YORKSHIRE fast bowler Steve Kirby has taken another big step towards gaining a full England cap by being included in the MCC side to play County Champions, Sussex, at Lord's, starting on Good Friday, April 9.

The fixture raises the curtain on the first class season and MCC's side has been chosen on the advice of the England selectors who will be keeping a close eye on how the dynamic Kirby performs.

Kirby is currently preparing for the new season with his Yorkshire colleagues at Headingley but has been excused bowling duties for the past few days in order to help him recharge his batteries after a long winter.

Last October, England Academy boss Rod Marsh invited him to join the latest intake at Loughborough where he received expert bowling tuition and then in the New Year England sent him and Worcestershire seamer Kabir Ali for two weeks training in India under the expert eye of Australian great Dennis Lillee.

Kirby then joined up with England 'A' for the last leg of their tour of India and he played in the final match against East Zone in Amritsar.

Kirby has been Yorkshire's leading wicket-taker since joining the county two-and-a-half season's ago and he is now one of the country's leading contenders for a Test place when a vacancy occurs.

"It is good news being picked for this game and I am looking forward to getting the new season off to a good start," said Kirby.

"My greatest ambition is to play cricket for England but I am not getting carried away.

"I just want to make sure I keep on picking up wickets for Yorkshire and if I can do that then other things may follow."

Kirby is no stranger to MCC cricket and last year he was part of their short tour of Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

MCC will be led by former Zimbabwe captain, Andy Flower, who was recently appointed an honorary life member of the club, and England 'A' captain Alex Gidman will be vice-captain.

Kirby's selection by the MCC will leave Yorkshire with a vacancy for one of their younger fast bowlers in the three-day match against Bradford-Leeds Universities' Centre of Excellence at Headingley which starts on Easter Saturday.

Updated: 10:54 Thursday, April 01, 2004