Yorkshire’s seamers made good use of the dry though bitterly cold conditions at Wantage Road on the first morning of their three-day friendly against Northamptonshire.

By the interval the hosts had advanced to 79-2, although Rob Keogh had been forced to retire hurt on only 11 with what looked a nasty finger injury after being hit by a ball from Liam Plunkett.

The two orthodox successes achieved by Gary Ballance’s attack were the work of Steve Patterson and Jack Brooks.

Patterson had Stephen Peters caught behind for nought by Jonny Bairstow with the sixth ball of the morning and Brooks had Kyle Coetzer pouched at third slip by Kane Williamson for 11.

But apart from the injury sustained by Keogh, there were no further alarms for the home batsmen and James Middlebrook was unbeaten on 38 at lunch, with Andrew Hall 13 not out.

Of more importance for coach Jason Gillespie, perhaps, were the good work-outs enjoyed by Patterson, Brooks, Plunkett and Moin Ashraf – and there was even time for a three-over spell from spinner Adil Rashid.

Yorkshire begin their LV= County Championship Division One campaign on Sunday when they play Somerset at Taunton.