What a magnificent achievement it was for Matthew Hoggard to pick up his 50th Test wicket in only his 12th match for England, a speed of progress to his half-century being surpassed only by Ian Botham and Dominic Cork over the past 25 years.

Even better that his 50th victim should be Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest batsman in the world, and Yorkshire's first overseas player in 1992 when he was still a shy teenager who charmed the fans almost without exception.

When Pudsey-born Hoggard shattered Tendulkar's stumps on Sunday to reach the landmark, it was perhaps not appreciated that India's prince of cricket is now in danger of beco- ming known as "Hoggy's bunny."

In the last four Test matches between the two countries, Hoggard has now sent back Tendulkar three times, which is an astonishing feat for a young fast bowler who is still on the way up rather than at the peak of his career.

The sequence began in the first Test in the India v England series in Mohali at the beginning of last December when Hoggard had Tendulkar caught behind for 88, India going on to win the match by ten wickets.

Then, in the next Test in Ahmedabad, Hoggard accounted for Tendulkar again, this time for 103 in a game which ended in a draw.

But, amazingly, Hoggard is not the only Yorkshire bowler to have sent the Indian superstar packing over the last eight months or so.

In the same Ahmedabad Test that Tendulkar fell in the first innings to Hoggard he was dismissed in the second by Richard Dawson - courtesy of a catch by Michael Vaughan.

And who should account for Tendulkar in the first innings at Lord's last week? None other than Craig White.

It means that in his last SEVEN Test innings against England, Tendulkar has perished to Yorkshire-born bowlers on FIVE occasions, proving that although they hold their ex-colleague in great admiration and esteem they only want to see the back of him on the field of play.

The prospect of further battles with Tendulkar and the outstanding form of Hoggard, White and Vaughan in the first Test have had Yorkshire officials rubbing their hands in glee because it should all add up to more bums on seats at the third Test at Headingley which begins on August 22.

On the other hand, if this mouth-watering attraction is shunned in the same way as was the England v Sri Lanka one-day international last month then Headingley's Test future could be under very serious threat.

And Yorkshire simply cannot afford to miss out on the £90,000 a day which they receive from the England and Wales Cricket Board for staging internationals on the ground.

If that money were to dry up then Yorkshire's financial situation would be very serious indeed for they are banking on that cash to pay off their share of the £10m which has gone into the redevelopment of the cricket ground.

Further large dollops of money will also be needed if Yorkshire are to sign a second overseas player which they and the other counties will be allowed to do next season.

It's not certain yet that they will want to go down that road even if they can afford it but if they do then don't rule out the possibility of Tendulkar returning to his native county for a second spell.

When his manager was asked recently if he thought Tendulkar would be playing county cricket next season he is said to have replied that the master batsman would only be interested in joining Yorkshire.

Watching Darren Lehmann and Tendulkar together at the crease would be a dream come true for the fans, but Yorkshire may feel that they would be better served if Lehmann were joined by a world class bowler or genuine all-rounder.

Updated: 10:49 Saturday, August 03, 2002