Craig White maintained his 100 per cent winning record with the toss at Canterbury today and decided to bat first in Yorkshire's Liverpool Victoria Championship match against Kent.

The pitch looked straw-coloured and dry and with the sun breaking through shortly before the start conditions seemed ideal for batting.

Matthew Wood and Joe Sayers, both in need of runs, opened up for Yorkshire who were seeking their first win of the season, and Wood began by playing out a maiden from Robbie Joseph.

The first run came when Sayers nudged a single off Simon Cook and the first boundary resulted from four byes.

Yorkshire will have their new-ball pairing of Deon Kruis and Jason Gillespie in joint action for the first time this season when Kent go in to bat.

Kruis, who went down with a torn calf muscle days before the start of the season, should have returned on Sunday but rain caused the abandonment of Yorkshire's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy match with Nottinghamshire without a ball being bowled.

The South African Kolpak player was the leading wicket-taker for Yorkshire last season with 64 dismissals and the club believe he and Gillespie will prove to be one of the most formidable bowling combinations in county cricket.

Gillespie's arrival at Headingley was slightly delayed because of his involvement in Australia's two-Test series in Bangladesh but he has put in some long stints in his two Championship matches so far, bowling 83.1 overs for his six wickets and he should be well adapted by now to English conditions.

Yorkshire are seeking revenge over Kent for a double defeat when their paths last crossed in the Championship four years ago when Yorkshire went on to be relegated immediately after winning the title.

In the match at Canterbury, Craig White rapped out 104 and Dawson compiled a career-best 87, but Kent still won by four wickets after Robert Key had put them on top with a first innings 114.

Both sides lost their matches last week, Yorkshire to Sussex by five wickets and Kent to Lancashire by six wickets, and both are desperate to win this game in order to climb up the table and get away from the relegation zone.

Michael Vaughan, who has been carrying out his rehabilitation programme with Yorkshire in recent weeks, did not join them in Canterbury but joined up instead with the England squad at Lord's where he is continuing his fitness training.

Contrary to some reports, there was never any intention of Vaughan making his comeback with Yorkshire against Kent but there is now just a chance that he could pronounce himself fit for next week's Roses clash at Headingley.