HAMPSHIRE V YORKSHIRE PREVIEW

The visit to the Rose Bowl is the biggest test yet for rejuvinated Yorkshire.

Michael Vaughan is in the Yorkshire 13 and Moxon and Gough have a major selection dilema in deciding who to leave out to accomodate him. White, Sayers, Younus Khan and Rudolph have all made centuries this season while McGrath looked in fine form last time against Scotland. Sayers would have been favourite for the axe but his tremendous 149 not out surely makes that a non-starter. Will Yorkshire leave out a bowler to accomodate him and rely on McGrath and Vaughan himself to take on a bowling role? It looks a very tough ask for Yorkshire's management and their decision will be interesting. On a pitch which is expected to take spin Mark Lawson appears in the squad for the first time this season.

Squad: Vaughan, Sayers, Rudolph, Younus Khan, McGrath, Rashid, Brophy, Bresnan, Gillespie, Gough, Hoggard, White and Lawson.

Hampshire are captained by Austrailian leg spinner Shane Warne. Their squad also includes England's Kevin Peterston and Austrailian pace man Stuart Taylor who plauged England this Winter. There is a very familar face to Yorkshire fans in their batting in the face of Michael Lumb. Veteran John Crawley is as reliable as ever in their middle order and Michael Brown is in good form.

SCOTLAND V YORKSHIRE

Simon Guy took the place of Gerald Brophy in the Yorkshire line up. Scotland won the toss and put Yorkshire in. White and Vaughan made a solid start before White was caught behind with 44 on the board, the same fate fell Michael Vaughan for 31, two down with 55 on the board. Anthony McGrath and Younus Khan then came together in a valuable partnership of 82. McGrath was third out for 66 (71 balls, 6 fours and 2 sixes) with the score on 137. Rudolph joined Younus and threatening a major partnership when Younus on 41 skipped down the wicket to Hag, missed and was stumped. Rudolph made 34 but the real impetous to the innings came from Bresnan and Pyrah, Bresnan hit 26 in a 17 ball stay and Pyrah 24 in a 14 ball stay. Yorkshire closed on 259 for 8.

Yorkshire were always in control of the Scots reply. Two run out and two Simon Guy catches helped reduce Scotland to 51 for 4. They never recovered from that despite 40 from McCallum and a very good 59 from Wright (66 balls). Tim Bresnan produced a fine spell 3-22 from 8 overs to complete a very good allround game. Darren Gough to 2-32.

SCOTLAND V YORKSHIRE - PREVIEW

England captain Michael Vaughan returns to the Yorkshire side for this match. Vaughan played in this fixture last year and scored 67, a similar effort this year would be very welcome. Anthony McGrath returns to the side after missing the Championship win over Durahm and Brophy is fit to resume after missing the final day of that game. Matthew Hoggard who sat out the Friends Provident win against Notts takes over from the injured Deon Kruis. Yorkshire have picked only four front line bowlers but McGrath, White and Vaughan are capable of filling in the fifth bowlers ten overs.

Team: White, Vaughan, Rudolph, Younus Khan, McGrath, Gale, Brophy, Gilbert, Bresnan, Gough & Hoggard.

Scotland, fresh from a World Cup Campaign, have retained only seven players from that competition, they have two overseas players set to make their debuts, the Tasmanian batsman George Bailey and the South African Arno Jacobs. John Blain is a familiar figure to Yorkshire fans in the Scotland line up.

Squad: Watson, Bailey, McCallum, Blain, Majid Haq, Hussain, Jacobs, Maiden, Nel, Watts, Wright, Rogers & Smith.

YORKSHIRE V DURHAM - DAY 3

Darren Gough completed an aggressive 50 (56 balls, 7 fours & 1 six) but was then immediately dismissed caught behind off Steve Harmison after a Gough/Sayers partnership of 82. Harmison and Onions then mopped up the tail as Yorkshire were all out for 414, a lead of 140. Joe Sayers carried his bat for 149 not out, a marvelous effort of Boycottesque concentration 553 minutes, 417 balls with 17 fours. He was the last Yorkshire batsman to do it, carrying his bat at Scarborough against Middlesex in 2006 and the first Yorkshire batsman to carry his bat at Headingley since 1984. Harmison took 6-87.

