ESSEX'S Second XI begin their Championship campaign with a four-day match against Surrey at Garon Park, Southend, this morning.

The county have named a strong team for the fixture with Varun Chopra, Grant Flower, Tim Phillips and pace trio Mervyn Westfield, Tony Palladino and Maurice Chambers all involved.

Also part of the Essex team will be South African trialist Jono McLean.

The 27-year-old batsman, has a British passport, played for Western Province in his homeland and has spent time with Hampshire.

A second trialist in the Essex XI is Chris Marsden, an 18-year-old former Yorkshire 2nd XI batsman.

Seamer Alex Roberts, from Stockton-on-Tees, also continues his trial period with the county.

The eleven is completed by three youngsters.

Academy batting all-rounder Alan Ison, 17, is included, along with 16-year-old wicketkeeper Harry Beddows and 21-year-old Development Squad spinner Theeban Tavarasa.

Play will start at 11am on each day.

Essex 2nd XI: Chopra, Flower, Marsden, Phillips, McLean, Roberts, Ison, Westfield, Palladino, Chambers, Beddows (wkt), Tavarasa.

>ESSEX'S Women's XI started their season with a narrow defeat to their Middlesex counterparts at Garon Park.

>ESSEX duo Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara have been named in the 26-man England Performance squad for the summer.

There was no place in the squad for Essex wicket-keeper James Foster, who travelled to India with the England Lions during the winter, with Tim Ambrose, Phil Mustard and Matt Prior preferred.

However, with four places still up for grabs, there is still hope for the county's vice-captain.

Former Essex player and England national selector Geoff Miller explained: "The England Performance Squad is designed to allow (head coach) Peter Moores to closely monitor the development of international players and better prepare them for the demands of the international game."