Craig White was not a happy man last night after his first bowl for Yorkshire since May 11.

He took two wickets for 19 runs against Kent in what he hoped would be the first step towards full fitness and a return to the England side in time for the Ashes series.

But White said: "I was all right for a few deliveries but could then feel my back was hurting in the final stride to the crease. I was only able to bowl at about half pace and could not attempt to bowl flat out.

"I have suffered this problem in my left side since the tour of Sri Lanka last winter and I think I need to have more tests to sort out exactly what is wrong and then get it put right.

"When I had similar trouble two or three years ago in my right side I was able have injections and everything cleared up quickly."

Yorkshire had an unexpectedly good day after it had appeared that Byas had erred in asking Kent to bat first on a fairly docile pitch.

At 98 for one, Kent looked set for a big score but wickets then toppled to some poor strokes and the last four went down in 25 balls for the addition of only five runs.

Ed Smith, who made the only century against Yorkshire so far this season in the opening match at Canterbury, was top scorer with 84 off 155 balls with 14 boundaries. He looked set for another 'ton' before driving carelessly at Hoggard to be well caught at slip by Byas.

Opener Rob Key also batted soundly earlier on, reaching his 50 off 110 balls with seven fours, but when he had got to 58 he chased a wide one from Hoggard straight after lunch and edged to Richard Blakey.

Chris Silverwood picked up three wickets as Yorkshire took control and Kent obviously missed the power of their South African batsman Daryll Cullinan who was unable to play because of a knee injury.

Scott Richardson and Matthew Wood faced six difficult overs from Martin Saggers and Ben Trott in which they put on five together before rain ended play with 20 overs remaining.

Updated: 12:02 Thursday, June 07, 2001