Yorkshire then got off to a great start when Durham batted, dangerman Di Venuto dismissed by Darren Gough's first delivery (first ball of the second over), bowled for 1. That was the cue for Matthew Hoggard to start an amazing spell, bowling an terrific line an length he dismissed Muchall for 1, Blenkenstein for 3 and then he clean bowled Ben Harmsion first ball. Then he was back on target again to bowl opener Smith for 11 to make it an incredible 17 for 5. Mustard and Breese saw Durham through to lunch on 26-5. Gough 8-2-10-1, Hoggard 8-2-12-4.

After lunch Mustard and Breese put up some resistance, Mustard in particularly playing some aggressive shots. The pair saw off Hoggard and Gough and had put on 55 when Shahzad trapped Breese lbw for 21. Bowling quickly Bresnan then sent back Gibson and Mustard (for 32) to leave Durham on the brink at 78 for 8. Ninth wicket pair Thorp and Onions went on the counter attack, being particularly severe on Bresnan who was going for seven an over. Onions smashed 41 from 33 balls before giving Rashid the charge and being stumped to give substitute wicket keeper Simon Guy his fourth victim. Steve Harmsion hit lustily in a 10 ball 23 and put together a rapid last wicket stand of 31. Rashid was hit out of the attack (39 off 4 overs) before Hoggard returned to get Harmison lbw. Durham all out 169.

Yorkshire needed 30 to win and got there for the loss of White, Sayers unbeaten again on 10. Another terrific Yorkshire peformance to beat Durham by nine wickets.

YORKSHIRE V DURHAM - DAY 2

Durham bowled tightly in the morning session but Yorkshire lost only one wicket up to lunch. Unfortunately it was the one of Younus Khan who had played well getting to 42 (79 balls), when he was trapped lbw to Thorp. Sayers continued his vigil, although painfully slow he was doing a vital job for his side. Gale came in at the fall of Khan's wicket and with Sayers put together a useful partnership. They had put on 93 when Steve Harmison trapped Gale for a well made 36 (120 balls).

Brophy and Sayers came together and put on a partnership of 130. Brophy batted beautifully hitting 13 fours in a 110 ball stay. Sayers continued to play solidly but started to accelerate. Brophy looked set for his first Yorkshire ton but Steve Harmison produced a top class spell with the second new ball. He dismissed Brophy for 80, Gibson then got rid or Rashid for 1 and Harmison struck again sending back Bresnan for a duck. Yorkshire stood at 318 for 7 when Gough walked out to join the immovable Sayers. The pair stayed till then end of the days play; Gough 26 not out (3 fours and 1 six) and Sayers unbeaten on 136 (15 fours, 381 balls). A tremendous effort from the left hander who has batted all day to help Yorkshire to a lead of 94 on 368 for 7. For Durham, Harmison has shown England form with 4-74.

YORKSHIRE V DURHAM - DAY 1

Jason Gillespie was unable to take his place in the Yorkshire line up Amjal Shahzad replaced him. Durham won the toss and batted. Hoggard and Gough bowled tightly but Durham openers Smith and Di Venuto started solidly. They moved to 55 with some comfort until Bresnan sent back Di Venuto for 27, soon after on 73 Shahzad struck taking his first, first class wicket when he had Smith caught behind for 34. Rashid came on and struck a third blow for Yorkshire before lunch when he sent back Muchall lbw making it 98 for 3 at the break.

The afternoon belonged to Yorkshire as they worked their way through the Durham batting. Only skipper Blenkenstien and Ottis Gibson held Yorkshire up. Blenkenstein batted beautifully until driving Rashid to long off being dismissed for 83 (9 fours and a six). Gibson made a quick fire 38 from 34 balls. For Yorkshire the star man was again 19 year old Adil Rashid who returned 5 for 88. Gough as accurate as ever weighed in with 2 for 46 and Bresnan 2 for 51. Durham were all out for 274.

