Yorkshire by David Warner

Yorkshire were hit by a violent assault from Gloucestershire openers Gregor Macmillan and Tim Hancock at the start of the championship match at King's School, Gloucester, today, with debutant fast bowler Matthew Hoggard soaking up some of the punishment.

Macmillan, in his first championship outing for his new club since joining them from Leicestershire, savaged the attack to such an extent that he raced to his half-century off only 39 balls with nine bruising fours and two sixes.

He was then dismissed without adding to his 53 at which stage Gloucestershire, who had won the toss, were 75 for one in 16 overs, Tim Hancock having contributed 15 to the stand.

With Darren Gough on England duty and Chris Silverwood out with sore shins, Yorkshire brought in Gavin Hamilton for his first championship appearance of the season and also called up Hoggard for the first time, preferring him to Ryan Sidebottom.

But there was to be no dream debut for Hoggard as Macmillan laid about him from the start, taking a boundary off each of his first two overs.

It was left-armer Paul Hutchison, however, who was the more severely mauled and after coming close to trapping Macmillan lbw he was lifted for six over mid-wicket off the next ball.

Macmillan continued to thrash everything in sight and 20 came off one Hutchison over.

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