YORKSHIRE'S star fast bowler, Matthew Hoggard has been given a six-month summer contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Soon after making the announcement, the ECB contacted Yorkshire and informed them that although Hoggard will rest up on his return home, he will be able to turn out for his county from May 1 until he joins up with the England squad again on May 16.

Yorkshire had feared that they would see little of England's hat-trick hero this summer but now they can look forward to his services during an important early part of the season.

"It is tremendous news for us and I have to applaud the professionalism of England who have wasted no time in letting us know just when he will be available," said director of cricket David Byas. "To have him back so soon should give us a real boost."

Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Graham Thorpe have also been given summer contracts by England.

The splendid showing by England in the Caribbean and Brian Lara's epic 400 have boosted interest in the one-day international between England and the West Indies which will take place under the Headingley floodlights on July 1.

Only around 2,000 tickets remain and Ian Bishop, Yorkshire's marketing director, is confident that a capacity 15,550 will watch the match.

"Tickets are selling rapidly and it shouldn't be long before the 'house full' signs are out," he said.

Bishop added that tickets were also going well for the England v New Zealand Test match at Headingley which starts on June 3 and sales were particularly good for the Friday and Saturday.

"Some people have probably held back, however, because they have not realised the Headingley Test is at the beginning of June instead of in August as has been the case in recent years. They should be thinking of buying their tickets now before it is too late," he said.

The new North East stand at Headingley, which includes a state-of-the-art scoreboard and video screen, is due to be completed by the third week in May and will be officially opened during the Test match by former Yorkshire and England bowler, Bob Appleyard.

Updated: 11:01 Friday, April 16, 2004