YORKSHIRE are still planning for their 'invisible man' - new overseas signing Yuvraj Singh - to make his debut in the Championship match against Glamorgan which begins at Headingley tomorrow.
The 21-year-old Indian left-hander, who will probably go in at No 4, experienced another hitch yesterday when his arrival in England was held up for a second time but Yorkshire were confident that he would fly in today.
Yuvraj has obtained a work permit but a delay in the issuing of a visa has kept Yorkshire on tenterhooks as to when he will actually make it.
Yorkshire's director of cricket, Geoff Cope planned to greet Yuvraj at Manchester Airport but it will be some time before the player can be introduced to his captain Anthony McGrath, who is currently with the England squad at Lord's ahead of Thursday's first Test against Zimbabwe.
Newly appointed vice-captain Matthew Wood will have his first taste of leading Yorkshire and the honour has probably come sooner than expected because it was not foreseen that McGrath would receive a Test call-up although he was known to be in the frame for a one-day international.
Wood will tomorrow have to nominate two players in the side who can then drop out if McGrath and Matthew Hoggard are not wanted by England and are able to return to Yorkshire at any time before the third day of the county match.
McGrath, however, has a good chance of making his England debut while Hoggard may not be fit to play for either side if he continues to be troubled with a recurrence of a stomach strain.
With Michael Vaughan now a regular absentee from Yorkshire's line-up, Scott Richardson returns to the side after his Second XI century against Durham Seconds at Stamford Bridge last week and will open with Wood.
Gary Fellows retains his place in the middle order but he only just got the vote over Vic Craven who was Yorkshire Phoenix's best batsman against Leicestershire Foxes on Sunday.
Yorkshire are under considerable pressure after a string of bad results and coach Kevin Sharp said that things would not be allowed to drift on. If results do not improve then changes will be made.
Yorkshire (v Glamorgan) from: Wood, Richardson, Lumb, Yuvraj, Blakey, Fellows, Bresnan, Dawson, Silverwood, Sidebottom, Kirby, Gray.
Updated: 11:14 Tuesday, May 20, 2003
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