Yorkshire left trailing at chilly Canterbury by Nash’s century

“Look at that lad,” said one supporter at a recent game. “You can tell from his body language that he isn’t bothered.”

Another fan blamed captain Andrew Gale for the apparent malaise.

“It’s up to the captain to set the example,” he fumed. “Closey would never have stood for that sort of thing.”

The reality, however, could not be more different.

Far from exhibiting signs of apathy, Yorkshire are employing the services of hand warmers.

On a chilly second day at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, where Kent made 316-6 in reply to Yorkshire’s 247, these accessories once more came into their own.

According to Gale, they are like having warm tea bags in your pockets, and the effects can last for up to five hours. But the sight of fielders with hands in pockets could not mask the determination of the visiting side, who strove manfully for breakthroughs in the cool conditions.

Those conditions were much more conducive for batting than Yorkshire had faced, when the ball seamed and swung on the opening day. As was the case with Yorkshire, several Kent batsmen got starts but failed to go on.

Whereas nine Yorkshire players reached double figures, all scoring between 12 and 38, five of Kent’s got double figures without achieving a half-century or better; James Tredwell, however, unbeaten on 28, potentially still has power to add.

Only Brendan Nash, the West Indian overseas player, bucked the trend to change a hitherto well-balanced match, his innings of 114 not out supplying the standout contribution the game was crying out for and which served to give Kent a decisive edge.

A compact left-hander with an uncomplicated method, Nash defended solidly and worked the ball skilfully during a 186-ball innings that included 14 fours.

It remains to be seen whether his efforts will help Kent to their second Championship victory of the season. According to weather forecasts, rain is set to lash “The Garden of England” today and tomorrow, which could ruin all hope of a positive result.

Although Kent hold a 69-run advantage at the halfway stage, Yorkshire have not performed poorly by any means.

The difference, at the moment, has simply been Nash, and it is hard to escape the impression that Kent – with a new coach in Jimmy Adams and some shrewd winter signings – could well challenge strongly for promotion this season.

On a day when hand warmers would not have gone amiss even for those of us typing in the press box, Kent resumed on 4-0 after they had faced one over from Tim Bresnan on the Thursday evening.

Bresnan’s first over yesterday was not his finest, Scott Newman cutting him for successive fours from the second and third deliveries.

Bresnan was cut for four on two further occasions by Newman, who then meted out the same treatment to Ajmal Shahzad after he replaced Bresnan at the Pavilion end.

But Shahzad got his revenge with the final ball of his opening over, Newman getting the slightest of touches to a fine delivery that nestled in the gloves of Jonny Bairstow.

Newman’s frustration was evident as he walked off the field having scored 31 out of the first 35 runs.

His partner, Sam Northeast, was not so expansive; Northeast did not score his first boundary until 20 minutes after lunch when he turned Ryan Sidebottom neatly off his legs.

Indeed, Northeast managed only 19 runs during the opening session, which Kent ended on 85-1 against some generally disciplined Yorkshire bowling.

But his resistance ended 15 minutes after the break, Shahzad trapping him lbw for 26.

It sparked an excellent period for the visiting side, who hit back strongly during the opening hour of the afternoon session.

Ben Harmison, having played well for 43, was another who failed to go on as he perished lbw trying to strike Steve Patterson through the leg-side.

The home team fell to 138-4 when Michael Powell flashed hard at Sidebottom and was smartly caught in the slips by Bresnan, and then to 158-5 when Bresnan had Darren Stevens lbw.

Enter Geraint Jones, who not only gave Nash vital support but injected impetus to take the initiative from Yorkshire.

The pair took their side into tea on 209-5 and then on to 235 before Jones fell three runs short of a half-century, well held in the slips by Gary Ballance off Sidebottom.

The sixth-wicket stand was worth 77 in 16 overs and any hopes Yorkshire had of bringing the innings to a swift conclusion were immediately dashed by off-spinner Tredwell. He offered Nash support, further frustrating the Yorkshire attack as the seventh-wicket yielded an unbroken 81.

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