Starting the match with 28 points to make up on second-placed Hampshire, Essex had veteran seamer Masters back after a side strain but the loss of Harbhajan Singh because of international commitments with India meant they also brought in leg-spinner Tom Craddock.
But whether he can justify a major chunk of the cap on cricketing grounds must be less clear-cut, especially as he will again miss the early stages of the season because of his commitments with Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League, and might also be tempted by another stint in the Caribbean Premier League later in the summer.
Although skipper Ed Joyce is absent because of international commitments with Ireland, their hopes of taking top spot received an immediate boost when Trescothick was caught behind off the second ball of the game before England discard Compton edged Magoffin to first slip in the next over.
Because of his commitments with the Indian Premier League - he was named Golden Player of the Tournament after scoring 608 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore - he was not chosen for the series against Pakistan in April and May.
He said that he will not be back as coach next year because of recording commitments with his band The Script.
Pearce elected not to risk Anton Ferdinand, who was carrying a slight groin injury, and he was also without Scott Carson and David Bentley because of their commitments with the senior squad.
Following the injury suffered by Kallum Watkins for Leeds at Hull last Friday, and with Jack Reed unavailable because of his commitments with Brisbane Broncos, Leroy Cudjoe is the only specialist centre in the squad, and will presumably play on the right inside Josh Charnley, with Zak Hardaker partnering his Rhinos team-mate Ryan Hall on the other flank.
Fifa said that the Brazilian had been replaced because of "club commitments" with Zenit St Petersburg, who visit Ural Yekaterinburg in the Russian Premier League on Sunday, and will be replaced by the former Russia captain Alexey Smertin as one of the draw assistants for Saturday's event in St Petersburg.
Pienaar has not played for the province this season because of international commitments with the Springboks.
