There's no place like home - or so we are led to believe.

But try telling that to the Essex players and you will run the risk of having to duck under a few verbal bounces.

The county went into yesterday's clash against Warwickshire seeking their first Championship victory at Chelmsford since they overcame Durham two years ago.

Since then they have lost six of their ten games at Headquarters, one of those set backs arriving in 1997 when Warwickshire crushed them by eight wickets with a day to spare.

On that occasion, they managed a total of only 279 in two completed innings, their resistance swept away by the sheer pace of South African test star Allan Donald.

Following the innings and 22 runs defeat against champions, Leicestershire, in the opening match of the season, Essex could hardly have been full of confidence as they prepared for another scheduled four-day battle.

A big plus is that they were strengthened by the return of captain Nasser Hussain. After missing the Leicestershire duel because he was on England duty, his presence was bound to add steel to a batting line-up which is badly in need of a boost.

Before the start of the season, Hussain stressed the need for greater determination and a more professional approach.

He will undoubtedly have tried to get that same message across in his team talk as the county sought to end a run of seven successive Championship defeats stretching back to the beginning of last August.

Hussain was hoping to have a full strength side from which to choose.

The only doubt was wicket keeper Robert Rollins who pulled a hip muscle during his swashbuckling 87 against Lancashire in Sunday's National League clash.

"I've been having treatment over the last couple of days but will delay a final decision as to whether I will play until in the morning. But I am hopeful of making it," said Rollins before the game.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.