Matthew Wood became the first Yorkshire batsman this season to reach 1,000 first-class runs before the rain-ravaged Championship match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham fizzled to a draw.

It was a good day, also, for Steve Kirby who captured four wickets to give him a match return of ten for 183 and leave him with 38 dismissals in his last five Championship outings.

Kirby's name has started to reach the ears of Duncan Fletcher and if the England boss is bold enough to pick an in-form bowler for the third Test at Trent Bridge next week then he could be in with a shout.

Gloucestershire had only themselves to blame for the stalemate because they refused to dangle the carrot and did not declare until they had thrashed 284-6 which left Yorkshire an unchaseable victory target of 322 in a minimum of 45 overs.

Yorkshire now have a Championship breather before returning at Scarborough next week but time is beginning to run out and with only five games remaining draws are not enough.

Updated: 14:53 Monday, August 04, 2003