It was a red-letter day today for Yorkshire's 18-year-old paceman, Tim Bresnan, who finally made his Championship debut in the match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Pontefract-born Bresnan was 16 years and 102 days old on his maiden one-day appearance for Yorkshire in June, 2001, and he has now been given his first class debut for the county after 27 limited overs games.

Bresnan came in for Steve Kirby but he had to wait for a taste of the action because Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat first, progressing rapidly to 79 for one off 16 overs.

Gary Fellows returned after recovering from a hand injury but Chris Silverwood was missing from the side, the paceman having had an injection to relieve pain in his right elbow. With Yorkshire going into the game with two spinners in Richard Dawson and Andy Gray there was no room, either, for Scott Richardson.

Joining Yorkshire in their training this morning was Darren Gough who is recovering from a hamstring strain.

"I am not coming out with any predictions as to when I will be fully fit again but I am making good progress," said Gough.

"The normal time out for a hamstring injury is six weeks and as I only picked it up nine days ago I must still have some way to go," he added.

With heavy rain forecast for later in the game, Yorkshire were keen to make as rapid progress as possible after dampness caused the start to be delayed by five overs. Wood and Vaughan were each credited with an early six, Wood hooking Andre Nel over the rope and Vaughan despatching a ball from the South African high over square leg with a beautifully timed shot.

John Blain shared the new ball and he made the breakthrough from the pavilion end at 31 in the sixth over when Wood attempted another hook but spooned up the ball for Northants' captain Michael Hussey to take a simple catch at second slip.

Skipper Anthony McGrath soon drove Blain for four and the 50 arrived in 11 overs at which stage Tony Penberthy took over from Blain. But it was Nel who continued to soak up punishment as Vaughan struck three elegant boundaries off consecutive balls with perfect timing.

This assault not surprisingly caused Nel to be rested with Blain coming back for a second spell at 63-1 in 14 overs but 11 runs came off his first over.

Yorkshire arrived at Northants needing to improve on a dismal record on their visits to the county for they have not won in the Championship since 1984.

Since then they have played them 11 times and have come away with five defeats and six draws.

Northamptonshire: M E K Hussey (Capt), M J Powell, P A Jaques J W Cook, D J G Sales, A L Penberthy, T M B Bailey (Wkt) M S Panesar, A Nel, J A R Blain, J F Brown.

Yorkshire: M J Wood, M P Vaughan, A McGrath (Capt), M J Lumb R J Blakey (Wkt), G M Fellows, R K J Dawson, A K D Gray R J Sidebottom, T T Bresnan, M J Hoggard.

Updated: 15:07 Wednesday, May 14, 2003