England paceman Matthew Hoggard was searching for his 400th first-class wicket when he shared the new ball with Deon Kruis after Leicestershire had won the toss and decided to bat first in the championship match at Grace Road today.

Both sides went into the game unchanged but they had contrasting records, Yorkshire having won their last six matches in all competitions while Leicestershire have not yet been victorious in either the championship or Totesport League.

The early indications were that Yorkshire were in for a hard day in the field because it looked a good batting pitch, unresponsive to either seam or swing, and openers Darren Robinson and Darren Maddy looked untroubled during the opening exchanges.

Their only anxious moment occurred when Maddy went for a quick single in the first over and Robinson, who has been suffering a thigh strain, was slow to make his crease.

Hoggard bowled only two overs from the pavilion end before he was taken off and off-spinner Richard Dawson replaced him. After only one over, however, Dawson gave way to Hoggard again, skipper Craig White presumably just experimenting to see if the pitch was taking early spin.

Only seven runs came from the first half hour's play but then Hoggard overpitched and Maddy drove him through the covers for the first boundary of the match.

At 15 for none in 11 overs, Dawson returned to the attack, but this time in place of Kruis and in his first over Robinson struck him firmly through mid-wicket for four.

The pitch continued to be very bland and batsmen were going to have to be prised out if there was to be a positive result.

A short ball from Hoggard lifted so slowly that Robinson had plenty of time to get into position and hook it safely to the fence.

The nearest Yorkshire came to getting a wicket was when Robinson drove back on the ground to Dawson who flung the ball to Ismail Dawood with Robinson only just making his ground but he would probably not have made it with a direct hit.

Tim Bresnan took over from Hoggard at 30 without loss and he just failed to make contact as Maddy pushed hesitantly forward.

This is the last championship match in which Hoggard and England captain Michael Vaughan will be available for Yorkshire before they join up with the Test squad.