Yorkshire have their new-ball pairing of Deon Kruis and Jason Gillespie in joint action for the first time this season in the Liverpool Victoria Championship match against Kent which began at Canterbury today.

Kruis, who went down with a torn calf muscle days before the start of the season, should have returned on Sunday but rain caused the abandonment of Yorkshire's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy match with Nottinghamshire without a ball being bowled.

The South African Kolpak player was the leading wicket-taker for Yorkshire last season with 64 and the club believe he and Gillespie will prove to be one of the most formidable bowling combinations in county cricket.

Gillespie's arrival at Headingley was slightly delayed because of his involvement in Australia's two-Test series in Bangladesh but he has put in some long stints in his two Championship matches so far, bowling 83.1 overs for his six wickets and he should be well adapted by now to English conditions.

Director of cricket David Byas has already complained that his batsmen are not yet scoring the volume of runs he expects of them and his criticism certainly applies to openers Matthew Wood and Joe Sayers, who have managed only 75 between them in six Championship innings.

They need to get some runs on the board soon, and off-spinner Richard Dawson needs runs and wickets, otherwise their places will be under threat.

Yorkshire are seeking revenge over Kent for a double defeat when they last met in the Championship four years ago, when Yorkshire went on to be relegated immediately after winning the title.

In the match at Canterbury, Craig White rapped out 104 and Dawson compiled a career-best 87, but Kent still won by four wickets after Robert Key had put them on top with a first innings 114.

Both sides lost their matches last week, Yorkshire to Sussex by five wickets and Kent to Lancashire by six, and both are desperate to climb away from the relegation zone.

Michael Vaughan, who has been carrying out his rehabilitation programme with Yorkshire in recent weeks, did not join them in Canterbury and was expected to team up with the England squad at Lord's and step up his training there. Contrary to some reports, there was never any intention of Vaughan making his comeback with Yorkshire against Kent but there is now a chance he could be fit for next week's Roses clash at Headingley.

Updated: 10:03 Wednesday, May 10, 2006