CONCERN is mounting over the fitness of Australian batsman Matthew Elliott, who has been ruled out of Yorkshire's Championship match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl tomorrow.

He has yet to make his first appearance of the season because of knee trouble.

And with Matthew Hoggard's stomach strain causing him to miss out also, a question mark hangs over whether the fast bowler will regain full fitness and form in time to be considered for England's first Test against Zimbabwe at Lord's, which begins on May 22.

Yorkshire's director of cricket, Geoff Cope, said Hoggard had responded well to treatment and had almost recovered but with plenty of cricket coming up they did not want to risk him too soon.

The signs are less promising for Elliott, however, who suffered what was described at the time as a "slight strain" behind his right knee soon after joining up with Yorkshire earlier this month and he was omitted from the opening Championship game with Northamptonshire purely as a precautionary measure.

But the left-hander has continued to feel some discomfort and Yorkshire last week sent him for a scan to see if the damage is more serious than previously thought. The outcome of the scan should reveal if this is a new injury or an older one which he picked up in Australia.

The hope remains that Elliott will quickly shake off the injury because he proved his ability with some outstanding innings for Yorkshire when he joined them in the closing weeks of last season and memories are still fresh of his sparkling century in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy final at Lord's.

All is not gloom and doom for Yorkshire tomorrow, however, because Michael Vaughan comes in for his first game of the season and during it Lord's may confirm that he has been appointed as England's one-day captain in succession to Nasser Hussain.

There is speculation that England coach Duncan Fletcher has already given his approval and an official announcement is expected at some stage over the next week or so.

Vaughan's return would most likely have resulted in Chris Taylor becoming 12th man but he is recovering from a slight strain and Scott Richardson will travel instead.

The absence of Hoggard means a seasonal debut for the enthusiastic Steven Kirby, who has taken more Championship wickets for Yorkshire over the past two seasons than anyone else.

Yorkshire (v Hampshire) from: Vaughan, Wood, McGrath, Lumb, Blakey, Fellows, Dawson, Gough, Silverwood, Sidebottom, Kirby, Richardson.

Updated: 11:37 Tuesday, April 29, 2003