Midway through a truncated opening day, a spectator in the Rugby Stand End called out: "Look, there's a fox on the outfield!"

All eyes turned towards the North East Stand where, sure enough, a fox was surveying proceedings from backward square-leg.

One elderly gentleman took one look at the animal and growled: "Aye, 'appen it's heard that Michael Vaughan has turned into a rabbit."

Cue widespread guffaws among the Headingley cloth caps.

If the bizarre sight of a bushy-tailed fox was the highlight of an otherwise soporific day, then the key detail from a cricketing perspective was the way Vaughan set about challenging the notion that he is some sort of pushover.

The England captain has managed only four half-centuries in his last 30 innings, but he is halfway towards a much-needed fifty here, ending the day unbeaten on 25 as Yorkshire reached 51-1 in the 30.2 overs possible.

Vaughan clearly has work to do to turn a useful start into the type of score that will keep his critics off his back, but the way he dealt with his England team-mates Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad can only give him confidence.

In front of England selector James Whitaker, Vaughan looked in good fettle after the match eventually got under way at 1.30pm following overnight rain.

It has been a frustrating start to the season for Vaughan, who immediately found himself under the cosh when he managed only 0 and 2 against Leeds-Bradford University.

He looked in good touch against Hampshire last week, but contributed just 19 to Yorkshire's match-winning total of 398. He then had little opportunity to impress during Sunday's shortened Friends Provident Trophy match against Derbyshire, perishing for 16 when he unselfishly tried to step on the accelerator.

His need for a sizeable contribution prior to the first Test against New Zealand in two weeks' time is obvious, and the signs were good during yesterday's fare.

After getting off the mark with a squirted three behind point off Charlie Shreck, Vaughan got into his stride with two sumptuous boundaries off the same bowler – one clipped through mid-wicket with composure and elegance, the other punched through the off-side with impeccable timing.

After watching opening partner Joe Sayers play out six successive maidens to Sidebottom at the start of the match, Vaughan hit Sidebottom for four through gully and then stroked him to the cover boundary. Despite being stymied for 38 minutes with his score on 21, Vaughan could be pleased with his efforts.

Sayers struggled to get Sidebottom off the square but showed fine judgement outside his off-stump as the former Yorkshire pace bowler tested his defences.

There were ironic cheers when Sayers appeared to score his first run off Sidebottom after 37 dot balls, only for the umpire to signal a leg-bye.

Sayers's vigil came to an end in the 22nd over when he was bowled by Mark Ealham for nine, made from 72 deliveries in 84 minutes.

Anthony McGrath hit 14 from 29 balls before the forecast heavy rain arrived at 3.30pm, causing play to be abandoned.

Notwithstanding the loss of 65.4 overs, such is the galaxy of bowling talent on view in this game that we could yet witness a positive result.

Yorkshire have been boosted by the return of captain Darren Gough and the arrival of new overseas signing Morne Morkel, while Nottinghamshire could afford to leave out Darren Pattinson, who captured eight wickets during their crushing victory over Kent.

The fox, incidentally, disappeared behind the North East Stand only to re-emerge long after the last spectator had made his way from the ground.

Quite how it got into the stadium, or what became of it, was unclear, but hats off to any creature that can slip past the Headingley stewards without paying for the privilege.


Click the play button above to view video highlights of today's play.