ANDRE Nel jetted in from South Africa to spearhead the Essex attack on the opening day of the County Championship season against Northamptonshire.

And the paceman wasted little time in announcing his arrival with a wicket in his third over of the morning as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 280 at Chelmsford today.

The South African Test fast bowler added two more wickets to finish with 3-64 despite having to play in borrowed kit after his cricket bag had been mislaid by baggage handlers back in Johannesburg.

The 30-year-old only arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7.20am today and was whisked to Chelmsford, where he arrived two and a half hours later before steeping out for the county to start his month's contract as interim stand-in until Danish Kaneria takes up overseas duties.

This is the third spell with the county for Nel although he only enjoyed limited success last year taking 10 wickets in four first-class matches whilst he was also troubled with a neck injury.

Put into bat on a green Chelmsford wicket that offered carry throughout the day to offer encouragement to all the pace bowlers, Nel soon had the crowd roaring in approval when he knocked out the middle stump of 19-year-old Alex Wakely who had still to score.

Fellow opener and former Essex batsman Stephen Peters fared a little better reaching 18 before he was yorked by Nel.

And when Ravi Bopara pinned David Sales for 19 with the last ball before lunch, the visitors had slumped to 76-3 wickets.

Chelmsford-born Rob White though produced a well-organised innings to reach a half-century from 94 balls.

But having added another ten runs, he was beaten by another superb delivery from Bopara.

The bowler had been re-introduced into the attack at the Hayes Close End and struck with his first ball to enhance his "golden-arm" reputation.

The all-rounder, eager to make the headlines in the opening weeks of the season to re-stake his claims for international consideration, soon had a third wicket, removing Riki Wessels leg before for 25 as the visitors succumbed to 146-5 wickets.

However, Lance Klusener and Niall O'Brien then composed the highest partnership of the innings putting on 57 although Klusener was dropped on 27 by Varun Chopra at second slip off the bowling of Nel.

The ball raced to the boundary and the bowler's anguish increased when the next delivery was also sent to the ropes.

The liaison was broken by former Middlesex man Chris Wright on his Essex debut who trapped O'Brien for 28 before Steven Crook joined Klusener to post another 52 runs before he became one of two victims in one James Middlebrook over.

The off-spinner had Crook caught behind for 35 and then saw David Wigley snaffled at silly mid-off.

The retrun of Masters and Nel soon wrapped up the remaining two wickets leaving Klusener stranded on 72 that included 11 boundaries before the home side safely negotiated the three remaining overs of the day at 4-0 with Jason Gallian and Chopra each taking a single.