI series. Flynn didn't match Marshall for fluency, but fought hard for 84 balls and helped add 128 for the fifth wicket until top edging an attempted pull to mid-off.

ten Doeschate continued his impressive day when Jacob Oram played down the wrong line and lost his off stump, and he completed his five-wicket haul when Marshall's innings ended with a pull to deep square-leg. Between ten Doeschate's late wickets, Daniel Vettori completed a poor day for the IPL arrivals when he dabbed a catch to slip off Tom Westley. They have all talked of being confident about finding form ahead of the Tests, but England in May is a unique challenge, and one that only Marshall has met head-on so far.