ANTHONY McGrath was missing from today's Championship match against Durham at Headingley after Yorkshire were asked politely, but firmly, by England not to pick their regular captain, despite a scan revealing that his side strain had cleared up.

The news was relayed to Yorkshire yesterday in a phone call from England team operations manager, Phil Neale, at around the time it was announced that McGrath had been included in England's one-day squad.

The reason given was that with the second Test against Zimbabwe at Durham next week being followed by a batch of at least nine one-day internationals, England did not want McGrath to be overworked.

Yorkshire have had to accept the situation but are hardly over the moon with England's stance.

Director of cricket, Geoff Cope, said: "I am personally disappointed at McGrath's absence because the Durham game is such a big one for us and I would rather have the captain in the side.

"But he has started off on a new career with England and we will give him every help in sustaining that career by doing whatever England ask."

Darren Gough - probably at the request of England's new one-day captain, Michael Vaughan - returns to the squad, despite having played in only two limited overs games for Yorkshire since recovering from his hamstring strain.

Unlike McGrath, however, Gough has not been barred from today's match and Yorkshire were greatly relieved that he would be spearheading their attack.

Ryan Sidebottom has still not recovered fully from the hamstring problem he experienced last weekend and Yorkshire have decided that 18-year-old paceman Tim Bresnan needed a rest.

In his place comes 26-year-old South African-born medium-fast bowler Pieter Swanepoel for his first team debut.

Swanepoel, who plays Yorkshire League cricket for Sheffield United, originates from Paarl, near Cape Town, and this year became eligible for Yorkshire first team cricket as an English qualified player. He has spent the past two seasons with Yorkshire Seconds and signed a one-year contract with the club in March.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire have promoted Kevin Sharp from batting coach to head coach and put him in charge of all first team affairs.

Cope said: "Arnie Sidebottom remains second team coach and Steve Oldham Academy coach but Sharp's new appointment will end any confusion among the players as to who is in charge. When he was called batting coach, some did not know what his true position was but now he is the boss and what he says goes."

Yorkshire (v Durham) from: Wood, Richardson, Yuvraj, Lumb, Blakey, Fellows, Dawson, Gough, Silverwood, Swanepoel, Kirby, Gray.

Ex-Leeds player Micky Adams has extended his contract with Leicester City.

Adams, who had guided the Foxes back to the Premiership at the first time of asking, had one year left on his existing contract.

He had been linked with a return to Elland Road several times before Reid's full-time appointment but commiedt himself to Leicester for another three years by signing a new deal today.

Updated: 11:46 Friday, May 30, 2003