When Yorkshire batted they were soon under pressure from Durham's opening attack, Harmison looked back to his best and Onions is a useful performer. Craig White went caught behind of Harmison on 12. Rudolph then went to Thorp for 9. At the close Joe Sayers had dropped anchor and was 8 not out off 87 balls. Younus is there on 16. Yorkshire stand at 50-2.

YORKSHIRE V DURHAM PREVIEW

This has the makings of a very good game. Like Yorkshire, Durham look a far better side than the one that just avoided relegation last season and they were also convinicing winners in their opening game of the season.

Michael Vaughan has been cleared by England to play for Yorkshire but not until 29 April so is not available for this game. Anthony McGrath has not recovered from a chest infection, he is replaced by Andrew Gale who is the only change from the side that beat Surrey.

Team: White, Sayers, Younus Khan, Rudolph, Gale, Brophy, Rashid, Bresnan, Gough, Gillespie & Hoggard.

Durham's opening attack is arguably the quickest in the Division; Harmison looking to win back his England place is well supported by Onions. The veteran Gibson keeps taking wickets. In the batting they have two very fine players in their South African captain Benkenstein and the Austrailian Di Venuto (ton on his Durham debut). England World Cup duo Paul Collingwood and Liam Plunkett do not play.

Durham 12: Di Venuto, Smith, Muchall, B Harmison, Blenkenstein, Mustard, Breese, S Harmison, Onions, Gibson, Thorp & Turner.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE V YORKSHIRE

Notts skipper Hussey won the toss and put Yorkshire in. Yorkshire got a decent start White and Rudolph putting on 42 before Rudolph was run out for 24. White then went for the same score to leave Yorkshire on 60-2. Brophy and Younus came together, Brophy hitting well and Younus building and innings. Brophy went to 50 at almost a run a ball, he moved onto 53 (57 balls) when he was trapped lbw by Ealham. The rest of the innings was dominated by a splendid Partnership between Younus Khan and Andrew Gale. Younus, making up for a minimal contribution against Surrey and Gale making the most of his first team opportunity. Khan showed his class and ability to build a crucial innings, his 50 came off 58 balls (2 fours), he then converted that into a century (4 fours, 2 sixes from 92 balls) in the remaining fourteen overs. He was run out from the final ball of the innings for 100. Gale made 69 not out (3 fours from 77 balls) out of their fourth wicket partnership of 153. Yorkshire closed their 50 overs on 280 for 4.

Gough and Gillespie made early in roads into the Nottinghamshire innings. Gillespie bowled Shafayat for 6 and Gough bowled Gallian for 13 to reduce them to 22 for 2. Hussey then made an aggressive 28 (21 balls) before the returning Deon Kruis sent him back. Wagh completed a good 50 for the visitors, Gough then brought on Gilbert and he did the trick bowling Wagh for 56 and helping push the visitors required rate to over seven an over with twenty overs to go. Patel made 36 and Read a rapid 68 (last man out) but consistent Yorkshire bowling kept picking up wickets at the right time. Kruis took 3 for 61, Gough 2 for 35 and most impressive of the lot Gillespie 2 for 29 in ten overs. Notts all out 243, Yorkshire win by 37 runs.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE V YORKSHIRE - PREVIEW

Yorkshire have left out Matthew Hoggard for the 50 over game against Notts. A tough decision for Darren Gough who said "I want to be able to rotate my fast bowlers whenever possible and Matthew played for the MCC immediately before our game with Surrey." Deon Kruis comes into the side. There is no front line spinner in the squad but Gough revealed that Craig White is to be used as an off spiner in the one day game.

Squad: White, Rudolph, McGrath, Younus Khan, Gilbert, Gale, Brophy, Bresnan, Gough, Gillespie, Kruis, Pyrah.

Notts bowling attack is led by Ryan Sidebottom both himself, Graeme Swann and Mark Ealham excel at the one day game. Chris Read will be keen to show the England selectors that he shouldn't have been left out of the World Cup Squad.

