Darren Gough was today playing in his first Championship match on his old Headingley stamping-ground since leaving Yorkshire to join Essex at the start of last season.

He could not play in the 2004 curtain-raiser at his former headquarters because he was still resting after England's one-day series in South Africa.

Yorkshire won that battle by seven wickets but Gough's fighting instincts should help to make it a harder contest this time because his keen competitive spirit will not want him to finish up a loser in front of his large band of admirers.

"I am really looking forward to playing at Headingley again and meeting up with friends but I am totally committed to Essex now and will be doing all I can to help them win," said Gough, still affectionately known as 'Dazzler'.

He was in action against his old team-mates in the first match of this season when Yorkshire got the worse of a rain-hit draw at Chelmsford.

They were forced to follow-on after Essex had batted on each of the first three weather-affected days but an unbeaten 67 from Phil Jaques saved them from another slide in their second innings.

Essex looked the smarter outfit with Yorkshire distinctly short of outdoor practice, but since then the Tykes have been the more successful. They are second in the table and unbeaten, while Essex have slipped to fourth.

Anthony McGrath apart, Yorkshire have been short of runs from their top-order batsmen. They bagged only two batting bonus points against Durham and none at Leicestershire.

Michael Lumb needs to make a big score to boost his confidence and Jaques himself is suddenly going through a lean spell with only 64 runs from his last four innings but Yorkshire are expected to field the same side which drew at Riverside.

Also back at Headingley today was former Yorkshire off-spinner James Middlebrook, who is now a key member of the Essex side. So far this season he has captured 25 first-class wickets at 21.26 runs apiece.

He did not play in the match at Chelmsford, however, having been struck a fearsome blow in the eye while batting a couple of days earlier.

Today's match marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Yorkshire's great left-arm spin bowler Hedley Verity, who was born near Headingley on May 18, 1905.

A captain in the Green Howards' Regiment, Verity died in 1943 after being mortally wounded in action while leading his company in Sicily.

The Regiment formed a guard of honour before today's play started, while an exhibition of Verity memorabilia was being held in the long room.

Updated: 11:11 Wednesday, May 25, 2005