YORKSHIRE have been forced to revise their plans for tomorrow's return Championship match against Sussex at Arundel in the face of a mounting injury crisis concerning their fast bowlers.

Steven Kirby broke down with back trouble after bowling four overs for the second team yesterday in their one-day match against Nottinghamshire at Headingley and has had to be pulled out of the squad.

In addition, Chris Silverwood is having treatment on an ankle injury while Craig White has reported a stomach muscle problem, but both are expected to play.

Both Silverwood and White apparently suffered some discomfiture while bowling in Sunday's game against Durham Dynamos at Riverside and skipper Darren Lehmann has explained that was the reason why neither completed their full ration of overs.

To add to the gloom, Darren Gough did not play for the Second XI yesterday because of further pain in his right knee following two cartilage operations and this latest setback must cast doubt over whether he will be fit enough to play for England in any of the NatWest Series of matches against Sri Lanka and India which start on Thursday.

Gough turned out for the Yorkshire Academy at York on Saturday and bowled well within himself during two short spells and initially suffered no ill effects.

But has since suffered an adverse reaction although he is still due to appear for Yorkshire Seconds in their Trophy game against Lancashire at Castleford tomorrow before joining up with the England squad but nothing is certain with Gough at the moment.

His participation in the forthcoming NatWest one-day series is in serious doubt.

He was expected to miss the first two matches, against Sri Lanka on Thursday and India on Saturday, but it looks as though he may face an even longer lay-off.

"It is the same knee problem as before and it looks as if it is back to square one for him," said Lehmann.

Gough suffered a torn cartilage in his right knee during the final one-day international in New Zealand and underwent an operation in March, which ruled him out of the recent Test series success over Sri Lanka.

The withdrawal of Kirby, Yorkshire's leading bowler in the Championship with 19 dismissals at 31 runs apiece, has meant a call-up into the squad of 12 for Bradford-Leeds Universities' captain Chris Elstub who has still to make his first appearance of the season for the county.

The last thing Yorkshire need at Arundel is an injury weakened attack as the County Champions try to win their first match of the season after five defeats and a draw from six starts.

Their previous opponents were also Sussex, who thrashed them by an innings and 94 runs at Headingley, but this time they will be without James Kirtley, their ten-wicket hero from that game, who is now with the England one-day squad.

Although being robbed of Kirby's services, the Seconds still managed to beat Nottinghamshire - by four wickets off the penultimate ball, Scott Richardson slamming 92 as Yorkshire overhauled their opponents score of 245-9, Gray and Alex Stead each claiming three wickets.

Yorkshire from: Wood, White, McGrath, Lehmann, Lumb, Craven, Blakey, Dawson, Gray, Sidebottom, Silverwood, Elstub.

Robert Croft today suggested a regular fixture between Wales and England as a solution to Duncan Fletcher's desire to increase the number of one-day internationals scheduled for each year.

Wales yesterday inflicted an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat on England at Cardiff in a warm-up game ahead of England's opening NatWest game against Sri Lanka under lights at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Updated: 11:56 Tuesday, June 25, 2002