SURREY V YORKSHIRE - DAY 4

A great start to the day for Yorkshire with insperational skipper dismissing the dangerous Mark Ramprakash for 5 lbw, it then got even better as he then bowled Ricki Clarke for 3. Newman played well for Surrey and moved onto a half century, he had a lucky escape soon after as Sayers put down a bat/pad chance off Rashid. Gough piled on the pressure, brought Hoggard back on and he sent back Ally Brown lbw for 7, bowling really well Hoggard then sent dismissed Benning for 7, caught at mid wicket and then swung one away which Azar Mahmood nicked to Rudolph at slip to make it 124 for 6, Newman continuing on at the other end 80 not out. He moved on to 89 before becoming another Hoggard victim, caught behind by Brophy. Lunch was taken at 138 for 7, Hoggard 4-34.

Yorkshire were soon in the wickets after lunch Gough brought one back to Ormond and he edged into the safe gloves of Brophy in the second over. Next over Rashid bowled a quicker ball which beat Schofield and bowled him for 11, nine down. Doshi and Magoffin hit some defiant blows, Rashid then had the last word getting Doshi to edge to Younus at slip. Surrey all out for 170, a Yorkshire win by 346 runs. Hoggard 4-34, Gough 3-50 and Rashid 3-64.

SURREY V YORKSHIRE - DAY 3

Ramprakash and Clarke started well for Surrey, the former going on to an excellent century but when he had made 115 (20 fours), Gillespie induced him to give keeper Brophy a catch. Mahmood and Clarke then put together a useful partnership of 69, Rudolph's part time leg spin took some stick. With the new ball due Hoggard came back to bowl and in his first over got Mahmood to edge one behind to Brophy. Then after Clarke had moved to a well made 42, Darren Gough got the first wicket since his return when Clarke nicked one to give Brophy his fourth victim. Next ball it was the fifth as Gough moved one away from Ormond who promptly nicked it. Magoffin survived the hatrick ball. A fine delivery from Goughie knocked over Magoffin's stumps as the Surrey innings ended on 344. Gough 3-28 and Rashid 4-105. The Yorkshire skipper did not enforce the follow on and the openers safely got through to lunch 5-0.

White and Sayers started well after lunch and soon notched up a 50 partnership. White was severe on spinner Doshi and when bringing up his half century was scoring at 80 per 100 balls. Sayers was more circumspect but still kept the scoreboard ticking over as White continued his aggressive knock. The partnership moved to 163 before Sayers fell to Doshi for 57.

McGrath then went cheaply before White departed for a splendid 117 (131 balls, 11 fours and 7 sixes). The chase was on for quick runs before the declaration, Rudloph 28 (21 balls), Brophy (12 off 12 balls) and Rashid (19 off 19 balls) all contributed before Gough called it a day at 266 for 7, setting Surrey 517 to win.

Surrey had an ackward period before close of play, Newman was missed off Gough when on 13 but apart from that they has no real alarms but then with the last ball of the day, Rashid produced another bit of late drama and removed Batty by help of a catch from White. 47-1 Surrey are 469 runs behind.

SURREY V YORKSHIRE - DAY 2

Bresnan and Gillespie continued to perform well and with Gillespie in particular finding the boundry Yorkshire's 450 came up, the Austrailian moving on to his half century. Gillespie, very much the aggressor today, had his scoring rate up to 75 per hundred balls as the 150 partnership arrived up. Bresnan more circumspect moved patiently past his half century. Azhar Mahmood was the pick of the Surrey bowlers but Yorkshire's ninth wicket pair tore in to the Surrey spinners Schofield and Doshi and on the stroke of lunch the 200 partnership arrived, Bresnan unbeaten on 92 and Gillespie 97.

Both players both completed their first Yorkshire tons after lunch and their partnership moved on to 246 (a Yorkshire 9th wicket record that had stood since 1898) before Doshi tempted Bresnan out of his crease and Batty completed the stumping. Bresnan went for 116 (214 balls, 11 fours and 2 sixes). Gough declared on Bresnan's dismisal leaving Gillespie 123 not out (192 balls, 21 fours).

