YORKSHIRE have seen precious little of Michael Vaughan on the county scene this summer and expect much the same in 2004.

England face an even more gruelling home schedule next summer with the announcement that three lots of back-to-back Tests are on the agenda.

Vaughan's team - which could well include county colleague and contracted England player Matthew Hoggard - play a three-match npower Test series against New Zealand, including a turnaround of just two days' rest between the second encounter at Headingley and the third at Trent Bridge.

Then, for the West Indies' visit later in the summer they will engage in two pairs of back-to-backs - Lord's followed by Edgbaston and Old Trafford followed by the AMP Oval.

Leading international players, including Vaughan and South Africa captain Graeme Smith, have recently been critical of back-to-back games, which give no time for recuperation.

Although England have become accustomed to this type of format overseas, this season was the first time it was introduced into the home itinerary.

And with the ICC Champions Trophy contested here next September - squeezing the international season further - their increased presence has become almost inevitable.

England will prepare for that limited-overs tournament with the three-match NatWest Challenge, against as-yet-unconfirmed opposition - possibly Australia - in the week usually reserved for the Oval Test.

They resume their seemingly relentless itinerary in 2004 with the opening Test against New Zealand, which gets underway exactly a fortnight after the players are due to board a flight back from their winter exploits.

Vaughan has been ordered to rest for the rest of this season and is taking no part in Yorkshire's final two games of the Coiunty Championship campaign.

Yorkshire were today shutting out the disappointment of their National League relegation and focusing their attention on trying to beat the Championship's Second Division leaders, Worcestershire, in the game which began at New Road.

Nothing less than victory in their last two fixtures of the season can bring Yorkshire promotion alongside Worcestershire and Northamptonshire but it is a tall order with both Glamorgan and Gloucestershire also going flat out to secure third spot in the table.

Yorkshire clash with Gloucestershire at Headingley next week and the game promises to be a real showdown if they can first of all dispose of Worcestershire.

This will not be easy, however, because Worcestershire are determined to make amends for their embarrassing C&G Trophy final flop against Gloucestershire by finishing top of the pile in the Championship.

Although Yorkshire may have temporarily lost third place over the past couple of days they can be sure of filling it again if they grab near to maximum points in their last two matches.

"It is entirely up to us and we are very much focused on the job in hand," said coach Kevin Sharp.

"It didn't feel good to lose to Essex Eagles and suffer relegation in the National League but we cannot dwell on that now.

"The next eight days of Championship cricket have become the most important of the season and we will do everything we can to clinch promotion."

Australian Damien Martyn is not yet fit to play after breaking his nose while hitting a sparkling 87 on his debut against Somerset last week but he is eager to make it against Gloucestershire.

"Damien is travelling to Worcester and will hit a few balls over the weekend.

"We are all keeping our fingers crossed that he will be given the all-clear for the final match," said Sharp.

Yorkshire (v Worcestershire) from: Wood, White, McGrath, Lumb, Craven, Taylor, Blakey, Dawson, Silverwood, Gough, Kirby, Hoggard.

Updated: 11:25 Friday, September 12, 2003