YORKSHIRE CCC began their newly-named Liverpool Victoria Championship programme against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge today with Tim Bresnan already having earned the respect of the title holders.

While Yorkshire were gently warming up against Leeds-Bradford Universities over the Easter weekend, Bresnan was strutting the stage for MCC at Lord's in their first class encounter with Notts.

Bresnan drew inspiration from his first appearance at cricket's headquarters and as well as picking up five top-order wickets in the match he hit a career-best 94 which overtook his 74 for Yorkshire against Somerset at Headingley last season.

Yorkshire are confident that the 21-year-old Bresnan will in time take over from captain Craig White as their leading all-rounder, and he could hardly have made a more positive start to the season with either bat or ball.

Although still uncapped, Bresnan shoulders the main responsibility with the ball in the current match with Deon Kruis out injured and Jason Gillespie still waiting to link up with Yorkshire in a few days' time.

The Australian fast bowler has revitalised his international career on his country's short tour of Bangladesh and resuming his nightwatchman's role in the second Test in Chittagong yesterday he went on to complete his maiden first class century.

Yorkshire last played in a Championship match at Trent Bridge two years ago in their first away game of the season and it ended in a draw after the first and second days were washed out and only 135 minutes play was possible on the third.

But on their previous visit in 1999, Yorkshire won an exciting contest on a sub-standard pitch by three wickets, with Gavin Hamilton and Chris Silverwood sharing in an unbroken match winning partnership of 33. Hamilton has now been released by Durham but continues to be a key player for Scotland, while Silverwood has just been released from his Yorkshire contract and has joined Middlesex.

Yorkshire's director of cricket David Byas admitted that it was a double blow going into the opening game without either Kruis or Gillespie but he paid tribute to all of his young pace bowlers. "They have worked hard since reporting back in March," he said.

Updated: 09:38 Wednesday, April 19, 2006