PAUL Prichard has hailed Alastair Cook and Nick Browne after the duo broke Essex’s opening partnership record.

Cook and Browne registered a first-wicket stand of 373 in the County Championship Division One triumph over Middlesex last week, to beat the county’s opening partnership record which was held by Prichard and Graham Gooch.

Prichard and Gooch hit 316 runs in a meeting with Kent, at Chelmsford, in 1994.

And Prichard was delighted to see the current opening pair break the 23-year-old record.

Prichard, who is now the head coach at Dorset County Cricket Club, said: “It’s a massive achievement for them to have broken the record.

“Records are made to be broken but the pleasing thing for me is the two cricketers that beat the total set by Goochie and I.

“Cook and Browne are two real Essex cricketers who have been brought up in Essex so that was the most pleasing thing for me.”

After his innings came to an end on 221, Browne admitted that he was not aware that he and Cook had broken the opening partnership record.

And Prichard, 52, confirmed that he did not know that he and Gooch had made Essex history at the crease, in 1994, until they returned to the pavilion.

Prichard added: “We both got a big total in that innings and it was always great batting with Goochie because he took the pressure off of you.

“With Goochie at the other end, you didn’t need to worry about the scoreboard because it would keep ticking over as long as he was there.

“Goochie always scored runs quickly himself and so there was no reason at any time for you to do something out of the ordinary. You just had to make sure you stayed there with him.

“I remember we saw off the new ball and then we just kept batting really.

“But we didn’t know that we had broken the opening partnership record until after we had both left the pitch.”

The former batsman spent 17 years with Essex before ending his career with a four-year stint with Berkshire.

During that time, Essex won the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1998.

But after also winning numerous County Championship titles with his county, Prichard believes that Essex have a good chance of sealing the Division One crown just a year after winning promotion from the second tier.

Prichard, who captained Essex between 1995 and 1998, said: “I thought they would be competitive in Division One.

“They now have a squad and bowlers that are capable of taking 20 wickets in a match.

“In the past they would sometimes struggle to get a team out twice but they are doing really well at the moment.

“Hopefully they can go on to win the title.”