Yorkshire have a great chance to end their recent slump in form tomorrow when they take on bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road in Division One of the National League.

But there was dismay among the players yesterday upon hearing that their new overseas signing, Yuvraj Singh, will not now make his Yorkshire debut in the game.

Yuvraj was to have arrived yesterday but a hold-up in the Indian obtaining his visa means he is now expected to fly to England on Monday and the 21-year-old left-hander's first appearance is likely to be in the Championship match against Glamorgan at Headingley on Wednesday.

His absence from tomorrow's match means there will be no opportunity to compare Yuvraj with his team-mate in India's one-day side, Virander Sehwag, who has joined Leicestershire this summer.

At least Yorkshire had some better news yesterday regarding Chris Silverwood who is joining the squad after missing the Championship match at Northampton with a painful right elbow.

Silverwood has had a pain-killing injection and he will have nets today and tomorrow morning to see if he is fit to play now, or whether he should wait a few days for the injection to kick in.

Phoenix have won one of their two National League matches so far but the Foxes have shocked even themselves by their poor start which leaves them pointless after three games.

Yorkshire are not all that superior, however, because their early season promise has now evaporated following the one-day mauling by Essex Eagles and the Championship defeat by Derbyshire.

If they should lose to Leicestershire the knives will be out and director of cricket Geoff Cope, and coach Kevin Sharp, will then have to convince the fans that the slump can be quickly halted.

Yorkshire were spared further punishment at Northampton yesterday by persistent rain which caused the day's play to be called off in mid afternoon.

With Northants due to resume on 311-2 and trailing by 88 on the first innings there seems little chance of forcing a result even if there is no further serious intervention from the weather.

It's turning into a dreadful summer for Yorkshire on their travels. They have already lost three full days out of seven which is in sharp contrast to last season when only the Championship game at Leicester suffered any lengthy interruptions.

Yorkshire Phoenix (v Leicestershire Foxes) from: Wood, Lumb, McGrath, Craven, Blakey, Fellows, Bresnan, Gray, Silverwood, Dawson, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Kirby.

Updated: 12:08 Saturday, May 17, 2003