Even with three callow batsmen making their way in first-class cricket, though, there is enough talent and experience in the top order to make it inexcusable to subside to 50-6, particularly against an attack in which Steve Harmison was directing the majority of his deliveries towards leg-slip.

Yorkshire fell apart in their response to Durham's above-par total of 406 and although all-rounders Adil Rashid and Tim Bresnan set about repairing the damage in admirable fashion, the visitors were dismissed for a paltry 194. They were grateful for their hosts' pusillanimous decision not to enforce the follow-on.

Aside from Graham Onions, who claimed 5-75, Durham did not bowl particularly well. The specialist batsmen were shamed by the ease with which No 7 Rashid, who made 70 before getting out selflessly slogging, and lifelong tail-ender Deon Kruis added 55 for the ninth wicket.

Durham's bowlers will not have been intimidated by Yorkshire's openers. Adam Lyth, prolific in the second XI of late, was making his first appearance at this level and Joe Sayers, so obdurate once set, has not managed to get set in first-class cricket for 50 weeks. He has failed to reach 20 in his last 15 first-class innings.

However, the pair negotiated a potentially awkward three-over spell before lunch without alarm, after Durham had added 69 runs to their overnight 337-6. Both were looking confident and fluent with Lyth clipping Onions away for two and then square-driving him for three more in the first over he faced.

However, having watched Harmison send the first five balls of the innings miles down the leg-side, Lyth must have been shocked when the former England fast-bowler finally located off-stump, and he edged to first-slip, where he had been dropped off Onions a couple of balls earlier.

When Sayers nicked a terrific ball from Onions that slanted across him, Yorkshire were 20-2, but they had their best batsmen at the crease in Anthony McGrath and Jacques Rudolph.

McGrath, though, was run out by a direct throw from substitute fielder Will Gidman at mid-on. Andrew Gale was undone by one of many good balls from the excellent Onions, caught in the slips, and Rudolph, uncommonly subdued, dismissed by the intermittently dangerous Harmison. One ball earlier, Gerard Brophy had been caught driving airily at Onions.

The lower middle-order staved off embarrassment, with Bresnan and Rashid both digging in before opening up in a stand of 85. Rashid played beautifully, defending resolutely, working the ball through midwicket and piercing the off-side with flamboyant drives.

Perhaps his performance made Durham wary of sticking Yorkshire in again, because once batsmen get in on this pitch, runs can come quickly. Nevertheless, the visitors face a huge battle to avoid defeat, even with Matthew Hoggard set to play this morning.