YORKSHIRE'S toughest ever training schedule has helped captain Craig White shed the pent up frustrations brought about by the serious knee injury which caused him to miss the second half of last season.

During the latter part of the summer, White looked on helplessly as the team's form disintegrated so badly that they missed out on promotion in both the Championship and the totesport League.

White admits that the slide may well have happened had he still been in charge but it was the feeling of uselessness that really got to him.

"Hopefully, we have all learned from what happened last season and have come out of it as much better cricketers," he said.

The enforced absence of White hit Yorkshire particularly hard and they missed not only his leadership but the batting and bowling skills which have made him the club's leading all-rounder.

The good news, however, is that White is back with renewed determination and energy after the operation to remove cartilage from his left knee.

He is currently recovering from a bout of flu but is hoping to play in Yorkshire's first two-day friendly against Sussex, which starts on Monday.

He still gets some twinges in his knee following strenuous exercise but accepts that it is something he will have to live with - a situation similar to that of former Yorkshire and England team-mate, Darren Gough.

"I am 35 now and have lost some cartilage, so my left knee is bound to get sore and swell up at various times during what will be a long season," said White.

"But I will put ice on it after bowling stints and long sessions in the field and with careful monitoring I am confident I will get through."

At this time last year, it was White's close season rib operation which left some wondering whether he would ever again bowl at his old speed, but he soon slipped into top gear and he's confident of once again surprising batsmen with his deceptive pace off the pitch.

White is so naturally adaptable with the bat that he can make any slot in the order his own - and has done - but he's unlikely to start out opening the innings as he did last year.

The White and Matthew Wood opening combination looked as if it could serve Yorkshire for quite some while but last season ended with Australian Phil Jaques and Joe Sayers, fresh from Oxford University, going in first and making a big success of it.

White now has more batting options to consider and he may decide to place himself at number five or six. "I am still not sure of the make-up of the team yet and there are plenty of opportunities for batsmen to stake a claim before our opening Championship game against Essex at Chelmsford," he said.

"A few days before the match, director of cricket David Byas and I will sit down to pick the side and the way things are going I expect it to be one of the hardest selection meetings I have ever been involved in. There are bound to be some disappointed lads who have missed out because the competition for places is so strong but that has got to be good for the team.

"The unfortunate ones must realise that the season lasts for more than five months and what with Test calls and injuries they are bound to get their chance if their form is up to it in the second team.

"Second team captain Richard Blakey is grooming all of his players so that they will know what to expect when they play first class cricket. They are extremely fortunate to have such a model professional as Richard in charge. He has been a loyal servant of the club for around 20 years and has got an awesome record."

Promotion in both the Championship and totesport League is White's aim and although he knows the cricket is going to be demanding he wants the players to enjoy it.

"The bonding since we returned full time in March has been fantastic and I am sure it will help us when things get difficult," he said.

"When we went to Strensall Barracks for a weekend of tough training and exercises the Army were really impressed with the fitness and character of our lads.

"They probably felt initially that we were only a bunch of spoiled cricketers but we stunned the pants off the Army guys. It was probably the hardest couple of days any of us have ever had but we all came through it and I now have tremendous respect for every individual that was there.

"I know more about their characters and their strengths and we have all benefited from the experience. However knackered the bowlers may feel on the hottest of days or however difficult batting may prove to be, everyone will be able to look back on their time at Strensall and think: 'We've been in tougher situations than this and still come out on top'."

Updated: 09:07 Saturday, April 02, 2005