YORKSHIRE CCC'S pre-season training has been boosted by special sessions with Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos coaches and the cricketers have also been toughened up by strenuous workouts at a boxing gymnasium in Headingley.

Yorkshire's director of cricket, David Byas, said: "We have had sessions with United's Kevin Blackwell at Thorp Arch and Rhinos' Daryl Powell at Kirkstall and they have been absolutely fabulous.

"We wanted our players to experience the techniques and fitness levels associated with other top sportsmen and it has worked terrifically well."

Byas said the players had been involved in specific coaching sessions in the indoor nets at Headingley and regular net practices would soon follow.

Yorkshire now have Steve Kirby back with the squad after his special coaching in India by Dennis Lillee, which was followed by the paceman joining up with England 'A' in India.

Left-hander Michael Lumb, who had a disappointing tour with England 'A', is with the England Academy at Loughborough this week and will report to Headingley on Monday but he may now rest up for a short while in order to recharge his batteries.

After last summer, Lumb joined the England Academy in Loughbourorugh in October, and then toured Malaysia and India in the New Year.

Off-spinner Andy Gray is to have a precautionary X-ray on the wrist which he fractured while on the MCC 'A' tour of the United Arab Emirates in early January. He is still experiencing some pain and needs to know if any further treatment is necessary.

Updated: 10:46 Saturday, March 13, 2004