RESERVE wicketkeeper Simon Guy has been included in Yorkshire's squad of 12 for the two-day practice match with Durham at Riverside on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Director of cricket, David Byas, confirmed that 25-year-old Guy will start off the Championship season with Yorkshire instead of the more experienced Richard Blakey.

Byas stressed, however, that Guy's place in the first team was not set in stone and that Blakey, 37, would return to the side if he merited it.

"Richard is still very keen to play Championship cricket and will be fighting hard for his place but the decision to give Guy an early chance was taken some time ago," said Byas.

Guy was given some Championship games last season after Blakey had gone through a thin time with the bat but Guy, too, found, run scoring difficult, and lost his place again.

Blakey was appointed second team captain and manager during the winter and will be in charge of the Colts whenever he is not required by Yorkshire.

Chris Taylor, who topped the Bradford League batting averages last season with 1,003 runs at 66.87, is in the squad and will be pressing hard to cement the first team place he has so far found hard to hold down.

Harrogate-born Vic Craven and Andrew Gale are both given chances to prove themselves and there is a place, also, for Scarborough's up-and-coming all-rounder Chris Gilbert.

Craig White will lead Yorkshire for the first time since his appointment as captain and he will be keeping a close watch on the pace bowling of new signing, John Blain, who recently made the move from Northamptonshire.

Steve Kirby, selected for the MCC team against County Champions Sussex at Lord's over Easter, will travel to Riverside but will not play following a precautionary scan on his ankle.

"Steve was complaining of shin soreness and he then got struck on the ankle in the nets by Richard Blakey but the scan revealed nothing worse than bruising," said Byas.

"He will join us at Durham so that he can have treatment from physiotherapist Scott McAllister but there is no question of him not being fully fit for the MCC game."

Byas insisted that those not selected for Durham were still in with a shout of first team places at the start of the season.

"I can only take 12 to Durham and there are five or six other youngsters who would be going if we had room for them," said Byas.

"But what I can say is that the lads who have been chosen will definitely be figuring this season and so will other younger players."

Off-spinner Richard Dawson will be trying to make an early impression at Riverside and Byas predicted that he would win back his England place one day.

"He has had some disappointments since the tour of Australia but he will come back all the stronger and it is nice at the moment to see him bowling with a smile on his face."

Rival off-spinner Andy Gray, the former Wilberfoss and Scarborough player, still has his arm in a pot after breaking a bone in his wrist on MCC's short tour of the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.

Yorkshire (v Durham) from: Wood, White, Taylor, Gale, Lumb, Craven, Bresnan, Guy, Dawson, Silverwood, Blain, Gilbert.

Updated: 10:13 Saturday, April 03, 2004