When Surrey batted Hoggard struck early, McGrath taking a great catch to dismiss Batty for 5. Newman, making up dropping Rashid on 0 and Ramprakash then played well for Surrey, they put on 196 together and looked set to send Surrey safely to the close with one wicket down; but then it all changed, Rashid had Newman caught by Gillespie for 124 to start off a loss for 4 wickets for 16 all to Rashid. Benning went for 0, then night watchman Doshi charged Rashid and was stumped, a great Yorkshire day was they complete when Rashid dismissed Ally Brown for 4. Rashid has taken 4 for 65 and Surrey stand 357 runs behind on 237 for 5. Big Danger Mark Ramprakash is still there on 92.

SURREY V YORKSHIRE - DAY 1

Yorkshire left Deon Kruis out of their 12, Surrey went into the game without Mark Butcher. Darren Gough won the toss and decided to bat.

A disappointing morning for Yorkshire that saw them loose four wickets while scoring 87. Ormond bowled well for Surrey in the opening overs but Sayers and White looked solid enough, especially Sayers whose judgement was excellent. After progessing to 35 White slashed at one outside his offstump and was well caught in the gully. McGrath joined Sayers and the partnership was getting on top of the Surrey bowling as Yorkshire moved 69 but then Sayers made his first mis-judgement; flashing at one wide of offstump and being was caught behind. Four runs later and McGrath (after three well struck fours) did the same thing. It then got even worse, Younus Khan got off the mark with a four but then played a loose shot and was clean bowled by Riki Clarke. Rudolph and Brophy settled in nicely ensuring there were no further losses up to the interval.

Yorkshire started well after lunch with Rudolph and Brophy playing some good shots, they had taken their partnership to 54, when Surrey's Aussie debutante Magoffin trapped Brophy lbw for 22 (4 fours). Rashid was missed early in his innings at slip but then he and Rudolph put together an excellent partnership. Rudolph using his feet to Doshi started to pepper the boundry and consecutive sixes took him to his first Yorkshire half century. The pair took Yorkshire safely to tea and getting right back into the game.

Rudolph and Rashid continued to dominate after tea, Rashid completing 50 and Rudolph a spectacular ton off 136 balls (16 fours and 3 sixes). Playing some great shots Rashid looked as if a Maiden century was there for the taking but after a partnership of 190, Azhar Mahmood came back to bowl Rashid for a splendid 86. Then how often does it happen, when one partner goes the other soon follows, Rudolph drove uppishly and was caught for a brilliant 122 (168 balls, 20 fours and 3 sixes). The loss of two quick wickets could have caused a collaspe but skipper Gough and Tim Bresnan did a good job adding 29 before Azhar Mahmood collected his third wicket when sending back Gough for 23. Bresnan hit a couple of nice shots to take Yorkshire past 350. Bresnan continued to play well and Gillespie dug in as they took Yorkshire to 390 for 8 at the close.

SURREY V YORKSHIRE PREVIEW

Yorkshire take a squad of 12 to the Oval for Darren Gough's first game as skipper, Younus Khan and Jacques Rudolph are set to make their debuts. Joe Sayers has won the vote to partner Craig White at the top of the order, Brophy gets the keepers role. Adil Rashid looks likely to play as spinner. The selection to be made seems to be who gets the final quick bowling sport Tim Bresnan or Deon Kruis. Squad: White, Sayers, McGrath, Khan, Rudolph, Rashid, Bresnan, Gough, Gillespie, Hoggard and Kruis.

Surrey’s batting will rely heavily on ex England batsmen Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher who scored over 3,500 runs last season. Their bowling attack will be led by the 27 year old Western Australian quick bowler Steve Magoffin who took 25 wickets at 25 in the 06/07 Australian season. Spinners Doshi and Salisbury took 100 wickets between them last season. Squad: Butcher, Clarke, Batty, Newman, Ramprakash, Brown, Mahmood, Ormond, Doshi, Akram and Magoffin.