Chris Silverwood won a battle royal with his old team-mate Darren Gough to spare Yorkshire's blushes on the final day of their rain-hit Championship match against Essex at Chelmsford on Saturday, writes David Warner.

It took Essex only 11 balls in the morning to move on to a declaration at 401 for four, with all five batting bonus points secured, and Yorkshire soon discovered that there was far more life in the pitch than their bowlers had been able to extract.

New signing Alex Tudor made his mark by dismissing Phil Jaques and Anthony McGrath early on and with wickets continuing to tumble, Yorkshire were 90 for seven in the over after lunch, in real danger of a swift follow-on and an embarrassing defeat.

But while skipper Craig White played with all his usual style, Silverwood launched himself at Gough and dealt him a number of savage blows, several times stepping back to crack him through extra cover and on one occasion on-driving him for six.

Gough was withdrawn from the attack following a post-lunch spell of 5-0-33-1, 26 of the runs going to Silverwood who raced to his half-century off just 31 deliveries by rifling Andre Adams for a flat six over mid-on.

Silverwood finally had his leg stump knocked back by Adams for 57 from 40 balls with eight fours and two sixes and his 81 stand in 15 overs with White had taken the pressure out of a difficult situation.

White hit his first 50 since the first match of last season, when Essex were again Yorkshire's opponents, and he remained unbeaten on 59. Deon Kruis's one scoring stroke brought up the 200 and a solitary batting bonus point.

Yorkshire were asked to follow on straight after tea and Tudor held a stunning return catch to get rid of Matthew Wood but Jaques and McGrath compensated for their first innings failures with a breezy 52 stand.

Jaques hurried on to an unbeaten 67 from 64 balls with 11 boundaries, Essex not bothering to claim the extra half hour.

Yorkshire took a disappointing six points from the draw but were then docked a half point for bowling their overs too slowly.

If Essex captain Ronnie Irani had declared at the end of the second over in the morning instead of after five balls then Yorkshire would have been up with the rate.

With a serious shortage of outdoor practice before the game and all the rain interruptions during it, Yorkshire were understandably well below their best, but it was still worrying that Essex's bowlers seemed able to get far more out of the slow pitch.

* Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy has claimed England could be whitewashed in this summer's Ashes series.

Australia have won the last eight Ashes series but the recent form of Michael Vaughan's side has raised hopes in England the trend can be reversed.

But having watched Australia beat New Zealand 2-0 recently, Healy can only see more of the same this year.

Healy, who played in 119 Tests, said: ''The recent New Zealand tour was highly anticipated by the New Zealand community as well, and 2-0 and 5-0 rings pretty true.

''I think that's how the teams stacked up on paper and it happened on results as well. This England team, while they are better and on track, I can't see them beating this Australian team.''

Healy believes the five-match series will be a crucial one for Australian opener Matthew Hayden.

The burly Queenslander, who made his Test breakthrough in India in 2001, has struggled for form in Australia's past four Test series and has not scored a century in his last 12 matches.

Healy said Hayden needed to perform well in England or his Test career would be over.

''He should be fit, he should be fresh and if he doesn't bounce back he's finished,'' he said.

''And that's it. It is pretty clear for Haydos right now. It is going to be quite obvious how his appetite is, he's been a little bit bored I think in the last six months of his cricket, and if he gets his appetite back he'll be sweet.''