Yorkshire and England were today anxiously awaiting the results of a scan on fast bowler Matthew Hoggard, who injured his right knee during his county's totesport League game with Middlesex Crusaders at Headingley on Sunday.

The first Test between England and the West Indies is due to start at Lord's on July 22 and five days before then Yorkshire play Gloucestershire in the semi-final of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Bristol.

It will be a massive blow for both his country and county if Hoggard is unable to play in these big matches.

Hoggard limped off on Sunday after sending down just four deliveries and at first it was believed he had just suffered jarring but he was sent for a scan yesterday when it was thought there could be a problem at the back of the knee.

Yorkshire need no reminding that Hoggard tore a cartilage in the same knee at Worcester in late May last year and that the subsequent operation kept him out of action for three months.

Even if the scan shows there is little serious damage, Hoggard will almost certainly miss Yorkshire's Twenty-20 Cup clash with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge tomorrow and their game with Leicestershire in the same competition at Headingley the following day.

"England are aware of Hoggard's problem and we will know more once the details of the scan are revealed," said Yorkshire's director of cricket David Byas.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire are confident that they will have captain Craig White and Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey both back in action next Sunday in the important totesport League match against Durham at Riverside.

Harvey has not played since suffering a badly torn hamstring in the Championship game with Nottinghamshire in mid-May while White has been out with a similar injury which he picked up just over a fortnight ago.

Their return will come as a huge relief to Yorkshire who want to have both these key players back in full form and fitness for the C&G semi-final.

"Craig and Ian are making reasonable progress and we are closely monitoring their recovery," said Byas.

"They are having net practices and training this week and if all goes well they will fit into the team at Riverside.

"If it is felt they still need more time in the middle they can play for the Second XI in their Trophy game with Derbyshire at Castleford next Tuesday and that should mean they have plenty of cricket behind them when it comes to the big game at Bristol."

Things have not run smoothly for Harvey since he joined Yorkshire at the beginning of the season from Gloucestershire where he was instrumental in helping them win six one-day trophies in five years.

Should Harvey prove to be over his hamstring problem, then Phil Jaques will return to New South Wales on July 18 - provided that nothing happens to Darren Lehmann during Australia's second Test against Sri Lanka over the next few days.

But Jaques, who has performed brilliantly for Yorkshire since arriving in mid-May as a temporary replacement for both Lehmann and then Harvey, will be back in late August ahead of the ICC Trophy in this country in September.

Lehmann is certain to be in Australia's squad for the tournament and there is a fair chance that Harvey will also be included.

Updated: 10:37 Tuesday, July 06, 2004