Ed Cowan has celebrated the award of his Gloucestershire county cap with an unbeaten half-century as the home side made 147 for two on a rain-affected opening day of the LV=County Championship match with Essex at Cheltenham.

The Australian Test batsman, who will make at most five appearances for the county before leaving to captain Australia A on their tour of England, was presented with his cap before the start of play on Wednesday.

Cowan then hit 51 not out, sharing a second-wicket stand of 109 with Dan Housego, who made a more fluent 60.

While it would not rank among his best innings, it was a very important one for his newly adopted county.

The Aussie played two Friends Life t20 games and is due to feature in two CB40 fixtures at the Cheltenham Festival before being replaced as temporary overseas signing by New Zealand batsman Rob Nicol.

Gloucestershire’s policy is to award a cap to all players who represent them at senior level and chairman Rex Body made the presentation before the start.

Shortly after Cowan reached his half-century bad light stopped play and the heavens then opened to ensure no more was possible.