That this game has none of the drama of others around the country was shown when everyone happily trouped off after the umpires, Peter Willey and Tim Robinson, decided it was bad light at 5.10pm. They immediately called time with 15 overs left.

Gloucestershire’s thoughts have been on next season for most of this one and they have confirmed that Ashley Noffke, the Queensland quick bowler, who had a brief spell with the county in 2007 but has also played for Middlesex and Durham, is top of their wish list for next season. John Bracewell, the returning coach, is involved in every signing now, but it is hardly a surprise that Noffke, the leading wicket-taker in Australia’s domestic first-class cricket last season, is the number one target for several counties. He is signed to the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premiere League, but Gloucestershire understand he would be available for a good portion of the season.

Ben Hilfenhaus, the 25-year-old Tasmania fast bowler, was also a target, but will be harder to prise away from the Cricket Australia than Noffke, 31, who regained his central contract, but has again been overlooked by selectors. Andre Nel was thought of, but his bite is considered worse than his bite in the West Country.

Gloucestershire are in desperate need of a third bowler to keep the pressure on as Essex showed again yesterday by taking their overnight 318 for five to 510 all out, thanks to 122 off 192 balls from James Foster. Steve Kirby and Jon Lewis are a good new-ball attack, but the difference in the second division is that there is usually little back-up. “We have nothing after that [Lewis and Kirby]” one Gloucestershire player said on Wednesday and it continues to show.

Foster’s third championship century of the season was typically innovative. Kirby eventually had him caught at gully in the second over after lunch, driving without moving his feet. James Middlebrook skied a drive to be last out for 75 off 117 balls. It gave Rob Woodman, a left-arm seamer, but picked as a batsman, figures of four for 65 on his debut, albeit off 11.3 overs.

It was only the third time out of 16 Championship games that Essex have passed 400 and got maximum batting bonus points. To be fair to Gloucestershire, it is only the fourth time that a side has done that to them this season. Yet only two teams had fewer bowling points than them going into this match, whilst only two teams had more batting points. Yet their batting has been a shambles at key moments and looked flimsy again yesterday as they slipped to 72 for three.

In the sixth over after tea the out-of-sorts Hamish Marshall (810 runs at 31.48 this season), stuck on 13, shouldered arms to a straight ball that clipped his off stump. It gave Jahid Ahmed, 22, his first Championship wicket of the season in his first game. Five overs later, Woodman looked surprised by the lack of pace from Chris Wright, who had swapped to the Ashley Down Road End, and cut limply to point.

Gloucestershire are still 289 runs away from the 361 they need to save the follow-on.

Scoreboard

Essex: First Innings (overnight 318-5)
†J S Foster c Porterfield b Kirby 122
R N ten Doeschate lbw b Kirby 15
J D Middlebrook c Ali b Woodman 75
C J C Wright c Brown b Woodman 22
A P Palladino c Snell b Woodman 5
J S Ahmed not out 16
Extras (b 11, lb 5, w 4, nb 8) 28
Total (131.3 overs) 510

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-52, 3-122, 4-172, 5-310, 6-342, 7-439, 8-466, 9-479.

Bowling: Kirby 30-8-74-3; Lewis 26-6-72-0; Ireland 29-4-133-3; Brown 15-3-52-0; Woodman 11.3-0-65-4; Dawson 16-2-84-0; Taylor 4-0-14-0.

Gloucestershire: First Innings
W T S Porterfield not out 31
Kadeer Ali lbw b Palladino 6
H J H Marshall b Ahmed 13
R J Woodman c Mickleburgh b Wright 2
C G Taylor not out 14
Extras (lb 6) 6
Total (3 wkts, 31 overs) 72

D O Brown, †S D Snell, *J Lewis, S P Kirby, A J Ireland and R K J Dawson to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-42, 3-49.

Bowling: Palladino 7-2-12-1; Wright 13-5-25-1; Ahmed 10-4-24-1; Bopara 1-0-5-0.

Umpires: R T Robinson and P Willey.