YORKSHIRE'S leading strike bowler Chris Silverwood is spending a spell in the second team in order to boost his fitness and get back to top pace.

As a result, Silverwood was turning out for the Second XI today in their three-day encounter with the MCC at High Wycombe and therefore misses tomorrow's first home Championship match of the season against Somerset at Headingley.

Silverwood, 30, had an operation at the end of last summer to repair a damaged ankle which had caused him to play in only seven of the 16 Championship matches in the 2004 campaign.

He has played a full part in Yorkshire's pre-season training programme but there has still been soreness in his ankle and against Essex at Chelmsford last week he failed to claim a wicket in 21 overs off a shorter run-up.

Because of his reduced speed, Silverwood was not included in the totesport League thriller at The Oval on Sunday and Yorkshire's director of cricket David Byas has acted quickly in a bid to sharpen up his most senior fast bowler.

"Chris has had no cricket since last July and it is a big 'ask' for him to come straight back and bowl flat out," said Byas.

"I would say he was about 80 per cent right against Essex at Chelmsford but he can now build up to full pace in the second team.

"It is essential that Chris is back to normal after we lose Matthew Hoggard to England after the next three Championship matches."

With Silverwood out of the reckoning, Yorkshire bring in Tim Bresnan for tomorrow's match but there is no shortage of other options with John Blain and David Lucas both wanting opportunities to prove themselves.

Although Byas may intend bringing Silverwood back, it will not be quite so simple if the other fast bowlers perform well in the meantime and Silverwood's future will have a question mark hanging over it if he cannot restore his original pace.

Everyone on Yorkshire's playing staff is still short of match practice and both the first and second teams are anxious that the weather improves dramatically for them this week.

Yorkshire Seconds (v MCC): Taylor, Sayers, Gale, Pyrah, Lyth, Lawson, Guy, Blakey, Silverwood, Blain, Lucas.

Yorkshire (v Somerset): Wood, Jaques, McGrath, Lumb, Harvey, White, Dawood, Dawson, Bresnan, Hoggard, Kruis.

Updated: 10:03 Tuesday, April 19, 2005