New captain Darren Lehmann is relishing the challenge of helping Yorkshire to hold on to the County Championship title.

But he also had some bad news when he flew in from Australia over the weekend and joined up with his county team-mates.

Lehmann confirmed that not only would he be returning home for about a fortnight in June to play in three one-day internationals against Pakistan but that his season with Yorkshire would end in mid-August.

Australia will then be preparing for their Test tour of Pakistan which means Lehmann will leave Yorkshire just when their Championship bid is reaching its climax.

He remained optimistic of Yorkshire's prospects in all competitions, however, and was confident fellow Australian Simon Katich would prove to be an excellent stand-in during his absence.

Since Lehmann was appointed last autumn to succeed David Byas as Yorkshire's captain, his international career has taken off again and he is now very much a part of Australia's squad.

"I must admit I never thought I would play Test cricket again but I always felt I might make it back into Australia's one-day side," said Lehmann.

"Now I am right in the frame and things have certainly turned round for me."

Despite his busy winter in State and international cricket, Lehmann said he had arrived in Yorkshire fresh and eager for the new season.

"I never feel stale at the start of a new campaign," he added. "Meeting old friends and colleagues quickly gets you in the mood for the action to start.

"Although I am in charge now, I don't think much has changed from last season and there won't be anything done very differently.

"We need to bat well if we are to compete and I am expecting the younger players to be given a chance. The future is in their hands and I hope they will be able to lift the level of Yorkshire cricket to where it was many years ago."

Updated: 12:26 Monday, April 22, 2002