UNBEATEN half-centuries from Gary Ballance and York star Jack Leaning led a Yorkshire fightback from 85-4 during the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston yesterday.

Ballance and Leaning reached 50 apiece in sharing 92 unbroken for the fifth wicket to ensure a close of play 177-4 from 58 overs as bad weather played its part.

There were three stoppages, two for rain and one for bad light, and no play was possible beyond 5.20pm on a biting Birmingham day.

Coach Jason Gillespie, who yet again spoke about a job link back home in Australia, saw Jonny Bairstow fall for 20 as one of four early wickets.

Bairstow, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth and Andrew Gale all departed within the first 30 overs after captain Gale had won the toss and elected to bat.

Ballance and Leaning battled hard against a potent attack who got early reward without bowling to their optimum in swinging conditions.

They came together just after lunch following more top order troubles for the champions.

If there is one area where Yorkshire can improve, it is in the top of the order, although Gillespie is certainly not panicking yet.

"Not everyone's going to score each time they go out to bat, but we challenge our top six to do the bulk of the work,” he admitted.

“The two innings at Hampshire and here, we've found ourselves losing a few cheap wickets, and it's something we hope to rectify.

"I thought the first innings against Hampshire, I certainly didn't have any qualms with the way the lads went about it. They certainly didn't gift their wickets.

“The lads have prepared well for the games, so there's no issues there. Sometimes it can happen.

“In an ideal world, it would have been nice to lose a few fewer wickets here, but that's the way it goes.”

Gale and Bairstow were bowled off inside edges by Keith Barker and Chris Woakes, while Lees lost his middle and off stumps to Rikki Clarke. Adam Lyth miscued a pull at Boyd Rankin to mid-off.

Ballance and Leaning brought up important fifties in the closing stages of the day.

Last week, Gillespie was name-checked by Australia coach Darren Lehmann as a leading candidate to replace national bowling coach Craig McDermott, who stepped down last month.

But speculation is nothing new for Gillespie and Yorkshire, who will have probably lost count of the times he has been linked with a move.

"I haven't had any contact, so there's nothing to report to be honest. If anything changes, I'll let you know. At this point, it's just focusing on my role here,” added the 41-year-old, citing family as a major consideration in any new role.

"It would be, yeah. You don't rule out opportunities in the future. It's whether you feel like you can make a difference in any job that comes available.

“It's well documented that I've got four kids under the age of 10. My eldest daughter, she's 21, has just had a little girl. So family is important, and it should be an important consideration.

“Any job that comes up, certainly, I've always said family comes first.

“If any opportunities come up in the future, that would be certainly be a consideration.”