Yorkshire County Cricket Club today reacted with joy to the news that new captain Darren Lehmann will definitely lead them from the start of the season.

The club's chief executive Chris Hassell has received confirmation that Australia's tour of Zimbabwe from April 13 to early May has been called off because of security fears.

There had been talk of the series being played in South Africa instead but the Zimbabwe Cricket Board have rejected such a move.

Fellow Australian Simon Katich, who played for Durham in 2000, had been signed as a temporary replacement for Lehmann but his services are no longer required.

He will, however, be asked to stand in again should Lehmann be called up by Australia later in the season.

Even though Katich would undoubtedly have served Yorkshire well, the club could barely conceal their delight that they will not be missing Lehmann at the start.

"His presence will be a big boost for the rest of the squad and it must improve our chances of making it through the group stages of the Benson and Hedges Cup as well as doing well in two tough opening County Championship matches," said Hassell.

Yorkshire first team coach Wayne Clark, currently on the club's pre-season tour of Grenada, will be particularly pleased that Lehmann will report for duty around the beginning of next month because it saves him having to search among a limited number of suitable candidates for a stand-in captain.

It was a busy day for Hassell yesterday, first announcing his retirement from November and then making extensive enquiries about Lehmann's fate.

Paying tribute to Hassell's service with Yorkshire, chairman Keith Moss said: "He has shown dedication and commitment during a particularly hectic period in the club's development and we wish him a happy and enjoyable retirement."

Updated: 12:04 Thursday, March 28, 2002