Phil Jaques thrashed the Essex attack for a career-best 244 as Worcestershire reached 459-5 on day one at Chelmsford.

The 27-year-old Aussie struck 30 fours and four sixes, hitting 106 between lunch and tea, to lift his Championship aggregate to 659 in his fifth match.

Essex skipper Ronnie Irani was no doubt ruing his decision to ask his opponents to bat on winning the toss.

Jaques and Stephen Moore shared in an opening stand of 122 in 30 before Moore fell to spinner Tim Phillips for 62.

The arrival of the second new ball finally accounted for Jaques when Darren Gough, in his his first Championship game since April, had him caught behind.